Comments on: Somethings Broken

By: James

James — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:31:07 +0000

There sure are far more ways to do church than what we currently know… =)

By: Miriam

Miriam — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:27:00 +0000

I love Jesus just as much as I did when I was actively involved in church. However, now when I go to church, as soon as I get there, I want to run far, far away. Yet, when I don't go to church or meet actively with a body of believers, I don't think I'm growing in the way I should.

By: Shane Russell

Shane Russell — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:35:14 +0000

So you look at the example of church as seen in the bible and it was a place where people could find encouragement, guidance, and common ground with other people and their struggles in being a disciple and disciple-er of Jesus. So ya, it is a bummer to see that some churches (not all of them, because there are a good some that are so right on) create their own world for believers to be consumed by when really our church is to simply be a resting ground for those who are already actively pursing people for Christ’s name sake whom God has already given them favor with amongst their own community. Taking a person out of that is stripping them of the place which God has given them for the purpose of making an impact (unless of course its a really toxic environment with harmful stuff going on, there is a point where separation is wise). From what I’ve read, the early church wasn’t a “bring them here so that we might save them within an hour of service”, it was “hey, as we’re all already out there trying to tell people about Jesus, lets be a family where we can all help, encourage, and bear one another’s burdens. Because its not easy. And I can’t do this alone.

By: Rick

Rick — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 04:36:58 +0000

Just shared on Posterous. Thanks, Los.

By: Jim Gray

Jim Gray — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:35:32 +0000

I remember when my mom became a Christian a few years ago…we were at the table hanging out in our house in LA and my mom said that she had to change a bunch of stuff now that she was saved…my wife,Sharon responded “Mom,God loves you right now, regardless of all that stuff.” We’ve been careful to not treat her differently just because she is a believer now…no secret huddles and handshakes…just life on life. She still lives with my unbelieving,unchurched step-father, who is one of the coolest characters I’ve ever met. She knows how to live in the world. Why would anyone seek to pry them from it?
We want to bring people into the church and teach them all of our rules that are not scriptural…”Honey,here’s a list of all the stuff you can and cannot do” and then we just let them go to go police the world for Jesus? I know I sound like I’m on an extreme tangent here, but I’ve seen the ugliness that our churches have. My family has been through the crap of splits,etc. We are not church people anymore. We want to live for God in fellowship with other believers.

By: Tami Shields

Tami Shields — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:45:14 +0000

In college I was challenged by the idea that we are all called to be light to the darkened world. And sitting in the BSU at UGA, all I could think was “YEAH”. So my next thought was, then why do all of you lights sit together in the same room so it can be well lit while there is darkness all around you. Putting one candle in a dark room sheds more light than adding one to a room where there is already light. I didn’t stop going to BSU, I just decided to give myself permission to be a light where there weren’t any.

By: gary s. chapman

gary s. chapman — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:46:00 +0000

So well put…funny and pointed at the same time. May God continue to enlarge your voice!

By: bobby

bobby — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 16:35:52 +0000

I think it’s interesting as I read the comments how many people took this as a thought that church itself is a bad idea or we don’t need it. Correct me if I’m wrong here, but I didn’t get that at all. The church community is important and needed. We just also have to assess regularly and try to do it the best we possibly can.

Also, this reminds me of the issue Erwin pointed out at CatWest Origins with how we do ministry as well. Kid goes to homeshool or private school their whole life, then we send em to a private Christian University, then they go to seminary to learn the Bible, and then we put them in the church and they’re supposed to teach people how to relate to culture with Jesus when they have never once been a part of that world themselves.

By: Marie

Marie — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 03:45:45 +0000

There has to be a balance though. If you are not meeting regularly with other believers and growing in the word it’s so easy to get lost.

By: mike foster

mike foster — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 03:15:35 +0000

well said mr. muffin. well said.