July 18, 2005
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Why, tho' it's the richest, healthiest (physically), most mobile, most connected (electronically), and the most free (to practice its call) of the world's churches, does the american church seem so weak? She seems easily divided, easily compromised, easily crippled, easily led astray.
I suspect the answer lies in several places, such as:
Her theology
Her character
Her discernment
Her love for God
Her love for neighbor
What do you think?
Comments (6)
I think America just has it too easy... Too easy for us to get lazy in our faith... I don't know.. In some contries, you're under the gun as a christian. Only those who are committed go. In america, too many people go to church because they think they should... not because they truly want to persue a relationship with Christ.
i think it's because of the things you listed in the first paragraph... it's the richest and money can be a big divider of people, it's healthy and in other countries the absence of that can bring people together, it's the most mobile so you start lots of little churches all over that quickly diversify themselves and may seem extreme, it's the most free so that those seemingly diverse churches are free to practice and diversify themselves even more. also i believe it has something to do with what johnathan up there said about people going to church because they think they should, which plays into the most free aspect because people don't have to make many sacrifices to be a church member. well, there ya go, once again you have forced me to post such a long comment, but it's your fault...you brought this upon yourself.
I think we get complacent, that we lose our focus.
Heather
i think we're full of sin and have a life of ease that doesn't cause us to grasp at God.
yup. i think that's pretty much right- we have it easy so we get soft and complacent and then our vision gets fuzzy and we see little things as being big and big things as being little. more than that, we listen too much to popular culture and media and allow others to think for us, and we aren't grounded in the Word of God- we fall prey to syncretism, mixing the beliefs and philosophies of our culture with our theology so then we come up with all sorts of watered down (or flat out heretical) doctrine. however, there are churches in America that are not falling victim to these sorts of things, where truth is taught unapologetically and the congregations are, on the whole, characterized by love. it is easy to focus on the negative and shake our heads at the bad that we see without looking at the good or taking any action. this only results in discouragement and leads to a critical spirit. instead we should be grieved by the things that grieve God, like weak, disunified American churches, but seek out the good and actively pursue unity and strengthen those around us.
on a different note, doug i am praying for you and your family and the church. i haven't been in klamath much so i don't really know much about the situation and i don't really know what to say to encourage you, but i'm praying that God will bless you with a clear direction to go in and for peace and grace over you and the church and in your dealings with each other. thank you for your ministry to me and your leadership- you have been an important part of my spiritual formation and i will continue praying for you wherever God leads you that he will make your ministry fruitful.
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
Perhaps having Christ as the head is the most important thing to have in a church.
Heather
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