So, our church's vision statement is "...seeks to be a Christ centered family, who reaches people for Jesus, encourages growth and shows His love through action"
So in connection with that, Brad has prepared a missional community study/action plan for the church so it can "reach people for Jesus"
Guess what? There are people afraid to do it. They would rather just keep to themselves or just love on the people that are already involved in the church. How can this be? Haven't we been taught, since the beginning of our individual eternities that Christ hath commissioned us? We are to go out into all the world making disciples.
I'll be honest, meeting people is one of my big stresses. I am an introvert and shy and have been hurt in past relationships. I mean, come on, can it get much harder? The idea of walking up to someone and introducing myself has at times given me little anxiety attacks. And especially now as I am far from the land I called home for 37 years. I have had a hard time acclimating to the tendencies of the North. The attitudes here are different from what I grew up with and have grown accustomed to in the last 10 years as the lower mainland has exploded in population.
But all I have ever heard from people who have visited or lived "up north" is that it is so friendly and welcoming. However, I am finding that no place is immune to distractions and the "me" attitude. To be fair, I have succumbed to this attitude for a good chunk of my life. It's hard not to. We certainly are not bombarded with servant attitude tv, or music, or news, or books. What is king is looking out for ourselves. The other guy is only out for themselves so we have to look out for ourselves.
How did we get here? Or has it always, since the dawn of time, been this way?
How did the church become so monumentally self centered that we, as the earthly representation of the body of Christ, can't get off our asses and love and serve our neighbours? How is it that we have become hypnotized by what is slick and "effortless" where is the reward in letting your pastor/lay leader do it all? Where is the personal growth? Do we just sit and wait for God to grow us? I don't remember being taught that in Sunday school, or bible classes.
I have gone times in my life where I have felt like my relationship with God was stagnant water, only good for producing mosquitoes, and at times I didn't care, but the other times it left me feeling lost and empty so I would ask God to bring me closer to him, and then not long after that I would actually regret praying that because getting closer to God means sacrifice. It means obedience, it means self denial. And who wants to do that?
Well, if you profess to believe that Christ is the Son of God and died to save you and rose from the dead defeating death and sin then what the hell are you doing with your life?
I get it, it's hard. Believe me, I get it. We set up our lives and who has the 10 minutes (minimum time it would take) to read a scripture and pray. To put God forefront.
If you don't want to actually do what God is calling you to do.. what Christ died for you to do then maybe you should just drop the act. Stop pretending that you believe in Him, or that you take His words seriously.
"But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like..." James 1:22-25
I'm really glad the bible, as far as I know, doesn't say anything about what to do when your neighbours dogs are crapping on your lawn. I'm setting myself up for challenges in my neighbourhood. How does the "crazy lady that screams at dogs" minister and serve her community? God help me.. no, please God, seriously, help me. I can't do this by myself. I want people to know the same lunatic faith I know. I don't want to be the only person falling on her face.
I'll be honest, meeting people is one of my big stresses. I am an introvert and shy and have been hurt in past relationships. I mean, come on, can it get much harder? The idea of walking up to someone and introducing myself has at times given me little anxiety attacks. And especially now as I am far from the land I called home for 37 years. I have had a hard time acclimating to the tendencies of the North. The attitudes here are different from what I grew up with and have grown accustomed to in the last 10 years as the lower mainland has exploded in population.
But all I have ever heard from people who have visited or lived "up north" is that it is so friendly and welcoming. However, I am finding that no place is immune to distractions and the "me" attitude. To be fair, I have succumbed to this attitude for a good chunk of my life. It's hard not to. We certainly are not bombarded with servant attitude tv, or music, or news, or books. What is king is looking out for ourselves. The other guy is only out for themselves so we have to look out for ourselves.
How did we get here? Or has it always, since the dawn of time, been this way?
How did the church become so monumentally self centered that we, as the earthly representation of the body of Christ, can't get off our asses and love and serve our neighbours? How is it that we have become hypnotized by what is slick and "effortless" where is the reward in letting your pastor/lay leader do it all? Where is the personal growth? Do we just sit and wait for God to grow us? I don't remember being taught that in Sunday school, or bible classes.
I have gone times in my life where I have felt like my relationship with God was stagnant water, only good for producing mosquitoes, and at times I didn't care, but the other times it left me feeling lost and empty so I would ask God to bring me closer to him, and then not long after that I would actually regret praying that because getting closer to God means sacrifice. It means obedience, it means self denial. And who wants to do that?
Well, if you profess to believe that Christ is the Son of God and died to save you and rose from the dead defeating death and sin then what the hell are you doing with your life?
I get it, it's hard. Believe me, I get it. We set up our lives and who has the 10 minutes (minimum time it would take) to read a scripture and pray. To put God forefront.
If you don't want to actually do what God is calling you to do.. what Christ died for you to do then maybe you should just drop the act. Stop pretending that you believe in Him, or that you take His words seriously.
"But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like..." James 1:22-25
I'm really glad the bible, as far as I know, doesn't say anything about what to do when your neighbours dogs are crapping on your lawn. I'm setting myself up for challenges in my neighbourhood. How does the "crazy lady that screams at dogs" minister and serve her community? God help me.. no, please God, seriously, help me. I can't do this by myself. I want people to know the same lunatic faith I know. I don't want to be the only person falling on her face.
