FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Today's entry may upset the apple cart, but that is not my intention. My intention is simply to cause us to stop and think about something that is alarming in modern day Christianity. I have noticed an exponential increase in different kinds of ministries "for Christ". For example, I recently read of Bikers for Christ, Horsemen for Christ, Cowboy Churches, Racers for Christ, etc.
It seems to me that all we are doing these days is adding Jesus to our lifestyles, as opposed to allowing Jesus to transform our lives. You may disagree, but this is my blog so I get to state my opinion. The problem with this approach to "ministry" is that I believe it sends the wrong message to the people being "reached." The message is this: "you don't need to follow Jesus, we'll let Jesus follow you; you don't need to change; we'll change Jesus."
There are several problems inherent to this approach. First, it doesn't bring the person into full submission to Jesus. It allows the person to continue his lifestyle, good or bad, while just adding Jesus to his life. Jesus is simply seen as "fire insurance", not the Sovereign King of the Universe and my life.
Second, this approach leads to an "anything goes" brand of so-called Christianity. There is no submission to the authority of Jesus Christ in one's life. For example, should a person who receives Christ as a race car driver make Sunday race day or the Lord's Day? Should we try to fit Christ into our schedules and lifestyles or should we conform to His schedule and His lifestyle?
I understand this may seem radical. But isn't Christianity radical? Isn't the Bible radical compared to the world system? Maybe the real issue for all of us is this: Who's in charge in my life? Am I submitting to Christ or I am I asking Christ to submit to me? Am I following Christ, or am I asking Christ to follow me?
Shouldn't we all be submitting to Christ? Shouldn't the pro football player make Sunday the Lord's day as much as the banker? That's pretty radical, isn't it? Not if we start with the Bible and then think about how we should live in this world. If we start with the world and then think about how to live out the Bible it is very radical.
Think with me, though, for just a moment. If we started with a Bible and we were able to start our own world and our own society and culture from scratch with the Bible as our only guide, what would Sunday be like? It would be a day set aside only for worshipping the Lord. That's it. That is the only conclusion you could come to after reading the Bible, Old or New Testament. So, how did we get to the point in Christianity in which ministries (i.e., ministers, Christians), not the world, are leading the way in taking the emphasis off of following Christ and submitting to Christ? This would be understandable if the charge was being led by those who didn't know Christ, but it is being led by those who name the name of Christ. That's just my two cents.
4 Comments:
I don't think myself to be the most informed person in the world, but it seems to me that what you say in this blog could also be said of our president. You say "it doesn't bring the person into full submission to Jesus. It allows the person to continue his lifestyle, good or bad, while just adding Jesus to his life. Jesus is simply seen as "fire insurance", not the Sovereign King of the Universe and my life." It seems that President Bush is doing exactly this. He says he is a Christian, but his actions say otherwise. He is just "adding Jesus to his life." I'm sure he's made decisions to send warheads into another country on "The Lord's Day." It seems that we are quick to tell the rest of the nation that they should not do these things you mention in your blog, but if we are to mention them to, or even about, our president..it is unpatriotic. I've heard so many Christians say they support President Bush because he is a good Christian man, when nothing I've seen backs that up. Your website asks "are you a good person" and while I admit whole heartedly that I am far from perfect and have made many mistakes in my life, I am condemned to hell because of my sins, but President Bush is looked up to because of his. I understood that there is one "class" of Christian. Every Christian is subject to the same beliefs and set of "rules". So why is it that one man can break these rules and not be held accountable for it. Why is it that he can break these rules and his fellow Christians look past those actions and still follow him solely on the fact that he is a "good Christian man?" I suppose I'm just confused.
Anonymous, you bring up some excellent points. Just to be clear, though, I have never made any statement saying the President was or was not a Christian. A person becomes a believer in Jesus Christ by turning from their sins and self righteousness and turning to Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins and eternal life, trusting totally and completely in His death as payment our sins and His resurrection for our eternal life.
I have heard that the President is a believer, but I do not know. The only person I am sure is a believer in Jesus Christ is me. And that's true only because His Spirit bears witness with my spirit that I am a child of God.
Personally, I would like to see the President have a news conference to declare that he is leading the country to repentance and he is starting by declaring Sunday a day of worship and urging all businesses to close that day.
My two cents, though, had more to do with the church's approach to reaching people and the message we send by bowing to people's lifestyles than it did with any person's personal relationship with Christ.
Having said that, if you would like to know how to have your sins forgiven by Jesus Christ, please email me.
Pastor Doucet
fI'm not sure why you assume I am not a Christian and that I do not already know how to have my sins forgiven, I am, and I do. Thank you very much for your response.
I assumed you were not a believer based upon this comment from your post: "Your website asks "are you a good person" and while I admit whole heartedly that I am far from perfect and have made many mistakes in my life, I am condemned to hell because of my sins, but President Bush is looked up to because of his."
Forgive me for jumping the gun, but I thought you meant you were not a Christian by that statement. How about this? If you need help clearing up any confusion, please let me know.
Pastor Doucet
Post a Comment
<< Home