If We Are The Body

Hi all. I know I don't post much here anymore... I just haven't had much to say. Life's just been, well, life. Things at the radio station have been good but it's been stressful. We're in "the book" which means we're in a ratings period... it's getting down to the last couple of weeks and we're all tired and ready for a break! Thankfully I'll be able to take some time off soon but it's been an interested ride. All of that said, this has been a blast! I love being back on the air in my hometown and on the station where "Jonathan" (the radio jock) was born.

Tonight I was scanning the radio dial and I somehow managed to land on the K-Love station out of Quitman. "If We Are The Body" by Casting Crowns was playing and I honestly think it's one of the greatest songs I've ever heard.

It should also be required listening for all Christians.

The message of the song is that Christians should be just that, Christians. We shouldn't be the legalistic, judgemental and self-serving "church folk" that we tend to be. Before I go any further let me issue this disclaimer: I'm well aware that I'm not perfect and I'm just as guilty.

Anyway, the above things that "If We Are The Body" warns us not to be are exactly how many churches (as in the membership and to a degree the leadership) tend to be. People look down upon fellow worshipers because they're not wearing the right clothes... they didn't put "enough" in the offering plate... they disagree with something they heard them say or saw them doing... they disagree with someone they associate with because "they're not living right..." "She got divorced, that must mean she was running around on her husband... that tramp..." "I saw him drinking a beer last night; he's must be an alcoholic and he's going to Hell..." basically you can insert any reason there. I've seen it before and I've even been the victim of it a time or two in my life.

(Let me issue another disclaimer: I am not in any way saying that all churches are like this; however, the ones that are tend to make all of them look bad and what I'm trying to do is explain why I haven't found a church home down here and why so many people look down on churches and even Christianity as a whole because of all of this.)

I don't know anyone who hasn't seen or experienced what I described above. That is exactly why "old school" churches are becoming more irrelevant by the day and why some people even reject Christianity entirely. What it boils down to is people are judging those who are no worse than they are, like God put them in charge or something.

I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that He wasn't capable... I'm sure He would disagree too.

Partly through those observations and also partly because of my experiences with a non-denominational church in Indiana (The Pointe Church in Fort Wayne), I've decided that I'm not a fan of denominations. Denominations tend to be very legalistic and extremely political. I'm well aware that all churches and people are just as capable but you see this more in Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal and the like. You also tend to see this more in the south.

When I look for a church, I look for a Church that believes the Bible as the true and undesputable word of God. I look for a body of believers who know they're not perfect, never will be perfect but are doing the best they can as a part of the Body of Christ. And I look for those who are, to borrow The Pointe's mission statement, "helping people find and follow Jesus!" All too often we get so caught up in the majesty of the service, the new building we want to construct or Fred's new suit and forget what a church is supposed to be and what they're supposed to do. Some churches say they're doing these things but the proof is in the fruit. What if that fruit isn't so good? Are people being saved because of what your church is doing to spread the Gospel? Are people growing in Christ? Are you helping them or are you just admiring Christine's new car in the parking lot and gloating at how big your offering check was?

Another song that's really convicting is "My Jesus" by Todd Agnew. These words should make any Christian really question things: "My Jesus would never be accepted in my church; His blood and dirt on His feet might stain the carpet. But He reaches for the hurting and despises the proud. And I think He'd perfect Beale Street to the stained glass crown." Can you say that this Jesus Todd describes (and not the perfectly complected caucasian, brown haired and royally dressed Jesus we tend to have spoon fed to us) would be accepted in your church? Honestly, I don't know many churches whose members wouldn't call the police if someone Todd describes were to walk into their service!

That's sad.

Again, maybe it was because I was spoled that I went to a church in Indiana that wasn't political or judgemental and accepted all of those who truly wanted to find and follow Jesus. The Pointe is diverse in membership and vibrant and active with many misistries and other outreach. I've yet to find that down here. Some have said that maybe I should start a church like The Pointe down here. Well, don't think for a second that the thought hasn't crossed my mind more than once (even before I moved back down here). Maybe that's what God sent me back down here to do, maybe I'm just supposed to be one of the people who will find others who agree with me and we'll do it together. Regardless, I pray that spirtual revival (real revival) will come to this part of the country. I also pray that God's will will be done and that He'll use me and/or others to help bring this about.

From one sinner to another, my God bless you.

--Jonathan

Intolerant of Intolerance

The past few days I've had the subject of racism on my mind. It's sad that in the year 2007 some of us still have the mentality of 1807. We as a society still judge others based on the color of their skin. It's sad and it's sickening. Some people are just really ignorant and don't even realize it. They see hate as a normal part of their life.

Tell me... how could you hate another human being just because of the color of their skin?

Does any of this sound funny to you since I live in the south? Let me tell you, I get some strange looks and comments about my views. An example of an incident I experience recently: A lady called during my show to request a song. I wasn't familar with it so I asked her who did it. She responded with, "I don't know, it was some (n-word)." I hung up on her. She called back and went on some stump about how she had the right to say whatever she wanted, it's a free country, all that stuff. I let her know that I also had the right to not listen to her. According to her I need to "take (my) yankee ass back to New York."

I find this really funny because I've never even been to New York but thanks for the idea!

It's amazing that someone who is tolerant of other races is considered a yankee in the south. Those people honsetly have the belief that part of southern heretage is racism and hatred for anyone other than a white person. Let me tell you: Racism is one part of my "roots" that I'd rather not have.

One of the things that I really enjoyed about The Pointe Churh in Fort Wayne is they not only accepted people of color but they reached out to them. Here it seems like those in charge of the churches are afraid to do this. Why? Are you scared that the Klan's going to come get you? Are you afraid that your members won't like it? John 3:16 says that "For God so loved the world..." It does not say "For God so loved white people..." Any time the Bible says that we are to love one another, it doesn't distinguish between races. Why do we? It just doesn't make any sense.

I know that this has been all over the place and please forgive me as it's 1:45 in the morning. I just had to get all of this out. I just don't understand how we can be so advanced as a society and still feel hate toward someone simply because they look different. Maybe I'll never understand.

Maybe I'm not meant to understand.

--Jonathan