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
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
posted by Jonathan at
1:15 AM
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