Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Through the Eyes of the World

This may seem silly or ridiculous (and, of course it is), but this, to me, pretty accurately depicts how the majority of the world sees Christianity... and rightly so! Out-dated, cheesy, shallow and just down right ignorant. Now I'm not contradicting what I state on here frequently when I encourage us to stand out by living in a Kingdom that is not of this world. Nor am I encouraging churches to spend more money to be "relevant" and tech-savvy (as if that is even necessary). However, it is time to leave behind all programs, forms, organizational stereotypes and live as Ambassadors for Christ. I will do whatever it takes to live a life that is deemed worthy, whatever that looks like. But, I won't be some corny, church-ified dork just because that's what everybody else does.

To those who are just attending church functions and going through the religious motions, I urge you to step back and take a look at yourself. Who are you? Why do you do what you do? Has your Christianity become a packaged and predictable ritual or is it a vibrant relationship with your Creator that is fueled solely by intimacy with Him? Does "outreach", Sunday School and VBS define your Christianity or does your daily walk with the LORD?

For those of us who have left the positional and organizational church in order to follow Christ without bounds and the traditions of men, are we portraying the realities of The Christ in our everyday lives? Can someone look at the fruit of our lives and, without any hesitation see fruits of the Kingdom? We've forsaken trinkets and gimmicks, but are our lives enough? Is the reality of our walk with the LORD so alive that we are eminating His attributes in every situation that we find ourselves in? Are we truly walking according to the Spirit? If not, we're no closer to Kingdom living than the average pew-sitter!

I'm just personally growing so weary of Christianity fueling the worlds mockery. Money hungry whorers of the Gospel all over the television - "preachers" who only dictate their own personal agendas - self-proclaimed "Believers" who have absoltuely no evidence of biblical salvation - my own lack of preparedness to go forth in power and authority that is mine in Christ. My friend, we are a Body that is in need of an encounter! An encounter with the LORD Himself. Until one walks as not of this world, he will continue to be of it - seduced and enamored with its evil desires. It may be incremental, but even "a little leaven ruins the whole loaf". Oh to be completely rid of the worlds ways and boundaries!

So I say once again, Wake oh sleeping Church! Dry-boned Body of Christ, come alive! The world is dying, but more importantly, the world is living without the knowledge of the Saviour. How else will they know? How else will they hear? The fields are ripe - let us address ourselves so that we can go out and bring in the great harvest!

10 comments:

314ronald said...

That is so so true. We are living of the world man your spirit inspires me to be a fighter for Jesus and to show him in my life even more giving up what is mine to take in what God wants me to do. Im attacked on a daily basis but I'm learning to stand firm in christ that his words of life will fullfill me and lift me in spirit to minister his words and to be like the men in the bible paul and john etc. and really take my cross and follow him never leavin my sword at home which is the word of God and readin of the scriptures and meditating on them to continue to be the fuel of fire in my life which is the holy spirit of God to lead me according to his word. To be like him and be fishers of men. And I can see that you are a fisher of men. Stay encourage I fight with you God is with us and the holyspirit is movin like the wind. And we will see his glory now and in the end. Keep the faith my brother in Jesus Christ name I pray. Amen!

Tracy said...

I stand with ya! could say more but I don't want to write a book.. I feel exactly as you do ...

314ronald said...

Oh thats ok maybe thats what we christians need to unite instead of so much division within the church itself. My feelings are that denominations need to be thrown out if we all servin the same God we should just carry the title of christian"children of god" and thats it all teachin should be from the bible and only the bible and everything in it should be taught not half or bits and pieces. Amen.

Joel Spencer said...

Ronald: Glad to hear you're fired up - we should be. Also glad to be beside you as we go out and be the Ambassadors that we're called to be.

Regarding your second comment - I'm with you regarding our spiritual identitites - we should all be One under the name of Christ.

Tracy: Go ahead, write as much as you want!

Anonymous said...

Was that some bad SNL piece? Pretty funny.

I agree with what 314ronald says about uniting, but my question would be this....which interpretation of the bible do we go by? I understand that the words in the bible are the only ones that we should follow, but lets face it, ALL denominations have their own interpretation, even christians. For me, this is what is confusing.

314ronald said...

I may not be right but I always go by the king james version and I use the other versions that are in more english to help to understand what the kj says. So to be honest thats one we have to pray to god about and he will let us know.

Joel Spencer said...

Anonymous: Regarding your question, what version one uses is not as important as whether or not they take the time to dig much deeper via the original texts and word origins. I'm personally a fan of New American Standard but I ALWAYS use a Strong's Dictionary and Concordance to search out the original language.

I don't believe that any version is flawless - even the KJV has translation issues when paralleled with the Greek and Hebrew. The problem is however, that I fluently speak neither Greek nor Hebrew so I must use some translation.

with that said, alot of "personal interpretations" can be eliminated when one examines the original definitions in light of their settings and circumstances.

Good question.

314ronald said...

very true I understand were you commin from brother and I back you up on that good praise god that we can fellowship and not bite off each others head on our oppinions. Praise and glory be to god. Amen

Joel Hosler said...

What is the best is that there are videos of bands playing that song this past year...???? What are they thinking???? Sorry that's my comment.


JOEL

Joel Spencer said...

Joel: I may have to delete this blog post - I never want to hear this song again.... ever. lol