July 11, 2008
Change
I see a parallel in Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and the direction many churches are going. Both promote change. If Obama is elected, only the future will tell us whether or not his theme of change will work. In the church however, we can look to the past to see if change has been successful. For instance, are those who were attracted to the seeker friendly movement still seeking? Have contemporary churches flourished or have they merely taken over and replaced the traditional church? To me it doesn’t appear that the changes made in the church have improved spiritual maturity…and in some cases we’re actually less productive spiritually than we were 10 or 20 years ago. Maybe rather than saying CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN, the church should be saying BELIEVE IN THE ONE WHO BRINGS CHANGE.
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Gail;
-----The One who brings change brings it to the individual - the biggest difference between Barak’s change and Jesus’ change. Barak hopes to bring change to the government, an organization. Consequently, change would then come to the individual, of course, whether he wanted it or not. But this is not the change Jesus advocates in the Holy Bible; He hopes to bring change to the individual. Consequently, change would then come to the church.
-----This is the main reason I believe the contemporary movement is so off course. It exists in the “Barak” mentality, thinking that the important issue is to change the church by tampering through its organizational structure. Then those who wish to change with the changed organization will matter as individuals, and those who do not will not. That is a relationship with an organization, quite like the politician has with his party, first, then with those who agree with him, and the rest don’t matter.
-----But in the body of Christ, everyone matters. That is why the church should not be an organization with agendas, plans, and goals other than the facilitation of fellowship, spiritual growth, and personal service in the Word and Spirit. Like the human body strives to maintain health at the cellular level first, the church’s first concern is with spiritual health at the individual level. At least, according to the Bible it is. Then as the body does not bully the cells in the hands, arms, face, knees, etc. to all become cells in the feet, the Bible instructs us to not bully each other into serving in this manner or that manner, doing this or doing that according to what some group of alpha type bullies insist is what the church should be doing. That way the Spirit can build the body of Christ according to the gifts He gives to the individuals who comprise the church.
-----We have it so backwards.
Love,
Steve Corey
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