Wasn’t really planning on starting up again, but I had some things happen over the past few months that have gotten me into this temporary mode of putting my two cents in.
To start off with – this is for me, for us, and even some younger people.
Listen up – we are not always right! Can you believe it? I have said it – and I am pretty much right about it!!
I have come to the conclusion (and I am right about this), that just because we have always done it one way, does not make it the correct way! Look at our churches – young people have left by the thousands, never to return again! What happened? What has caused the phenomena?
I am talking the United States at the moment. You know, the free country that was (and indeed it was) founded on religious freedom. The very thing that our forefathers came mainly to this new land for – religious freedom and to escape tyrannical governments. The first thing that happened was – we handed over aspects of the church, such as charity (love) to the government to do with as it wills. Why did we do that? Money was the main culprit, we just did not want to take the time to deal with it.
Throughout history, when government has been handed power, what did they do with it? You guessed it, they demanded more power, which, as government takes more power, with it they take more freedom to be able to achieve more power. Guess where we are, as a country, now? It’s not rocket science people. The more power the government takes, the more they demand, the more freedoms they take. It all trickles down, until at the end of the gigantic waterfall is a cesspool where everyone drowns, individuals, and yes, eventually the church is affected – while government stands at the top of the mountain laughing at the carnage below.
To get back on track – the church began losing its contribution to society by handing over the charity (love) aspect of ourselves to the government. When the church lost the charity aspect it got more interested in the individual aspect of things, like what people were wearing, what people were eating, what people were listening to… In other words, the church became more interested in the outer aspect of man, than the inner workings of a mans heart.
OK, geezers. Listen up! We failed for the past few generations as a church. It is time to step back and let some new ideas beckon to a new generation of a worldwide population of almost eight billion people.
Listen up, new generation of church leaders! We are handing over the leadership of the church to you. That does not mean to do whatever you will.
It means to do God’s will for the church. In doing God’s will though, it would be good to listen to Him before you try to do something for Him. It means, you will, at times, get away from all the noise and confusion in this world today. Get apart and alone, get in touch with Him, find His will and not yours for future church leadership.
God is not a God of big noises, listen for Him in quiet places. Lead the next generation to those still places. Same gospel. Renewed purpose.
The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever.
~AE~
Voice of the Introverts 