This week I have been blogging about the spiritual death that is happening within the church and culture especially in the North-East United States.
As a final part of this theme I want to share what I believe is the answer to this spiritual decline and what you can do to start a movement that will buck this trend and help people to see the real church and hear a message of hope and life-change without their view of ‘religion’ closing their ears to words that will give them complete purpose and satisfaction.
Before I say what I believe the answer is, here are a few things that it is not:
- It’s not a rocking band in church – I love rocking bands, if my heart is pumping out of my chest it’s not loud enough, but this isn’t the answer
- It’s not more ministries and programs – They make a church less focused, stretches resources and burns out staff and leaders!
- It’s not a kicking kids ministry – Kids ministries are vital, the more kicking the better, but still not the answer
- It’s not an awesome youth ministry – Once again vital, but not the answer
- It’s not a women’s ministry – Sorry ladies! (If I’m wrong I’m going to get a whole lot of ladies making me eat some humble pie!)
- It’s not creative communication – I get bored at my own voice, so imagine others? While creative communication is a good thing, it’s not the missing piece
- It’s not a style – Not seeker-sensitive, not emergent, not traditional, not contemporary, not charismatic, not liturgical, not a style (nor philosophy)
- It’s not the latest fad – Fads come and go, the church is here to stay!
So here is my answer to what the church needs to do to show this world what Christ is all about:
‘The church needs to strip down all the layers of church stuff and expose a true, authentic and real love for Jesus Christ. We are told in Mark 12: 30 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” This means everything we do is done with our love for Christ in mind.’
The problem for many is that we do not know what loving God is all about. We like God, we entertain God, we even speak to God and sometimes let God speak to us, but many of us do not love God. The difference is simple: Loving God means you will give your life for God. Everything you do in life is through the eyes of love for an awesome savior. As you love God your heart starts to break for the things that breaks his heart. You reach out to others with love and compassion, to tell others of the great news of the Kingdom of God, you suffer so others can find life, you look at others with potential not condemnation, you place boundaries and margin in your life, you become focused, you feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, clothe the naked, heal the broken-hearted, bring hope and joy to the downcast and depressed and be willing to do whatever it takes to show people life not death!
So I believe the church needs to start loving God! Are you willing to be a radical and love God? Are you read to choose faith and not religion? Are you ready to be part of a movement of Christ lovers?
