To only go as far as blame & condemnation of the internet to explain the pluralism & loss of faith in God is insufficient. There was an aching in the hearts of humans that the traditionalism of the church wasn’t filling. Churches became the modern day version of the Tower of Babel, building up into the sky their own idol. What was lost was the ever so personal & transformational purpose that Jesus invited us in to. There was no more adventure. Being “Christian” & a member of a particular church in respective communities became enough. I say became the progression was over 1700-1800 years. The focus became the wrong 6 letter C words, church rather than Christ.
There has been a growing tide among believers to blame outside sources for our troubles & yet Jesus didn’t support that at all. 3 powerful words in transformation are “It’s not them”. We spend so much time telling & even screaming at people what not to do & how wrong they are & have missed the adventure aspect of what following Jesus is all about. Heck we can’t even clearly talk about the consequences of not waiting much less the joys of dying to our selfish desires with the future spouses well being in mind. Ex. To simply tell someone that they shouldn’t have premarital sex looses its punch when there are so many conflicting ideas. Especially when we’ve lost, or never had, our own moral authority obtained by following Jesus ourselves.
Emphasizing the invitation of Jesus to follow Him is our greatest challenge, one that is almost impossible to share if we haven’t & aren’t following Him ourselves & just being satisfied to be “in the Christian club”. “The church” must rediscover what it means to be the church that Jesus came to establish or Christianity & even Jesus will be thrown in the wastebasket of antiquity. We must discover ourselves the joy & adventure of a life characterized by following Jesus. Once we do our lips won’t stay shut, our actions through example will be so loud all those around us will be drawn to Him, our lives & the lives around us will be transformed in a way that building or no building following Jesus will be the only real option anyone ever has.
To only go as far as blame & condemnation of the internet to explain the pluralism & loss of faith in God is insufficient. There was an aching in the hearts of humans that the traditionalism of the church wasn’t filling. Churches became the modern day version of the Tower of Babel, building up into the sky their own idol. What was lost was the ever so personal & transformational purpose that Jesus invited us in to. There was no more adventure. Being “Christian” & a member of a particular church in respective communities became enough. I say became the progression was over 1700-1800 years. The focus became the wrong 6 letter C words, church rather than Christ.
There has been a growing tide among believers to blame outside sources for our troubles & yet Jesus didn’t support that at all. 3 powerful words in transformation are “It’s not them”. We spend so much time telling & even screaming at people what not to do & how wrong they are & have missed the adventure aspect of what following Jesus is all about. Heck we can’t even clearly talk about the consequences of not waiting much less the joys of dying to our selfish desires with the future spouses well being in mind. Ex. To simply tell someone that they shouldn’t have premarital sex looses its punch when there are so many conflicting ideas. Especially when we’ve lost, or never had, our own moral authority obtained by following Jesus ourselves.
Emphasizing the invitation of Jesus to follow Him is our greatest challenge, one that is almost impossible to share if we haven’t & aren’t following Him ourselves & just being satisfied to be “in the Christian club”. “The church” must rediscover what it means to be the church that Jesus came to establish or Christianity & even Jesus will be thrown in the wastebasket of antiquity. We must discover ourselves the joy & adventure of a life characterized by following Jesus. Once we do our lips won’t stay shut, our actions through example will be so loud all those around us will be drawn to Him, our lives & the lives around us will be transformed in a way that building or no building following Jesus will be the only real option anyone ever has.
Love this. I think you are spot on that we have to face the modern world as it is and try to build a thriving faith within that reality.