God's Plan! I hear Christians and non Christians alike talking about God's plan or God's will, and this is a very challenging thing to talk about. Many are looking to know what God’s "plan" is for their lives. And when things go wrong many begin asking why God would let bad things happen. These are both difficult issues to address. One of the ever popular verses regarding these is the great verse from Jeremiah 29:11.
Jer 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
This is a great verse to read and a powerful one to hear in times of looking and wondering for answers about life. But it is easy to quote a verse and “claim it” and then wonder why thing don’t happen like the verse says it should. Many times when things don’t seem to be “prospering” and we are experiencing “harm” we start to question God and ask others why God would let bad things happen when he promises good. The way this verse is thrown out there as a simple answer is to misrepresent God and his word. God’s plan for our lives might be able to be summed up in this verse but a world that does not go according to plan can not. God says He has a plan but just by looking at the nation of Israel (to which whom this is written) it is obvious that they did not always prosper and we know that they did experience harm. So is God a liar? Do we just not have enough faith? Or do our actions or sin that go against God’s desire for our lives keep us from experiencing that plan quoted above?
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Thursday, February 09, 2006
The Emerging Church Part 3
I would like to say one last thing. I am for just about everything I have read that the Emerging Church wants to do. And I agree with just about everything they see as problems in many of our Church’s today. I know at some point many feel they can’t make a difference any more and separation is the only option. I know some like the argument that we have already been separating for hundreds of years, what’s a little more? But I do believe Jesus’ words when he said:
Mark 3:24-25
24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
And when he said:
Matt 16:18
I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Both of Jesus' words will ring true for all time. I have been part of a church for 10 years that I have “wanted to leave” many times but how would that have been edifying to the body, God’s church? I want to see change. I want to see the church become a powerful tool in our communities and in our world. The more that I have these desire the more I see that we, as a community of believes, both in our local churches and the world, will be ultimately more effective and powerful if we are all fighting the same fight. It does take more time if one is gathering a larger army but I believe it is time spent well if we can look back and see a church that is fighting together instead of fighting against each other.
I would say to the Emerging Church, which I would consider myself emerging with; Emerge within our churches and lead those churches into a place were they are more of what God desires His church to be. Lead them don't leave them. Make leaving the last option not the first.
Mark 3:24-25
24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
And when he said:
Matt 16:18
I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Both of Jesus' words will ring true for all time. I have been part of a church for 10 years that I have “wanted to leave” many times but how would that have been edifying to the body, God’s church? I want to see change. I want to see the church become a powerful tool in our communities and in our world. The more that I have these desire the more I see that we, as a community of believes, both in our local churches and the world, will be ultimately more effective and powerful if we are all fighting the same fight. It does take more time if one is gathering a larger army but I believe it is time spent well if we can look back and see a church that is fighting together instead of fighting against each other.
I would say to the Emerging Church, which I would consider myself emerging with; Emerge within our churches and lead those churches into a place were they are more of what God desires His church to be. Lead them don't leave them. Make leaving the last option not the first.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
The Emerging Church Part 2
Sadly I did not get the comments I was looking for after my first post, however I will still offer some of my thoughts in hope of others offering theirs. One thing is for certain. The Emerging church really has no true definition. Part of who they are is defined in their desire to not have a specific definition. However I have found common themes. The first is that they wish to be different then the Christian “church” cultures at which they live or grew up in become what the church is “supposed to be”. (I am in no way implying that this is a bad thing by using quotes. But I am saying that to try to become the way it is “supposed to be” is up to different interpretations and views.) The second is a desire to universally accept people and support them on their own spiritual journey, where ever that might lead. The third is to see the church take an active role in the lives of those they touch or are not directly touching through openness and advocating and living social justice.
Are any of these things wrong? Maybe not but I do fear the way in which it is being done, through leaving the current church and going out to start their own communities. I believe this is leading them down the same path for which they desire to move away from currently. Recognizing culture change is a very biblical thing to do to reach those around us with the message of Jesus, what worked 20 years ago may not work today and therefore it is valid to seek how to reach the cultural we are in. However in 20 years that cultural will change. Is it a good thing to see Christians have an exodus from the church every 20 years because people don’t believe in the current church any more? Or is it better to be unified, recognizing that Jesus said that the church is the hope of the world (that includes those that aren’t being culturally relevant) and work from within to bring about biblical changes. If there are changes to be made and problems to fix should we not use unity to strengthen, grow and change our communities instead of running and leaving those who love and worship the same God. The world sees how we act toward each other as much as they see the way we act toward them.
Are any of these things wrong? Maybe not but I do fear the way in which it is being done, through leaving the current church and going out to start their own communities. I believe this is leading them down the same path for which they desire to move away from currently. Recognizing culture change is a very biblical thing to do to reach those around us with the message of Jesus, what worked 20 years ago may not work today and therefore it is valid to seek how to reach the cultural we are in. However in 20 years that cultural will change. Is it a good thing to see Christians have an exodus from the church every 20 years because people don’t believe in the current church any more? Or is it better to be unified, recognizing that Jesus said that the church is the hope of the world (that includes those that aren’t being culturally relevant) and work from within to bring about biblical changes. If there are changes to be made and problems to fix should we not use unity to strengthen, grow and change our communities instead of running and leaving those who love and worship the same God. The world sees how we act toward each other as much as they see the way we act toward them.
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