True To Christ & Faith

All too often, the church... just doesn't get it right. It seems wrong to say that, but I'm at a loss for words as to how to describe it. Our interactions with society and culture get misunderstood and misconstrued; we act in ways that people respond negatively (which seemingly isn't that hard to do anymore) or we walk cautiously, as to not to offend. Whether we are perceived wrong, regardless of whether we say, or act "wrong", the church is increasingly finding itself in interesting predicaments.

My advice... just be the church. Be yourself. Act natural. Breathe regular.

The fake faith, the false faith... the insincere and disingenuous will be witnessed and dismissed.

Conversely, the genuine, the real, the honest, will be recognized and appreciated. They will not know us by our words or deeds, or economic status or political bent; not by quality of life or family or relationships; not by prominence or promise... but by our love. 

Sadly, society has skewed and defined, even redefined love, albeit inaccurately. Amazingly enough, however, the love of Christ, one on one; in places of great difficulty is quite visible. 

Yet we struggle so much to reach the lost, we often forget to simply allow the handiwork of God flow through us, as we daily live out who we were.

Sinners saved by grace. It doesn't make us perfect; just redeemed. It doesn't make us righteous; just on a journey whereby we more closely reflect the image of Christ. And as Christians more closely reflect Christ, so to, will the church as an organization reflect Christ. 

Interestingly enough, as I got ready to wrtie this post, I read the latest blog by Matt Walsh...

***permit me an extra couple of minutes and read the intro he writes when he posted this piece... (copied from his facebook update):

The church is very focused on "welcoming" and "including" the secular, the worldly, the unrepentant, and all kinds of other people who aren't actually interested in Christianity. Of course, we SHOULD try to include these people, but the problem is that the church often tries to do it by watering down its doctrine and imitating the world. "They like our godless culture," many churches say to themselves, "so I suppose we should give them a godless form of pseudo-Christianity."

I've written my columns and recorded many podcasts addressing this and explaining why it's incredibly misguided. But there's one aspect of it that I haven't focused on. That is this: while these churches try so hard (and so ineffectually) to "welcome" the un-Christian, they often succeed in alienating the actual Christians. In other words, many actual, real, believing, devout Christians go to church on Sunday and find a service that doesn't appear designed for them at all. It doesn't speak to them. It doesn't try to reach them or encourage them or revitalize and strengthen them. In fact, often it may do the opposite. In some churches, believing Christians are chastised, scolded, and labeled as bigots.

This is a problem for many reasons, but here's the biggest one: believing Christians ARE the church. The minority of people in this culture who actually strive for righteousness and try with great sacrifice to live according to the doctrines of the faith are not merely "a part" of the church, but they are the church. The church should always feel at home in any church. This, to me, seems like the most obvious thing in the world, but apparently it must be explained. - MATT WALSH

Join me, this #communitySaturday, that the church simply be honest and genuine. In their daily walk, in the sharing of their faith, in their desire to extend the hand of Christ to those in need... may the people of God be known by their love. Pray we would not compromise our convictions in favor of society's acceptance, nor afraid to speak the truth because it might offend. May God accomplish the miraculous in the lives of the lost, through the testimony of those who have come alive in Him.

In Christ,
By Christ, 
For Christ...
In whome we live, move and have our being
To impact this world for our Lord & Saviour.
For the glory of God.

- PNC