It seems a bit odd to me that you never see any homeless people, drunks, prostitutes, gay people and the such in church. Are those not the people we want in our church? Are they not the people who need to hear of God's love and how Jesus died for them? Didn't Jesus say that he came for the sick and not the well? Yet all you see in our churches are the "christians". I don't like that. Yet non of the people i mentioned above would even want to come to our church. We as christians have made these people feel so bad and low about theirselves...we have judged these people...looked down upon them...they don't want to have anything to do with our God. (most at least). And that's sad. And I don't think God would be happy with that or with us for that. I think that telling people they are sinners and going to hell is not the most effective way of doing things. That's why I don't care for open air ministry..that's why I question people who think as soon as you see someone you should be telling them about how they are sinners and going to hell unless they are saved and leave their old way of life. How does that help? I don't think it does. I think if you want to tell someone of Christ right away without knowing that person, you should tell them of how God loves them and how He wants to have a relationship with them. Not that they are going to hell without His help. Anyway, that's just another reason why I don't care too much for church these days.
posted by Maria Purviance at
6:24 AM
10 Comments:
Actually, over 60% of our current church are not Christians. And there are a few homosexuals in there (most people don't know that, though). It sounds like a nutso church, I know, but my pastor thinks the same way you do. And we minster to them all equally...it's a rare find...!
very rare...although...still werid to me that most people don't know the homosexuals are homosexuals.
I doubt there were very many, if any, non-Christians in the early church gatherings. Why would they gather together for worship if they weren't Christians?
In reality, the types of people you mention hang out around the church everyday because, as you know, the church is not a building, but a group of people. I can't imagine there are many drunks, prostitutes or gays that don't regularly come in contact with the church.
So I don't find it odd at all that they don't go to a church building since that is a place for Christians to assemble together. The 'sad' part is when the church doesn't 'go' to them and share God's love (and I agree with you, we should share His love for them, not point fingers)
There's still not many ways to plug in to our church, with it still being so new, so the "newbies" that come are often not noticed, and they (gays) certainly don't practice PDA during church! I happen to know of one girl who is gay in our church, and our pastor doesn't even know, and the only reason that I do is because I knew her and worked with her about 10 years ago...she doesn't go around broadcasting it, and I have always thought she was searching...I don't think it's a permanent condition for most of them that attend church on a regular basis. I truly believe that God will break them one day...
i do find it odd. you always here the pastors say that we need to invite people to church...but lots of christians don't even know the people i mentioned. (me included). so how can we reach them when we just look down upon them and don't care to even go and talk to them? if all christians would take a sunday a month and skip church, but instead go and find these people and just sit and talk to them, then i think we could reach a lot of people. but christians think it's a sin to skip church. (unless of course, it's for something we want to do..then we can justify it). even when jesus was walking around on this earth..he ate with those people, he had fellowship with them. you never read of jesus sitting in a church pew. yeah, he would preach to people..but he also would go out and love the people no one else wanted to love. that's why all those people loved jesus so much. and now, we may give a dollar to a homeless person, if we are in a good mood, but that's about it.
I think that we need to remember not to forsake fellowship with other believers because it spurs us on toward love and good deeds. We're admonished to do this as believers. It is in being the Body with one another, worshiping the Lord together, hearing the Word together, that we are encouraged, our faith is affirmed and built, and that we are (or should be) taught that our life outside the walls of the church is to be about loving the people we are in contact with outside the church. We are the Body inside and outside of the church building.
The church should also be teaching its attendees that we should be intentional, at all times we are not in the church building, to be getting to know people who don't know the Lord, loving them, building relationship with Him, and using His law to point to their need for His grace. It's so easy to stay inside of a believer circle, and not try to know anyone who doesn't know the Lord.
I don't think skipping Church to love the lost is quite the right way to go about it. I think that meeting together with other believers is Biblical, and leading a life of love for people, with a goal to go out into all the world and preach the gospel is also Biblical. Jesus loved the lost. We are to do that too, 7 days a week, but we shouldn't toss away corporate meetings of the Body to do that. It's both/and, not either/or.
like the woman at the well. Jesus told her of the living water and encourgaged her. He then told her to go and sin no more. He didn't tear her down and tell her the consequences of her actions unless she breaks down and bares all to father. His approach was welcoming and kind and that to me is an awesome example of true ministry.
I think sometimes we get caught up on the church's imperfections. Instead, this should be the motivation that spurs us on all the more to be Christ's hands and feet.
The church speaks Christ; sadly it is not always in a positive way. However, we cannot dislike Christianity and church because we as humans are fallible. We will make mistakes and many of us do not try to live above reproach. Yet we have the opportunity to begin doing so, while helping others see Christ rather than the imperfections of the church.
I love and miss you Maria!
You HAVE to call me! I don't have your # b/c I accidentally deleted it from my phone! I have an appointment at 9 tomorrow (will proba last about an hour and a half, then we close on the house at 11...(our time). Call me sometime in the afternoon at home (naps are from 12:30-3:30! I can't believe I lost your #....grrrr.....
i like how you think maria, quite realistic. sorry i didn't answer back any comments, i'm kind of a scatter brain like that. plus i usually blog on sporadic whims. feel free to write, this time i'll answer back.
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