[NOTE: this post is best experienced if you listen to "From Yesterday" by 30 Seconds to Mars while reading]

A couple of days back one of my posts (or rants) brought forth the question:

“How do we change the Church? Or is it worth changing?”

(from youthminister66 )

And I’ll go ahead and accuse myself of being critical and often times offering no answers. SO let me embark upon these questions. It will bring us into territory that is bigger than me, so your input into the journey is paramount. I need all of you to take apart in this.

So let me answer the easiest part first: is the church worth saving?

The answer is a resounding YES. It must. The bride/church is meant to exists until He returns.

Then that leads us to the first question: how do we change the church?

Walk with me for a bit as I meander around the question. Christ cleared the church with a whip because the people had forgotten its intended purposed. So clear your mind about any church clutter you may have entertained thus far in the conversation. Step into the clearing with me.

Picture this. You are apart of a Kingdom. A mighty Kingdom. Now picture this Kingdom established deep within enemy territory. You serve a mighty King. To live you must obey what is governed by your King. To survive you must protect yourself from the enemy that surrounds you. You live in a walled city. Men stay watch over its walls at all times. As you leave those walls, you gird yourself with heavy armor; protection against what may come your way. You serve a cause greater than yourself. This Kingdom is your hope and life. You live to provide for your family and serve your King with honor. You would die for your King and your family.

Now apply this to your lives now. What if we as Christians lived like we had a King? Like we lived with a kingdom? Like we had an enemy outside the walls. If that was reality, how would it shape our lives today?

What if prayer, like the men in the watchtower, were necessary by someone within the body of the church at all times? If the post is left, the city is vulnerable.

If we began to take on this Kingdom view, how would it change our churches (little “c” churches, not THE CHURCH - His people)? We have forgotten that this battle we are in is LIFE and DEATH. Part spiritual, part physical. The events of 9/11 changed our views on safety and patriotism, but they quickly faded away. What if life was like 9/11 every day? How would you live differently?

We have an enemy (some flesh, some spirit) that seeks to “steal, kill, and destroy”. Do we act like it? I get angry because the church has turned into psychiatry and steps to good living. We have lost our edge, our drive to be apart of his Kingdom. We have left our city unguarded and taken up residence with the enemy. The dream has been forgotten and we’ve moved on with our lives.

What if we began to see the church as our lifeblood? Not the walls or steeple. But the people and community we have there. What if it wasn’t simply once a week? What if we sought out to live this Kingdom lifestyle?

This whole vision is all a dream you wake up from. It makes sense, at the time, but it doesn’t within the context of the world of your awakend state. You know it’s real, but can’t completely define it. We’re just waiting for it to take physical form. So wake up dreamers. Wipe the sleep from your eyes. Until now, we’ve lived alone and dreamless within the dark forest. We’ve scrimped and scratched by to live. Step out of the forest and into the clearing… your Kingdom awaits.

[tomorrow: a second side to add contradiction to the first]

If any of you have about 45 min to burn… check out the message I gave at our church this Sunday.  

“Called to a Journey” Mp3

Check it out here

I know that’s a stupid question, but why do we act like he was?

Pharisee {a self-righteous or sanctimonious person }

How many time (me, soooo  included) do we come to our Lord, expecting to be chastised for something we have done? How many times does that feeling keep us away from Him? Too often for me. We expect Him to brow beat and guilt us into submission.

How does Jesus deal with the woman caught in adultery? The Pharisee answer: stone her, she’s committed evil!

His answer: go and sin no more. Freedom and repentance go hand in hand.

But have we forgotten that we have salvation through Him and it was a FREE gift?

Have we forgotten that we did nothing to get this? He loves us first. We did nothing to earn it.

Now I’m not advocating that we live in sin, but I’m saying that we should embrace the newness of life. Live the life that we have been called to. Take that breath of fresh air the way a prisoner does when he’s released from jail for the first time.

So relax, the pressures’s off. The new life is here. Live it.

I was unpacking (yes, I’m still unpacking) and found a note from a old friend. She had given me a few words of wisdom about Authentic Spirituality.  Since I blogged a few days back on authenticity, I figured I should share her wisdom on the subject:

 Authentic Spritiuality is displayed in the book of Acts. So what is it?

1. Love for Christ

2. Loyalty to fellow disciples

3. Contagious Faith

4. Unreserved commitment

5. Expectation of great things

6. Filled with the Holy Spirit