My "thinkery" just this morning on waking: the Church (denominational, not non-denom.) has been bleeding members. I would bet that church leaders contacted a number of PR firms with "What do you suggest we do about this?" Answer--"You have to be more welcoming. Welcoming, welcoming. Much more greeting and shaking hands. Set up a coffee s…
My "thinkery" just this morning on waking: the Church (denominational, not non-denom.) has been bleeding members. I would bet that church leaders contacted a number of PR firms with "What do you suggest we do about this?" Answer--"You have to be more welcoming. Welcoming, welcoming. Much more greeting and shaking hands. Set up a coffee shop so people can have coffee before (and in) the service, not just coffee hour post-worship." Meanwhile, the essential message--the whole raison d'etre (sorry, no circonflex) is diluted. Mission statement of our congregation is (why would a congregation need a 'mission' statement? Your mission is to worship God and make disciples) is "First Pres. Church is a place where lives are changed by Christ and we live out our faith together." WHAAA? So why bother? Church-goers are buying something by attending: paying with their hour and a half (adding travel or chat time to the service hour)--and what are they purchasing with that time? If the Christian message of grace, sin, redemption is watered down to thin gruel, better to spend that time on the golf course getting Vitamin D, or taking Johnny/Susie to travel soccer games. Cost vs benefit. A transaction. So I think the church focussed on the "making disciples" part by more hand-shaking and coffee cups, forgetting why men would want to become disciples in the first place..
ABSOLUTELY, ViaVeritas!! You hit the "ugly" nail on its apostate head! We are truly in the "Laodicean" church period mentioned in Revelations and you know what Jesus told the Apostle John about His response to that "lukewarm" body of professing believers. The strongest Christian churches are those in CHINA and MUSLIM countries where they meet in SECRET in bunkers and abandoned buildings and where Bibles are very, very revered and scarce. We are FAT, APOSTATE AND PATHETIC in Western countries. We will undergo persecution by China, Muslims and perhaps Russia in the next 7 years. Most of my friends from my non-denominational background believe we will be "raptured" before the Great Tribulation begins - because they "misinterpret" portions of Scripture. I believe the term "rapture" was coined in the 19th century by an evangelical pastor/theologian--it is NOT mentioned in the Bible at all!!
Trim your 'lamps', friends!! The Brideroom is coming and we must be ready to "greet" Him!!
My "thinkery" just this morning on waking: the Church (denominational, not non-denom.) has been bleeding members. I would bet that church leaders contacted a number of PR firms with "What do you suggest we do about this?" Answer--"You have to be more welcoming. Welcoming, welcoming. Much more greeting and shaking hands. Set up a coffee shop so people can have coffee before (and in) the service, not just coffee hour post-worship." Meanwhile, the essential message--the whole raison d'etre (sorry, no circonflex) is diluted. Mission statement of our congregation is (why would a congregation need a 'mission' statement? Your mission is to worship God and make disciples) is "First Pres. Church is a place where lives are changed by Christ and we live out our faith together." WHAAA? So why bother? Church-goers are buying something by attending: paying with their hour and a half (adding travel or chat time to the service hour)--and what are they purchasing with that time? If the Christian message of grace, sin, redemption is watered down to thin gruel, better to spend that time on the golf course getting Vitamin D, or taking Johnny/Susie to travel soccer games. Cost vs benefit. A transaction. So I think the church focussed on the "making disciples" part by more hand-shaking and coffee cups, forgetting why men would want to become disciples in the first place..
ABSOLUTELY, ViaVeritas!! You hit the "ugly" nail on its apostate head! We are truly in the "Laodicean" church period mentioned in Revelations and you know what Jesus told the Apostle John about His response to that "lukewarm" body of professing believers. The strongest Christian churches are those in CHINA and MUSLIM countries where they meet in SECRET in bunkers and abandoned buildings and where Bibles are very, very revered and scarce. We are FAT, APOSTATE AND PATHETIC in Western countries. We will undergo persecution by China, Muslims and perhaps Russia in the next 7 years. Most of my friends from my non-denominational background believe we will be "raptured" before the Great Tribulation begins - because they "misinterpret" portions of Scripture. I believe the term "rapture" was coined in the 19th century by an evangelical pastor/theologian--it is NOT mentioned in the Bible at all!!
Trim your 'lamps', friends!! The Brideroom is coming and we must be ready to "greet" Him!!
Very nice parting shot, Sharon. Thanks for taking time to take my comment further. I have myself been thinking a lot about that very admonition.