Where do you see the Church?
We’re busy preparing for Sunday – there’s Worship and Sunday School to teach, and a missionary family will be visiting us for lunch. We’re rather excited, because they have 7 children, just as we do. I think we’ll have a house full!
Italian Beef for sandwiches is simmering on the stove, Amy’s Best Potato Salad in the World is in the fridge…and the cookies will be made tomorrow.
I’ll be finishing up the house in my remaining time, but I had some questions I wanted to ask you….something to think about for the weekend.
What do you think of the Church? How do you think that God is moving Her in this generation? As you look across the broad landscape – not only in America but across the globe – where do you see His hand?
I am a big trend watcher. By that I don’t mean “trendy things,” but rather patterns.
I’ll admit that there are times I can become weary and almost dismayed at the things I see in the Church today. There is everything from immorality in the pulpit to life long Believers who scarcely know who Jesus is to what seems like extreme hatred amongst Believers of differing theological persuasions.
But it strikes me that God isn’t done with the Church in our time. He remains. The Holy Spirit doesn’t pack up His bags and head home. He has a plan for you, for me, for all of us. What do you see Him doing in OUR time?
ReneeM replied:
I’ll be back… to describe my church. Though I think you may have read me over at Molly’s or at my place.
I think God is doing AWESOME things in the church. He is awakening many many hearts and lives. Sometimes they do end up leaving church in order to find God, which is sad! And yet, I think God is just happy that He is being searched for!!! I think God is reawkening the church, and giving new life. I think the Holy Spirit is being poured out on congregations and in cities in places, because they are desparate and tired of the status quo and want what Jesus promised us!
I think the modern church in this day and age, the traditional church, as a general rule, has settled into a rut, and out of fear has turned its back on the world. And we have NOTHING to fear from the world! The fashions, the immorality, the cults and New Age spirituality, we have NOTHING to fear – because HE is WITH US. Jesus’ Spirit… the same one that raised Him from the dead… lives IN ME!!! Holy moley… And they SO SO desperately need the truth we hoard, and will only share if they come knocking at our doors… and even then we share with trepidation!!
And you could change all the “we”s to “I” and “me”… and then that would be the honest truth of what I think, and where I have come from and where I am at. (sigh) that felt good! Thanks Holly for the invite!!
September 30, 2006 at 5:48 am. Permalink.
thereverendswife replied:
Renee, thanks so much! That is exactly what I was looking for…just for people to share what they are seeing! (Maybe I should have made this two posts…two different questions!) Actually, I will!
September 30, 2006 at 2:25 pm. Permalink.
thereverendswife replied:
Also, Renee, yes, I have read of your fellowship…but not all in one place and not necessarily succinctly. Also…probably not everyone here has read about your church. So, share away!
September 30, 2006 at 2:35 pm. Permalink.
Susan replied:
I don’t really know. I see two sides of it really. I see the one side where homeschoolers are leading a way and changing the way they think about church and family. There are many many homeschoolers I have met through blogging where I have been shocked to learn that we are on the same page about church and family. I see an awakening there. And of course I think we are on the right track, other wise I wouldn’t be doing it or believing in it. I really feel God moving through the christian homeschool community.
Then I see what I have seen at our past church of 11 years, which I wrote about in the post above. There seems to be very little difference between it and the world and it seems like they are striving to bring the world in, make the m comfortabel so they will stay and hopefully they will then come to know the Lord. I don’t really believe in this approach. I see it happening a lot in the mega church movement and I don’t think it works.
Well, there is my two cents.
Susan
October 3, 2006 at 6:50 am. Permalink.