(no subject)
Today I came to a realization. First Baptist Birmingham is dying. Every Sunday there are fewer cars in the parking lot. Every Sunday when Brother James says “greet a dozen people” I have to go farther to find those dozen. The people who are leaving our church are the ones who can change it. At first It made me sad. I wanted to be angry at God. Why is he standing watching his bride die in front of him?
But tonight my realization has changed. Numbers aren’t the point. Maybe this church is dying to itself, to take up her cross and follow Jesus. God is testing us. “Will they take the safe route to church growth or will they follow me to a place where they might not survive?” Maybe FBC is dying in a good way.
“If any church would come after me, it must deny itself and take up his cross and follow me. For the church that wants to save its life will lose it, but whatever church loses its life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a church to gain the whole world, yet forfeit its soul?”
I can’t see Gods plan in all of this, but then I can’t really see anything. If death is what its going to take to bring us new life, then bring the rain.
But tonight my realization has changed. Numbers aren’t the point. Maybe this church is dying to itself, to take up her cross and follow Jesus. God is testing us. “Will they take the safe route to church growth or will they follow me to a place where they might not survive?” Maybe FBC is dying in a good way.
“If any church would come after me, it must deny itself and take up his cross and follow me. For the church that wants to save its life will lose it, but whatever church loses its life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a church to gain the whole world, yet forfeit its soul?”
I can’t see Gods plan in all of this, but then I can’t really see anything. If death is what its going to take to bring us new life, then bring the rain.