"The Church" or "Going to church"?
It's crazy that as of late I have had this bitter taste in my mouth for the institution and traditions of Sunday morning "church". I feel almost lied to, and hindered because of the indoctrination that Sundays are the time when we "worship" and are in the "Presence of the Lord". I can't see myself attending another Sunday morning charade, with it's cast of characters. i find it frustrating that the Holy Spirit is hindered from using every member of the Body of Christ. Have you heard the answer to this...oh, i have (usually said with a chipper smile) "we would love to use everyone, you can be a greeter or pass out communion, or..." HA. That isn't what Paul intended when talking about our gifts, it isn't written "and to one the gift of coffee making, and to another the gift of bulletin stuffing.."(Read 1 Corn. 12)
We tend to believe(or involuntarily act out) that only a few "Head" people (or even only ONE person) in a "church" are blessed with gifts to minister or to share with the other believers what the Lord has been doing in their lives, or share a song on their heart. It is left to a small few "chosen ones"....The common response I encounter when asking "Why not let everyone share?" is really a fleshly fear and not a spirit led peace.. "but, if everyone can share, what if someone says something that isn't what i believe, or what if they aren't mature enough". You see if we all were able to share, then there will be more understanding of our fellow believer, and we can really address issues in each others lives. You don't have to go to college to know how to pray for a fellow believer who is struggling or who needs a shoulder to cry on. If a group of people who meet together to fellowship as believers(sans maybe a few) are all filled with the Holy Spirit and have Christ as the Head, they are going to always focus back to Christ and give Him glory. I challenge all of us to try this.
Some one needs to go to seminary to share what the Lord has placed in their hearts? FALSE. We have created this glorified position in the Church, that there is this one, go-to-guy(and this one guy isn't Jesus) if ever there is a problem or need amongst a congregation. Due to the fact that this one guy is "schooled" leads us to believe that he must have all the answers and is the end all to our problems(imagine the pressure on his shoulders?!).
However, if we were to follow the appropriate example that Christ is the Head, then we would be seeking Him FIRST. and then our brothers and sisters. With this method, there is not pressure on one person to guide us to the answer, we would seek Christ for the solution and then our brothers and sisters, elders and others second, if needed for possible understanding or prayer, etc.
I know that I do not fully understand everything that was intended for us as Christians, the Church, the Body. I do know that I am am on the right track and i am eager to see what else the Lord has in store to show me in my life and in the Church body that I am a part of.
I have decided to start reading Paul's letters in chronological order....so I am off to Galatians.
We tend to believe(or involuntarily act out) that only a few "Head" people (or even only ONE person) in a "church" are blessed with gifts to minister or to share with the other believers what the Lord has been doing in their lives, or share a song on their heart. It is left to a small few "chosen ones"....The common response I encounter when asking "Why not let everyone share?" is really a fleshly fear and not a spirit led peace.. "but, if everyone can share, what if someone says something that isn't what i believe, or what if they aren't mature enough". You see if we all were able to share, then there will be more understanding of our fellow believer, and we can really address issues in each others lives. You don't have to go to college to know how to pray for a fellow believer who is struggling or who needs a shoulder to cry on. If a group of people who meet together to fellowship as believers(sans maybe a few) are all filled with the Holy Spirit and have Christ as the Head, they are going to always focus back to Christ and give Him glory. I challenge all of us to try this.
Some one needs to go to seminary to share what the Lord has placed in their hearts? FALSE. We have created this glorified position in the Church, that there is this one, go-to-guy(and this one guy isn't Jesus) if ever there is a problem or need amongst a congregation. Due to the fact that this one guy is "schooled" leads us to believe that he must have all the answers and is the end all to our problems(imagine the pressure on his shoulders?!).
However, if we were to follow the appropriate example that Christ is the Head, then we would be seeking Him FIRST. and then our brothers and sisters. With this method, there is not pressure on one person to guide us to the answer, we would seek Christ for the solution and then our brothers and sisters, elders and others second, if needed for possible understanding or prayer, etc.
I know that I do not fully understand everything that was intended for us as Christians, the Church, the Body. I do know that I am am on the right track and i am eager to see what else the Lord has in store to show me in my life and in the Church body that I am a part of.
I have decided to start reading Paul's letters in chronological order....so I am off to Galatians.