The Adolescent Church
So it was the last Sunday of 2009, and I was at a church and they were having testimonies all morning, instead of the sermon. Folks were coming up and sharing, each in a few minutes, their stories from 2009. I was struck by the similar tone that most of them had, and just a little concerned as many of these people seemed to have some role of leadership or responsibility in the church. Now there were some great exceptions which were really encouraging and for which I wanted to applaud and say ”yes, good on you, keep on going”. But here is what seemed like the gist of most of them: “it was a really hard year, and I realized I was trying to do it all on my own, but finally I just gave up and invited God into this difficult situation, and He came and changed everything. So when you come to the end of yourself, and you realize you just can’t do it, you just have to let go and let God and then He takes over, and it’s okay”…and so on.
I’m sure that even sounds quite familiar with many of you who have been part of the church scene for any amount of time, and you’re probably wondering, what the heck is wrong with that? For what they’re worth, here are the thoughts I was left with over the next few weeks:
It reminds me of the children of Israel in the desert for forty years. Why are we not getting past this? Why, even after many years of following in the faith, are we having to ‘come to an end of ourselves’ time after time, before it hits us that gee, maybe we should let God have a go at it from the start? Maybe this is what God had in mind after all…actually having us walk with him. Why aren’t we abiding in Christ, and realizing he’s abiding in us, so that we can (he in us) not only handle life’s hardships and anything else thrown at us, but do glorious and noble deeds, overcoming and living great lives?
It kind of shows to me how far we have yet to go. How we live quite distant from God, wandering about in the wilderness, not really getting anywhere, and allowing him access to our lives only when we hit a wall. We are meant to live in him, abide in him, in him to live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). Intimacy with God is the point.
What kind of people do you have to do everything for?…Babies! What kind of people think they don’t need any help?… Adolescents! God wants to grow us up. Now I know there are in reality, babes in Christ and young believers, who with no shame, fit into these catagories, but it seems to me we may be a church generation of adolescents. Oh, a little connection to God here and there, especially in crisis, and touching base with him once a week or so, but mostly living quite independantly from God on a day to day basis.
How about this? Living in intimate communion with, and dependancy upon God forever, and him raising us up, training us to be strong, to do great and noble deeds, maturing to seasoned followers, disciples, lovers and fighters, men and women of God, who represent him well, as 2 Cor. 5:20 exhorts us: We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though Christ were making his appeal through us. 1 Cor. 3:9 says we are God’s fellow workers.
It’s not about doing it on our own, then failing, then letting God do it, and so removing ourselves from any meaningful part of the story, or the relationship. He wants to grow us, to become like Christ (2 Cor. 3:18). Now there may be times in our growth, when God steps back and lets us take a few steps, to learn how to walk, so that we grow and develope, in character and strength, becoming more like him, but all the while, and by, remaining in intimate fellowship with him.
Remain in me and I will remain in you. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing. John 15:4,5. (NIV).
Please know that I realize there are at times some really difficult challenges and assaults on our hearts, and I’m not saying we should breeze through them all. Not at all. But I am saying we need to learn to walk with God, the trinity, in intimate daily communion, to face all life’s battles and heartaches with him and in him, right from the outset.
preach it Brother
m.y said this on March 13, 2010 at 2:30 am
yeah we are silly duffas trying to live a balanced life between the flesh life and the Spirit life in God. Look at the journey of Israel and their relationship with Him and learn from it. Take heed…and not harden your heart when he calls, whispers etc., however he chooses to speak.
It is not by accident that it is written that we can do nothing apart from Him we need to start to believe it then our perception of his place in our lives changes or is it that we perceive that we are in his life cos his breath fills the universe.
IKW said this on March 14, 2010 at 8:19 am