29th April, 2008
What If? Can The?
Right now, as you read this, I am in a “What If” moment. You could also say it is a “Can The” moment. What if there were no denominations? What if the Church of God was not a centralized form of government? What if we could exist without all the “stuff” that denominations persist on pushing on all its members. What if we had leaders that led and were not wealthy land owners? What if we really were building the Kingdom of God instead holding on to land too say we have a church in that town. What if we were able to see that “dead” and “broken” churches may not come back to where they “were”? Can the people survive without an attachment to the denomination? Can the leaders come to the conclusion that we are really frustrated with being addressed as though we do not get it? Can the pastors throughout America continue in ministry outside the Church of God? Can the leaders really turn the “pyramid” paradigm upside down? Can the General Assembly make a difference in the local church anymore?
What if I decided to just turn in my membership and just pastor? Can the people I lead understand my decision?
This is quite a post and I realize it! When I look at what is reaching to me in the need of the poor and the disenfranchised and I see that my hand is empty…I wonder if I should just move on and seek help in another area? I do agree to a degree with Jonathan Stones’ blog The Futurist referring to “the church that just won’t die”. We need to come to the conclusion that change does not mean that we have really changed!
My Heart To Yours
Dennis
Posted at 10:54 pm | Comment (1)
23rd September, 2007
Sometimes I Could Throw Religion Out The Door!
Great day at the “outside” church! Great day for Acts of Love Foundation, Inc! Then I started to ponder about how so many “churches” have no clue about the lost and desolate souls that wonder this God created earth. Religious people who think that if the message isn’t spoken with the right eloquence and in the proper amount of time allotted the church service was agitating or inconvenient. (Plenty to complain about at lunch). Religion defined in the Word is great and true:
“External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.” (James 1:27, AMP)
Boy that throws a damper on most people I know. When is the leadership and those who think they are in charge ever going to get it! What they are doing isn’t working. Oops, I know the answer: Let’s form a committee and look at our options. I am so glad Jesus did not form a committee to look at the options for my soul.
So I wept today watching a movie called “Gracie”. I wept from deep within my heart. It was the analogyin the movie that got to me: Gracie was trying to do something that was totally different that would bring victory over the competition. Of course everyone else said she couldn’t and it does not work that way. They even formed a committee. Well, she did it anyway, and won. Don’t give up and don’t listen to religious people who don’t care about redemption.
Just a thought that brought me to tears from the heart.
Peace, Compassion, and Deep Love of the Spirit.
Dennis
Posted at 8:54 am | Comment (0)