Thousands of years ago the Church was birthed. You can read it's inception, it's birth, and it's rapid rise to fame and growth in the book of Acts, and the New Testament as a whole really. The Church was birthed out of the heart of God to move people into a deeper relationship with Himself and with others. It was also birthed out of the heart of God to reach people, serve people, and love people. I believe most Churches today have a heart to do all of those things. But, over the past year I've seen a pattern that's unbelievably disturbing, and it's not limited to a single church, denomination, or style; but it's also not grouped with all Churches. In fact, I don't necessarily know what seems to bring it about, but nevertheless, it's coming up more and more.
What am I talking about? The practice of discrediting, disparaging, discouraging, and the worst of all - judging the intentions of everyone in the church world that we don't look like, act like, or agree with.
I was reading a blog the other night that was discussing the concept of how worship in church isn't worship, rather it's "people up there singing songs, putting on a show with no act of worship..." - WHAT!? The writer also went on to write something along the lines of "...sure we say prayers, but we don't pray. We say words, but the heart of prayer is nowhere to be found." WHAT!? The sad part, it was embraced, encouraged, and even shared by many. And this writer isn't the only person to make statements such as these.
You can pretty much Google about any well known pastor out there and you'll find a plethora of articles undermining and discrediting any ministry these men have done. Shoot, just Google the contemporary style of worship today and you'll see statements eerily similar to those that the referenced article made. The sad part is it's not just limited to famous pastors/churches, but seemingly any church. I've heard the same things about the church I've been chosen (by God not man) to lead - Radiate Church.
Here's my problem... there's absolutely NO way to judge the intention of someone's prayers, someone's worship, or the heart in which someone presents a style of Church. Are there rotten apples in the bunch that fakes some of that? ABSOLUTELY! Are most of the apples in the bunch trying to reach people with the same heart and passion as what the early Church in the book of Acts did? ABSOLUTELY!
The Church has moved from loving people to judging their teammates! Luke 6:44 clearly states "each tree is recognized by it's own fruit..." - stop throwing everyone under the bus for a mistake or different style that you aren't that crazy about!
The way the Church as a whole is constantly at each others throats about stupid, meaningless stuff there's no wonder why 80% of Americans won't attend church anymore! Maybe if the church would spend more time working together than playing tug of war - we could work together to empty Hell and fill Heaven!
With that said, I'm also seeing more and more Churches gather together to impact their communities, their people, and this world. Churches that people love to bash, Newspring Church for instance, are banning together to help local Churches impact their communities better. In fact, Newspring Church has done more to help me personally, my church, and even my family that any church in the denomination I'm currently involved in. This isn't a bash on our denomination, this is a testament that sometimes, the very things we want to bash, are the greatest networking partners!
Let's do what the initial Church in Acts desired to do, work together to bring people closer to God and each other! Let's move Heaven closer to earth! We can do this! As for Radiate - we plan to do this WHILE HELPING, LOVING, PRAYING FOR, AND CONNECT WITH WITH OTHER CHURCHES! We believe in your church!
