My roommate and I study the Scriptures every night after supper. Currently, we are reading the New Testament. Together we have compared the U.S. Southern church culture around us to examples of the church we find in the Scriptures. Often, this leads to a lot of frustration toward the issues we see within our Southern church tradition. Frustration turns swiftly to anger, especially on my part. Granted, we are in our mid twenties we're aware that this is the stage of our life where we want to change the world. I once proclaimed: "If they would just give me one year, when everyone would do what I say, everything would be so much better."
The list of top frustrations with Southern church culture are as follows:
(1) We have the spirit of the Pharisees (and act like them), especially in more conservative churches.
(2) We live our "church-life" in isolation from the world.
(3) We are so confident that we're God's people, that we can't imagine Him being upset with the way we "do church."
(4) We are terribly complacent with the status-quo.
(5) We have want segregation from latter-day lepers: drunks, drug addicts, whores, gays, radicals.
My Irish blood streams through my veins and makes me want to play the prophet (a la Jesus). I would storm into a fancy sanctuary, stomp down to the front of the church, pick up the beautiful bouquet of flowers sitting on the communion table, and cast them down with such force that the vase shatters. This would definitely get people's attention as I would then proceed to preach against the ways of the church culture...these ways I have no term for except "Stupidness." In this scenario, I don't see people falling on their faces in tears and repenting. I do see myself being chased off a cliff so the church people could throw me down to my death.
Perhaps this isn't the best approach, but it sure as heck would make me feel better. Proclamation against stupidity is a viable option. I have encountered a few preachers in the cloth of the prophets of old who proclaim passionately (I've seen tears from a young ex-soldier turned preacher). Now, I don't believe in presenting problems without also presenting solutions. However, I'm not exactly sure what can be done. What I realize while reading through the Scriptures with my roommate, is that Jesus is the Master of the church. He is intimately attached to the inner workings and moves to do mighty works through the church. What I must remember, is that even when she looks disgusting, the church is still the bride of Christ. She is beloved by Him with such a fervor that He willingly was tortured to death for her sake.
So since I'm at a loss for solutions, let's have a brainstorming session. What problems do you see in the church culture around you? What are the actions we take to see them confronted and ultimately changed? If you had a year where everyone did your biding, how would you make the world a better place?
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Comments (17)
Brother, Amen.
I'm a pastor in Louisiana (not raised in the south, so this is all foreign to me).
My recent message directly attacked #'s 2,3,4 and 5 from this list using the words in Amos 1 and 2 (that message will continue the next two weeks to finish out the book of Amos).
This has outraged my congregation. Unfortunately.
I have tried everything, but, ultimately the stubbornness of heart, LAZINESS (probably the 2nd biggest problem I see), and arrogance have stopped every effort I've made.
Like Israel who was "at east on Mt. Zion", many down here are just trampling on the blood of Christ and are at ease with it! (**note** its not just the south. But it is here that I am ministering).
The only solution that I see is that the Church is preached a message that demands repentance (full turning around), and that those who do not repent are separated from the Church. THEN, those that have accepted the message can start ministering to the communities and fully following Gods word. But so long as those who are lazy, complacent, arrogant, and legalistic remain attached to the Church, we cannot go anywhere.
Good observations.
As for solutions, I find it most practical to work on the one member of The Church Today (TM) whose behavior I can actually do something about changing--that is, the one in the mirror. It's not my responsibility to change anybody else, since I'm not the Holy Spirit (luckily for everybody else!). Humor is much more helpful than anger, though.
If everybody did my bidding, I'd have a cult on my hands, and I don't see how that would make things better.
@deepestrecesses - Isn't there something in there about Wheat and Tares?
I wish more people understood the difference between being a Christian and paying lip service to the name of Jesus but denying him with their lifestyle. The world would be such a different place! That is my biggest gripe with the church (well, people within the church) at the moment.
@Pass_the_Aura@xanga - Yes; unfortunately. I hope that there will be some who will listen to Gods words. There are some words that too many have ignored that may come with a very high price-tag.
Definitely worthy of every Christian bending in prayer over.
Instead of a brainstorming session, how about a session of prayer...starting w/ ourselves as @Pass_the_Aura@xanga reminded us and @deepestrecesses mentioned as well.
@naphtali_deer@xanga - Prayer and a Call to repentance/following Gods Word is really all one can do. I'm learning it ultimately doesn't matter what you do; if they haven't believed in their heart of hearts, it wont make any difference.
@deepestrecesses - Right. Sorry I came down on you there. I hope you know I share your frustration, and I do understand at least to some extent how you feel/where you're coming from/your frustration, and am continuing to lift you and your flock up in prayer.
In the midst of our strong desire and passion to see change/repentance/renewal/revival we have to keep looking to God's example of longsuffering, His continuing to reach His arm out to unrepentant/hard-hearted/stiff-necked Israel (and us!)...Isaiah 65:2-3/Romans 10/Psalm 103 and ask Him to fill us with His love for others. (I'm not only talking to you here, but also to myself; I am too, too impatient...)
Exodus 34:6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
It's true that the Holy Spirit is the One who changes/transforms/softens hearts, yet it does matter what we do to the extent that we must be obedient to what God is asking us: to present God's Word in the power of the Holy Spirit and continue steadfast in prayer.
II Timothy 2:1, brother.
@naphtali_deer@xanga - oh, I didn't take that as a rebuke. I agree that probably one of the most challenging things as Christians to do is to show Gods patience and love towards everyone (including oneself) while also staying true to Gods Word which convicts and "cuts to the bone".
I think the challenge comes in the form of not watering down what God is saying while also not exalting oneself to a place of Judgment.
As the scripture says "Do not Quench the Holy Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Examine everything carefully; hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every evil.' (1 Thess 5:19-22).
When idolatry abounds as it does today, and God sends his message saying "Because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God" (Rom 2:5), offering with it the hope of forgiveness and eternal life in Christ our Lord.
The Question is, will Gods Children "hear" the message and faithfully preach it (repent for the Kingdom of God is near)? Or will they be like the prophets in Israel during Jeroboams time when they "commanded them saying 'do not prophesy'" (Amos 2:12)?
In prayer, though, I must thank God for His incredible long-suffering. I hope all of Gods Children will join in with praising God for His great patience and love, by which His grace leads us into repentance!
@Pass_the_Aura@xanga - Except the field is the world, not the church.
I think the best thing you can do is keep doing what you're doing: thinking critically, studying, developing your opinions, and voicing them. :) As Gandhi said, be the change you want to see in the world. Awesome post!
Jesus Christ is a Spirit that dwells on earth through the body of believers that live according to his will. He do not dwell in people that claim to be Christians but do not live in obedience to his will. Just because a building has a sign on it stating that it is a church does not insure you will find the presence of Jesus Christ there. Look at the statement that Jesus made as a condition of making his presence known. "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."(John 14:21 NKJV) "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."(John 14:23 NKJV)
If you desire to be an instrument to bring positive change to the lives of individuals around you, let Jesus Christ know this and ask Him to prepare you and to continue to improve you for His good use and He will do so if you are sincere about your request. You must remember that Jesus Christ did not wait until the Sabbath to present His Father's will to a group of people. At that time, it was a tradition as it is now for people to wait until a particular assigned church day to hear a speaker speak about God's will, but Jesus Christ refused to be limited to traditions. He proclaimed his father's will wherever he went, in houses of friends and on hilltops, etc. He did not wait until a set aside church day to heal the sick. Whenever someone brought it to his attention that someone was ill he made himself available. In the case of the man at the pool of Bethesda, he went to where he knew sick people would be and made Himself available. Are you only concern with how church services are run or do you want to be like Jesus? Perhaps you are being called to a higher calling in Christ Jesus. Maybe that is the reason you are not content with the way you see things. Perhaps He does not want you to be content because He desires to make you an instrument for His good use. Think of it. With His direction, you can be an effective member of the body of Christ.
God bless you
@deepestrecesses - If your are sincere about causing an effective change to the congregation you minister to, try fasting to prepare yourself to minister and you will find the power of God more powerful and present in your ministering and no demon in hell can stand up against the anointed ministering of the Holy Ghost. After fasting and praying and feeding yourself during this period of time only words of the bible and spiritual songs, you will be able to see things that you did not see before and your faith will be at a higher level. You will find yourself more empower to do the things that Jesus Christ did and encouraged his disciples to continue to do. You will get the congregation's attention when you recognized a demon in someone and cast it out, when you lay your hands on the sick and they immediately get well and when you minister so powerful under the anointing that people will be crying out for salvation of their very soul. There was a reason that Jesus told his disciples to stay at Jerusalem until they be endowed with power. He did not want them ministering without the power of the Holy Ghost. If it appears that your ministry lacks power, try fasting for 3 days. It will only weaken you in your body, but will make you more connected to the Son of God as you feed yourself only spiritual food during this period of time. If you know that you need empowering, let this be your prayer during this fasting period to be empowered for God's good use.
@edwardsj42 - Brother, I hear what you're saying.
I have been fasting. God has manifested His works to our Church and in their stubbornness they seem content only to sit still.
"My ministry" is probably the incorrect term. Recognize that I am not an Apostle or anything of high-regard. I am merely a servant of Christ working according to His will. When I came down here the man who brought me to Christ and showed me His power prophesied to me the things I would face and what Gods word was for me-- God later confirmed to me His will that He sent me here as a man merely to proclaim a message; if they accepted the message he would rebuild this Church that has been torn to pieces over the years, but if the rejected the message he would remove His lamp-stand from this Church.
I dearly love these people; but the frustration that I see them unwilling to remove, no matter what God seems to do, is astounding to me.
I predict that one day in the not so distant future, the deeply conservative Christian movement we know today will be a passing chapter in church history with only a few cultish hangers-on ascribing to the Pharisaic literalism and social isolation that we see today.
I don't think it's just the South. In my humble and inexperienced opinion, all humans naturally inherit the tendencies you described in your list. They're certainly more obvious to us to have grown up observing these foibles, but certainly not exclusive to Southern Baptists or what have you. While frustrating, I think it might possibly be universal.
The main problem I see is complacency. And the only way I see is to tell people: move it or lose it! And we'll lose some. But Christianity is no game, and it's time for us all to wake up.
And I don't just mean Southern Christians, or Christians. We all have to stop being complacent sometime if we want to see change. And that means boldness!
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