I'm so right, and I'm so wrong. I can't sort them out. The church seems so lost, so out of focus, so misguided, so fluffy, so non-threatening,... so my tendency is to be negative, to disconnect, to get cynical and bitter. This is wrong.
My anger comes from the frustration of a problem greater than me, but it threatens to influence me and my children. Sundays stress me for a number of reasons, but I think I'm growing in patience (I hope it's not complacency).
Last Sunday, I stood in the back of the balcony overlooking a beautiful new sanctuary filled with beautiful, well dressed people. My mind and emotions raced, and I felt the Spirit remind me to love them and not be bitter. It was as if God invited me to weep with Him over His dysfunctional family.
One of the themes of my summer has been that the NT stresses unity. The church is the body of Christ, and I want to love, cooperate and support. I don't want to be a trouble-maker and cause more confusion, but I also don't want to be a part of the numbing disease. I want to be an instrument of change, but the monsters of materialism, ritualism, political-correctness, and "me-based-worship" are just so big.
How does one step back and get a clear view of the problem and still stay united?
How does one stay united without getting infected?
How does one develop and maintain a godly anger and disgust with the problems and not attack the people or the ministry?
My anger comes from the frustration of a problem greater than me, but it threatens to influence me and my children. Sundays stress me for a number of reasons, but I think I'm growing in patience (I hope it's not complacency).
Last Sunday, I stood in the back of the balcony overlooking a beautiful new sanctuary filled with beautiful, well dressed people. My mind and emotions raced, and I felt the Spirit remind me to love them and not be bitter. It was as if God invited me to weep with Him over His dysfunctional family.
One of the themes of my summer has been that the NT stresses unity. The church is the body of Christ, and I want to love, cooperate and support. I don't want to be a trouble-maker and cause more confusion, but I also don't want to be a part of the numbing disease. I want to be an instrument of change, but the monsters of materialism, ritualism, political-correctness, and "me-based-worship" are just so big.
How does one step back and get a clear view of the problem and still stay united?
How does one stay united without getting infected?
How does one develop and maintain a godly anger and disgust with the problems and not attack the people or the ministry?
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