Oh man oh man

I am just so absolutely upset right now. I mean, feeling a tad under the weather a really really weak might have something to do with it, but I think for the most part this total sadness is justified.

We had a leadership meeting at our church yesterday. We do every Tuesday. But this Tuesday it was brought up the fact that we do little at the church to help people with physical needs, whether it be diapers, gas cards, food... anything like that. We had someone come up to a leader in our church on Thanksgiving Eve (read that- THANKSGIVING EVE) and he had to give the man in need money from his own pocket so that this man could buy Pull-Ups for his grandson. Can someone tell me why we didn't have a gift card or even a package of diapers on hand to give him instead? I bet even people in our own congregation could benefit from this at times when family members get laid off... it would be good for them to know that they have a place called the Church where they can find not only spiritual help, but physical too!

So now I'm making a little handout listing places where people can get their needs met. This way, if someone comes up to us and asks us to help, we can give them a piece of paper. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! HAVE WE TOTALLY LOST SIGHT OF WHO THE CHURCH IS TO BE?! Call me a radical but for some reason I think we're way off.

1 John 3:16-18-
"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide him him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."

How are we letting our light shine (Matthew 5:13-16) if we're pushing these people away to other locations for sustenance? Are we really showing that God's love abides in us? Even a bigger question- does God's love abide in us if we turn these people away? Yep, I just said that. And I believe it's a valid question. I know there are scammers out there and for that I am sorry. But helping a person once, even if they do turn out to be a scammer... should the fear of that really stop us from helping them ONCE and treating them as though they are Jesus (Matthew 25:31-46)? Who are we really to fear?

Matthew 10:28-
"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."

Thus, I don't really think fear is a valid argument to keep us from doing God's will and helping those brothers in need.

Right now at our church we are trying to formulate a plan for higher attendance and participation in our church based on (I'm sure well-intended) books. Changing programs, making new programs, marketing our church better. While books are good, being in love with God and knowing His will and following His plan is 100 million times better. Actually, infinitesimally better. So let's see how God grew the church. Turn to Acts 2 (verses 42-47 to be exact).

"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."

Through these verses, we see how the Lord gave them favor with the people and added to their number (daily!) those who were being saved. Here's how it was done:

1. Devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching.
2. Devoted themselves to fellowship.
3. Devoted themselves to the breaking of bread (in their homes).
4. Devoted themselves to prayers.
5. They were together with everything in common.
6. They sold their possessions and gave to each as they had need.
7. They attended the temple together.
8. They received their food with glad and generous hearts.
9. They praised God.

Sure, programs are good. Restructuring the church is good. Making plans to be the Church... WAIT A SECOND. But that is kind-of what we are doing, isn't it? We're making plans to be the Church instead of just being it?

For some reason, I don't think people need new and improved programs. I think we need a wake-up call. We need to realize that being the Church doesn't mean just coming to a building on Sundays and singing some songs and saying some canned confession and feeling religious for an hour. It's a lifestyle, it's a community. It takes falling in love with God, with His Church! It takes knowing Him, loving Him with your whole heart, spending time in the Word, devoting yourself to prayer, constantly being in partnership with other believers, giving to brothers as they have need. This is not a light task! This is not an easy life! But friends, THIS IS THE CHURCH! So are we going to be the Church or not?

"'He defended the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me?' declares the Lord."
-Jeremiah 22:16