We Need To Look At Ourselves

Greetings,

     I had a number of comments regarding my tolerance blog.  They weren't through the comments box but I heard them.  Some were good and some were bad.  Either way I am glad that people read it.  I pray that further discussion will be fueled by my upcoming blogs.
     As I said before I feel God is calling me to speak about issues that invade our homes though the television, Internet, smart phone, or whatever new gadget we are using this day.  I began with tolerance because I truly believe that is the number one attack that we overlook in our Christian lives.  As this world grows crazier and crazier we, as Christians, must ensure that God's truth is guiding our lives.  Again, I don't believe that this nation of ours in under attack because of who sits in the oval office or holds a seat in the Senate or House.  Our nation is failing because we are failing God.  And in this blog I want to share with you another reason that our nation is failing God.....because we, as the body of Christ, are part of the problem.
     You see, we can't just sit around and blame all of our problems on the government.  I, truly, believe that we, as a nation, has tipped the pyramid chain of command on top of itself.  It used to be that God was on the top of the pyramid, then family, then church, then school, then town, then state, then the federal government.  It used to be that if you needed help you didn't go to the government.  You did,'t need to because your church, your, and you community was there to help.  That isn't the case in today's world.  We, as the body of Christ, have set back on our Bibles and let the federal government try and do that which we should be doing.  The church is not for hiding in and hoping that all of the bad stuff in our country will just go away.  We are not supposed to be people that hide from our responsibilities.  But, I am afraid, that is exactly what we have done.
     Glenn Beck (whether you like him or not) made a great point at his Restoring Honor rally.  He said that it was time for the black robed regimen to assume its rightful place in our society.  I agree with Him.  I think that churches have been so overwhelmed with trying to get its own house in order that we forgot what we are really called to do.  No matter where you look you see denominations fighting about homosexual this or conservative/liberal that.  We, as a body of Christ, have let the federal government create policy regarding the very people that Christ has called us to serve.  The needy, the poor, the widow can no longer find relief from the church because the church is to be bust just to survive.  They now find relief through government assistance.  Now, before you go nutty, this is not about government programs!  This is about we, as a church, falling asleep at the switch!  When will begin to look at our neighbors and our community and seek to serve them?  When will the churches of America stop fighting about the virgin birth, the divinity of Christ, or the final sequence of the tribulation? 
     The church of today is so busy trying to figure out when Jesus is coming back that we forget what He told us to do until He comes back.  We must begin to take back the responsibility that is our cross to carry.  People are hurting in this nation and the church is watching it happen.  When will congregations begin to assume the role of servant?  I believe we must start today.  That is why I am going to be asking my session to begin to visioneer ways in which our ministries can not only serve our congregation but others in the community as well.  I believe in the black robed regimen.  I believe that pastors and church leaders, lay people and volunteers, must begin to stand together and tell our nation that we are back and we intend to help.  No longer will we hide behind our stain glass and pray that God heals our land.  We must begin to go into our communities and show people how God works through His people to heal our land.  Don't get me wrong government assistance is needed.  Those programs help millions.  I just believe that the chain of command pyramid be, once again, turned upright.  God needs to be at the top and the not the bottom.  People need to know that churches are here to help.  We must stop being a part of the problem and begin to be a part of the God's solution.
     God wants us to be people who help and serve and love and show mercy.  he wants us to be on the front lines of disasters.  We are always so eager to he help when tragedy strikes but when that tragedy has ended we have a tendency to believe that our service ends as well.  If you are one of those people let me say this....our nation is in trouble, it's a disaster and it needs God's people to help it through these times.  May we be those people.  May God bless and may He use His people to bless this nation!

Blessings,

Derek