A few days ago, a member
of one of my Christian Linkedin groups asked, “In your opinion, what is the
greatest current threat or challenge to the local church? To the denomination
or association of churches closest to you? To Christianity as a whole?”
Now people have asked
these questions before, and people have answered these questions before. Lots of
people have lots of opinions about the church and the people in it. Some have
even gone so far as to entreat Christians to leave the church, citing its corruption and heresy.
However, I’ve never understood
how believers could be the church and
yet leave the church and still
worship together as the bible instructs (Hebrews 10:25). And so, I think those who
advocate for all Christians to stop gathering in “formal” churches are missing
the point and with dire consequences.
Nevertheless, I’d have
to be deaf, dumb, and blind to not see that the church is far from perfect, and
in some instances doesn’t resemble anything like a people set apart.
And so, to answer my
fellow group member’s question, I present the following, because a picture is truly worth a thousand words, and a
pictures with words is worth more
than that.
 |
| Photographed on a church lawn. |
What’s your answer to
the question?
The sign is temporary - easy to erect, easy to uproot, printed on fabric. The message is provocative, to put the most positive intepretation to it. I'd turn into the parking lot to get clarification from the pastor or an elder; but I'd be exceedingly unlikely to stop in for worship or a Bible study. The Bible points toward the triune God; I'd wonder if this assembly would also assert, 'We take God seriously. But not literally.' The Bible's authority derives from God's authority, Who made us and all that is, and Who sustains and will heal all that God created and sustains. When a body is this willing to undermine the authority of the Bible, it stands in peril, I think, of drifting away from the authority of God as well.
ReplyDeleteDear Anon, you are a better person than I. I wouldn't even turn into the lot to ask a question. Where I live, there are churches on every corner. I feel no obligation to engage one that clearly (and proudly, it seems) publishes beliefs distinct from mine.
DeleteThanks for stopping by!
Hello nice post.
ReplyDelete