I am discontent. Not because the Steelers lost on Sunday (to the Eagles, of all teams), or because the business of the church isn’t running smoothly. I am discontent because I am comfortable.
Being good and quiet are two of the biggest mistakes I’ve made in the last few months. I’ve been busy being nice and buddying up to people instead of being Jesus to them. I have a feeling that if Jesus were to walk into our building on any given Sunday, He would be “flipping tables” angry. This church isn’t something that we do, but it’s what and who we are.
My heart hurts when someone says or implies the worship team gave a nice performance. WHAT?! They were worshipping their hearts out on the stage (whether you could see it or not). You know what? Maybe we shouldn’t have a stage, so that there is less of a physical distinction between the worship team and the congregation. The people singing and playing are just like you. They just so happen to volunteer their time for the worship team because they love music and they love Jesus. I’m sorry you didn’t know the words to the song.
These next two aren’t particular to our church, but in every church, ever. Someone is sinning, and we all just look the other way. This especially happens in the youth group, and I feel that it’s my fault for not saying something. But I fear that if I do say something, my job is in danger or I’ll be attacked by an angry parent. “How dare the youth minister confront a sinning teen in the youth group!”
This Jesus, he is a dangerous fellow. Are you sure you want to be hanging out with him? What if he called you to being something more than just a nice, two-faced person? Some adults have their lives all mixed up, yet they are still allowed to serve on church boards and as pastors. Some don’t even attend and still serve on the board. The Apostle Paul addresses them in his letters to different churches. What do we do? Confess. Step down if you need to. Confront the sin. Leave a boot print in the Devil’s butt and tell him that he’s not welcome here anymore.
Disunity and infighting that exists among all churches makes me angry. Separation of denominations in every area is the dumbest thing I have ever seen. Why can’t we support this missionary? Well, because they’re not affiliated with our denomination. What a load of disunity! Why can’t we have so and so come here to speak? Well, because they’re affiliated with some other denomination. What a load of disunity! The best thing that can happen is that you become discontent like me. In order to reach our community, we will have to deal with some of the things I wrote about. This body of Christ is more than Sunday activities and scheduled “busy-ness”. The goal is not peace in the body of Christ. The goal is to do the right thing.