Michael's Blog

Random Thoughts

So this morning I got into the office, but I am having a hard time working.  I am thinking too much perhaps.  I am looking through pictures of people, editing video, and just thinking.  I am thinking about how easy people have started turning their backs on God and their churches.  I am thinking about adults. college students, teens, and children, who can simply stay away from church for any reason now.  I am thinking about how it used to be and how it is now.  I am thinking about who has failed.  Is it us in church leadership, the church entirely, or the individuals who decide to abandon all of this.  I am not talking about the Bedouin church members (those who migrate from church to church as the “feeling” strikes them or when they become disenfranchised).   No, I am talking about the sheer number of people who basically feel no need to worship with the body of Christ and put their faith on a shelf to pick up another day.  Those who feel a day at the lake or by the pool is more important than worship.  Those who will go out to dinner with friends rather than be in the house of the Lord.  I do not know what to think about this anymore.  I am frustrated, dismayed, and virtually depressed about this.  I know that my responsibility lies in preaching the truth and the rest is between the believer and the spirit.  No minister, no matter how dynamic, can force the truth down a persons through and institute digestion.

I guess the reason I am sitting on my blog asking these questions this morning is because I am fearful of the future of the church (universal), particularly here in the south.  Now don’t a bunch of you go jumping down my through saying, you can’t live in fear (yadda yadda yadda).  I am perfectly aware of this.  That frankly won’t help me today.  I am sad.  The place that for so long has been the hotbed of Christianity has turned their backs on Christ.  A good tan or a full stomach is more important than the bread of life.

I guess maybe I am a church nerd.  When I was growing up, we were in church every time the doors were open, even on vacation.  Yes, I said on vacation.  I had perfect attendance in Sunday School for 5 years straight!  When we would go on vacation, I would go to church where we are and get the pastor to sign a bulletin saying I was in church so that I would get my perfect attendance pin once again.  I went overboard, but my heart was in the right place.  I absolutely loved and still love gathering with the body of believers.  I loved talking to them, worshipping with them, praying with them, and knowing that I was being prayed for.  My question…how can people not want this, this fellowship, this connection, this chance to dive deeper with God?  It is so overwhelming….

I know that we are in the end times, but to see believers throwing it all away during this time, not wanting any connection with other believers is so sad.  Here are some of the things that I hear from people as reasons for being out and they all relate to time.   I want to go out with __________, we are spending family time, homework, going to a movie/event.  Sure, leisure time is important, but that used to be what Friday or Saturday nights were for.  Would we dare tell our employer, coach, or teacher the same excuses that we give God for not showing up?

I am not trying to be dogmatic, but when are we going to realize that God and our relationship with Him and his people is more important than the petty things in life.  Our churches in the South seem to be very much like the church described in Ephesus in Revelation 2.  We have a great dislike of immorailty, but very little commitment to God.   We need to repent and do the things we did at first…

Revelation 2

1″To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.