"...reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight..." James 1:27
First off, please read the book of James. It is a quick read, but it has some of the most "real" words in it.
This is meant as a challenge, as an invitation to tell me if I am way off, a chance to get your heart talking.
My wife and I just moved, we are looking for a church. I've visited some websites, we've been to a couple of churches close by, etc. I've become very frustrated by most churches (I say most, because I know there must be some authentic churches out there, and my church back home is one I consider in this regard). Churches are focused on many things that sound good on the surface, but as I sit and question where my family should be placed, I see a lot of self-serving and minimal attempts to truly reach out to people in need (the one request that Jesus asked from his disciples).
So, I'll jump right in: I saw a gigantic church building in Dallas being demolished so they can rebuild a multi million dollar church in its place. What? Would Jesus be comfortable in a multi-million dollar church full of people in expensive clothes trying to impress one another? Would he smile at the elaborate sculptures of himself and strut as the people sang about his greatness? Would he be impressed that people claiming to be his followers were meeting in the most expensive building in town? (That sounds like Ceaser, the opposite of who Jesus said he was) He would say, "GO, and find people that haven't been as fortunate as you, help them! Stop meeting together once a week to try to build yourself up and 'equip' yourself for serving others...you've been doing that for years! GO. HELP."
Jesus didn't pick out disciples and say, "Attend church weekly, read all of the Old Testament, prepare yourself for helping less fortunate people, and meet me back here in a few years." He just told them to come with him and start HELPING people. He didn't tell them to get on their best clothes because they had to impress in each village they went to, he didn't require them to prepare for years. He just said, "Let's go HELP."
I visited a website for a church close by our new house. Their main "vision" is this: ...was formed with the hope to organize a close fellowship of believers who come in unity to praise and worship and to teach the uncompromised Word of God.
This sounds great to many people searching for a church...but I'm searching for people with honest hearts. If your main vision is to meet and worship and teach, that sounds good, but it isn't what Jesus pleaded with people to do. No, I'm not saying, don't preach and don't sing...I'm just saying that should not be the main "vision" of a church.
Am I saying churches should meet in run down buildings with no heat...maybe. They should be paying for someone's heating that needs it daily to be safe, not using the money given to them to pay the heating and electric bill for a giant building that stays empty 5 or 6 days a week. Am I saying that maybe there shouldn't be a church building and people should just meet to go out and help wherever they can...yep. Am I saying the church is way off track when they are trying to figure out ways to get people to come to them, buying more video projectors and speakers to impress...yes.
I have a 2 year old son, and a girl on the way. I know many people would say they need to be in Sunday School learning the stories. I'm not so sure I want them there, surrounded by the things I just talked about. Wouldn't they learn so much more about how to really be a person that cares by watching people HELP others, by joining in with the HELP?
