I've been away from my blog for several months. Tied up with numerous daily activities. Got to thinking about the chaos that has invaded Christianity recently and wanted to make some remarks about it.
Those "in charge" have messed up thoroughly I'm afraid. We have sheepishly followed. The Church is the Bride of Christ, not Ours! But, we've decided to make it conform to our human ways of thinking and human emotions and personality---just as many spouses insist on trying to mold their mates to fit their needs. As human individuals and culture are marred and always have been, so we often misuse God's Bride.
Those "in charge" have messed up thoroughly I'm afraid. We have sheepishly followed. The Church is the Bride of Christ, not Ours! But, we've decided to make it conform to our human ways of thinking and human emotions and personality---just as many spouses insist on trying to mold their mates to fit their needs. As human individuals and culture are marred and always have been, so we often misuse God's Bride.
We've pushed into an out-of-the-way corner repentance, we've diminished almost intentionally understanding and awareness of the Holy Spirit, we've substituted to some degree fellowship meals, youth rallies, faster soundtracks, positive-love sermons, and other human-centered concepts for God-centered worship. We've accepted the necessity of today's much-lauded inclusiveness to gain attendance numbers for the exclusiveness presented in scripture.
So, yep . . . Who am I? Who am I to bemoan these matters and indiscriminately criticize (evaluate?) the Church in such a generalized manner. I don't know. I don't claim any marvelous wisdom or expertise or spiritual status. I'm 72 now. I've worshiped in one particular Southern Baptist church for years now. I've watched as my life and opinions and beliefs have become, to many, more and more irrelevant and outdated. Yes, at times, I feel a bit sorry for myself as I realize my age and outdated experiences sometimes seem to diminish my worth.
Yet, I'm convicted---totally convinced---that truth is unchanging despite seeming cultural and scientific variations, some that are very drastic indeed (Wow, artificial intelligence)! Despite cultural self-centeredness. Change has been the mainspring of my last two decades. From my first reading of "narrow is the gate," I've marveled at that "exclusive" element in Jesus's words. I still do. Perhaps, current-day Christians would be wise to deal with that aspect of Jesus in a little greater depth. God bless all of you!