… but hate church…

The majority of Americans are responding to the traditional church’s invitation to”come meet with us on our terms ” with a polite (sometimes not so polite)”no thanks.” -Aubrey Malphurs

As I sit as ponder the question,” How 0ne loves God but hate church I become dumbfounded by the truth that rests in the statement. ” Many times in my life I have heard this and also said it myself.  I hear people asking me all the time, ” do you have a church yet.” Matter of fact someone asked me that today.  The last couple of months have all been the same response,”I am one of the few people you know that will tell you I love Christ but hate church.”

See I wrestle with the statement and the reason behind the statement. I do believe that their are many good churches that are doing the work of the Lord. They are seeking after the lost and teaching the word of God. But I believe that they are far and in between. Now that may be an incriminating statement for the body of Christ but I think it is true.

I have seen to many pastors that promote themselves and their knowledge more so than the grace of God. I have seen how the pastor introduces new thematic issues to the congregation and then preceded to brainwash them with stuff that he only knows. When he is challenged he proclaims that person to be out of order or causing division. This is becoming the norm for many churches. They have forgotten the importance of their mission and tried to build a spiritual conglomerate that is camouflaged by the Gospel. Once I step foot in this kind of church or any church for that matter my apologetic antenna goes up. So I start to dissect the entire message for the truth and always come to the same conclusion- the dude is wack.

You have pastor that preach the same hodgpdge every Sunday and just give it a different name. They refuse to deal with the scriptures but rely on quotes and clinches to entertain the people. The people have been so anesthetized by this garbage that when someone comes and unpacks the scripture, they do not think that he preached at all. If there was no hooping and hollering then he was lame. Though I am not a fan of the hooping I can get with it if the person is saying something in the midst.

As I wrestle through my dilemmas I try to put all this in perspective. My total dislike for church is really disheartening because I see the how beneficial it could be. The things I have to deal with come from the fact that I know my wife would really enjoy the fellowship with others that my attend certain churches. As I gage this I have to be so careful that I do not get her to look at churches like I do, but it is a little too late for that. Some of her coworkers have engaged her with spiritual folly and she kindly rocked their world.

So here stand wondering what in the world to do. I told her I am going to find one of these traditional churches without a pastor and apply for the position. But then I say I will become just like them and start playing the same game. We have been engaging in the church plant for almost a year now and I just refuse to go further because of my thoughts. I remember one Sunday taking my wife to the movies at 11:00am because I was so disturbed by the whole church scene.

Are house churches really the answer ? Let you know in a couple of weeks.

from the Boondox

For  the past couple of months, I have been trying to write and read but to no avail. What I saw myself doing was relaxing from a lot of vigorous reading because I drew tired of explaining myself all of the time. Many have become some engulfed in their own world, that they think that they are never wrong. So if you introduce them to new concepts they immediately start to defend their point without first hearing your concept.

With that being said I have changed the title of the blog to from the Boondox.  This is to reflect my mindset at this time. I have come to a place where intelligent dialogue is welcomed and warranted. The title denotes a place that is far from the norm or familiarity. Simply stated,when I look at the church my view is from the Boondox because it does not resemble many churches I see in the world today.

just a thought

There has been a buzz around the web about the cd, Identity Crisis by Tedashii. In his song Make War he contends for the believer to make war with himself over sin. It made such an impact on me to really check myself. Being one that is not afraid to tell people of the error I have done and do, I had to rethink some of the things I say. The concept is not to just highlight your sin but make war against that very same sin.

 I have found myself so prideful of the fact that I was able to stand before others and confess error like it was a good thing. When in actuality I should have been challenging my flesh. As Flame says in the song not realizing “that we have been sterilized” we constantly talk about our sin. But we must ambush our flesh with the truth of the gospel. Within the scriptures we find the ammunition to combat the very thing that plagues our flesh. But we must be willing to engage the enemy which is out flesh and indwelling sin.

 Based on what I read we can win…..

Reflection and Repentance

As I am at the computer I just started to reflect upon my life. I have made so many mistakes until it is not funny. Through all my mistakes God has chosen to use them for his glory through me. While I was in the midst of the crazy times, I thought that my word was coming to an end. But God saw fit to bring me through. I stand in awe.

Truth be told, I have done a terrible job at honoring God. He has been so awesome to me while I have defiled his love and respect. he has given me so many avenues and chances but I have failed him at every turn. Then I read Romans 8:28 that says that it all works for my good in the end. This is a remarkable thing because I know for sure in that if it was based upon my own works I would not deserve his love. But thanks be to God for sending his son Jesus to die on the cross for my sins.

I write this as a reflection of repentance before God. Not as any surprise but as a ode of appreciation. For the last five years I have failed to reach the lost and start the purpose that you placed in my heart. I have made all kinds of excuses to why I can’t complete the task. I have been influenced at times by something others than your word, Father. I repent before you and ask that you place a high level of accountability before me. My life is nothing and useless without you. I have not shared the gospel with consistency but have chosen to be puffed up with knowledge. I have not loved those you have placed in my life like you have instructed. This day father I repent ask for your divine help and guidance. I can’t make it without your love. I just can’t make it without your love. Simple and plain I just can’t make it without your love. Everyone else may leave but will you please stay……

Proof Text:What does it really prove?

The dialogue that takes place on blogs is one of remarkable fashion. I have been a part of major discussion and read major discussion from many blogs. Whether about racism, homosexuality, Calvinism or tithing there is room for a constructive debate. I just had a debate with some coworkers who are Christians about their stance that truth is relative. Which is easy target practice?

My point is that I provided proof text, after proof text to no avail. They still had the same mindset that was there before we started the conversation. I marveled at the fact they the held to their guns though from a scriptural standpoint they had no backing. Then I began to see the importance of the Holy Spirit in times like these. My pride and indignation started to rise because they were not getting what I was saying. I was slamming them with all that I knew but nothing was changing.

Why was I giving them proof text? Was I trying to bring my spiritual sword play to the debate in order to smash or was my heart really crying for them to understand truth. I quickly came to the conclusion I was out to smash and their heart was no where in the equation. This is a sad commentary and something that I think even those who are serious about evangelism must be mindful about. Just because you give a proof text does not solve the problem in some instances. Is it needed, yes….Does it always work, no.

1And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1 Cor. 2:1-5 ESV)

The Apostle Paul made it very clear that he did not come with superfluous wordplay but relied upon the Holy Spirit to come in and bomb where he needed. The interesting thing about it was Paul had the ability to do just that if he chose. He was smart enough where he could have killed them with philosophical rhetoric but he stayed true to his game plan which was to share the gospel. It is such a thin line I believe to stay intelligent or be intelligent in this anti-intelligent society that we live in. Where scholarship is reviled and frowned upon. But on the flipside you have the scholarly or theological astute frowning upon those who do not have the background but have a better faith integration.

So proof text gets thrown around and you have exegetical evangelicals calling revelational reverends heretics and  vis-à-vis,  when both are actually just trying to get the truth. Charles Spurgeon once said, “The word of God is like a lion. You do not have to defend it all you have to do is let it out of the cage and it will defend itself.”

Just my thoughts