Outside the walls

If I were to be honest the last couple months of my life have been quite tough spiritually. I have struggled in areas that I have never struggled with in my walk with the Lord. I have understood areas that I used to struggle with as not being condemned even in the scriptures. However, at the risk of some that may read this and feel that I am of kilter with my spiritual walk I write the following statement.

Never before have I doubted so much where I am at as a believer in Christ and never before have I been able to, so objectively, look at my life and others and recognize the greatness of God's grace and mercy that is offered and administered to my life and how much He would have me administer that same grace and mercy to others.

The stories from scriptures such as the Samaritan women at the well, the woman caught in adultery, David and Bathsheba, the parable of the talents, and I could go on, have become so much more alive and rich in meaning to the point of tears. As I have looked at my own life in my failures and, dare I be transparent, sins that I struggle with on a daily basis, I can only be humbled that a God so magnificent and just would willingly offer His grace and unmerited favor on a daily basis so lavishly in my life. I do not deserve it but He gives it freely. I am unworthy yet He calls me a saint.

I will personalize this next statement even in light of the fact that it is applicable to all.

"How dare I look at the sins and failures of others and desire that they get what they deserve? Would I rather God look at my sins and failures and administer his wrath and judgment on me?"

In the past, instead of administering grace and mercy to my brothers and sisters in Christ (referred to as the Church for the rest of the blog) I have, whether I verbalized it or not, ended up judging, condemning, kicking the wounded. Woe to me for I am a man of an ungodly heart! Now did this apply in every situation, no, but I have brought it up because I have also seen it done way to much in the Church (the people not the building!).

This said I have had to take a hard look at; "The Church" (Commonly known as a building with people in it), traditions, "biblical models", programs, calling, and ask myself some very tough questions.

The following is an outcome and, I believe, a biblical answer to these questions.

When I say the word "Church" what automatically comes to your mind? Surprisingly just from reading this blog you might have said brothers and sisters in Christ. Interesting the power of suggestion isnt it! Most times in the christian society we live in however the answer is..... "the building I worship in!"

As harsh as some of these preceding statements may come across I urge you to reflect on what scriptures say concerning these things while you read it.

In Exodus 20 God gives Moses the Ten Commandments. The first one is this,

"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me."

Just recently I was speaking with another Pastor about some of my thoughts that I was mulling over in my mind and I shared with him a thought to which, although shocked, he agreed with me whole heartedly. The statement was this,

"We have got to get outside these four walls and stop using them as an excuse to not be the church in the world. We have in turn created these four walls as well as the carpet, the fixtures, and all the rest of the points that bring contention within the Church (the people) and have made it into our Golden calf and have began to bow down and worship it"

This said it does not necessarily apply to all congregations but I believe that we need to ask ourselves the hard questions. Why do we read in Acts 2:47,

"praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."

yet we do not see it happening in our midst. At times I believe this refers more to North American or developed countries because we have gotten consumed with our own lives and material things.

I will try and make sense of my thoughts by sharing what a missionary in Benin, West Africa shared with me back in 2001 while on a short-term. When asked the question how is the church doing here in Benin his answer to the team was, "Up till now it has been very effective in outreach but I am afraid that they gotten of focus and instead of moving outwards are turning inward and biting each others noses off."

I want you to know that I love the Church and all my brothers and sisters in Christ so I say these things in love as I too have been guilty of all these things I have just gotten frustrated with the status quo and just going through the motions.

As to programs, biblical models and callings I guess I would have to say this, if we are not seeing people saved on a daily basis is it because we have lost our calling to, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations." Matt. 27:19 He never said make converts he said make disciples it is actually not our job to make converts in fact Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:6 said, "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow." We can get so off track of trying to get converts for Christ that we forget to plant and water. Planting and watering is not fun! It takes time and effort especially watering (Discipling). We have bogged ourselves down so much with programs and models of how to do church that we have forgotten to just be the Church in the world. To love people to pray for people to allow our Pastors to, "Equip the saints for the work of the ministry."

There is so much more that could be said but ultimately the message I am trying to portray is this.

I would like to pose a semi type question and statement in one:

How would it make you feel if someone were to come along side you today and say to you,

"You know I would love to just spend some time with you and, without judging or condemning you, listen to your struggles and hurts and take time to pray for you and with you. I would love to speak God's word into those ares of your lives and encourage you. I want to be there for you when you fall and pick you up with the grace that God has given me. I love you!"

I think all of us could say we honestly desire this in our lives. The fact of the matter is that we have a savior that came to the earth in the form of man but the greatness of God and did just that.

I would love to encourage you in all of this as I have been encouraged.

Be willing, as I am still learning, to be vulnerable to the moving and emotions that come with allowing the Holy Spirit to move in you, change you,and use you for the work of the ministry. It is not just a pastors job is is the Church's job.

In saying all this I still feel inadequate to be writting it all it is just what God has been teaching me lately.

Its time we the church got "Outside the walls" and into the lives of those who definitely need to see the kingdom of God lived out in their midst, but God will give the increase. It is scary and not easy but together as the church we can do it.