Paul, who wrote the book of Romans and was an attorney, was presenting an argument to the Jews. They were getting all bent out of shape because the gentiles (non-Jews) were becoming believers of Jesus and this cramped their style because they were the "chosen ones" the "holy people". They believed that they had cornered the market on God and nobody else was allowed in the club. In fact, they believed God created gentiles to destroy them. That they were un-clean, whoring, drunken sinners of whom their great big angry God was going to turn into a smoking hole in the ground.
"What if" Paul is challenging them to think outside their religious box?
In Romans 9: 22-25 Paul is telling his fellow Jews that God's love for us is more powerful than his anger. To back this wild idea up, he Quoted the old testament prophet, Hosea, who said:
"I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people; and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one" and, "In the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’ "
What if .... we thought outside our religious box?
What if .... church, was built for sinners?
What if ....
Good thoughts. My question though is this - is the church really built for sinners or for the people of God? The church is the body of Jesus Christ - those whom He has chosen, saved, and washed clean. If we say the church is really for sinners, what are we saying?
ReplyDeleteI suppose now we start getting into semantics about what a church meeting is, the church building, etc., etc. But all in all, the church is the body of Jesus Christ that is being built up into the fullness of Christ.
Thanks Steve, I totally agree with that! I don't want to take away from that description of the church at all. Being focused on the end game is important. However, I have wondered for a very long time why church attendance is in a steady decline. Why is it more and more people don't like going to church?
ReplyDeleteThere are many answers and theories to this question, perhaps a better question is, what can we do to make non-believers comfortable enough when they enter a church to want to come back?
Every Christian had a beginning in Christ. How can we create an environment where non-believers feel truly welcome (even if the're skeptical) until Jesus has won their trust?
Jesus was surrounded by people who hung out for a long time, just wanting to see what he was all about. Even the thief on the cross knew who Jesus was and it wasn't until Jesus was crucified "with him" that he believed.
So I want this experiment (of a church for people who don't like church) to allow people to belong before they believe.
Jeff,
ReplyDeleteDidn't want you to get the wrong idea at all because we definitely need more churches. With all of the churches closing every day, new ones need to replace them, especially with fresh new visions. God bless you and your family in this endeavor bro!
The Church is the body of Christ. Ergo, the Church is certainly built FOR sinners. But it's not constructed of earth and wood or concrete and steel, but rather it is made up of individuals who have become living sacrifices and are totally obedient to God the Father, for the express purpose of connecting with sinners (not their sins) and setting an example for them by the way that we live. Submission to the will of God is the ultimate way to live. No longer living life your way, but God's way is "laying down your life". You see, when you seek the Kingdom of God AND His righteousness before anything else, you'll begin to find that dying to self is the easiest way to really actually live... Love you guys, hang in there.
ReplyDeleteThanks Steve, I really appreciate the questions, it's got me thinking that I'll probably start blogging a "what if" segment periodically to kind of share the vision we have.
ReplyDeleteI pray for blessings in this endeavor Jeff. I pray for the right people with the right hearts (that are already believers) to come along side of you and your wife and be a blessing. I pray that when things get too messy for them they will remember the vision and the goal of this church.
ReplyDelete