Too much of how we

This post is from the defunct blog "Dying Church"

Too much of how we lead the church is based on trying to please everyone but the One who matters. (Leonard Sweet, Summoned to Lead)

Comments

[Lucy]

Yes! As an outsider who doesnt attend traditional church, that is very much what I see looking in. So many things done in 'church' today are people pleasing activities, and so it makes the 'church' look very shallow to someone like me. Lucy

[peggy]

Lucy, No offense but who are you pleasing by staying out of the church? By staying out and being a critic you are pleasing yourself. But you are also judging the people within the church. You are assuming what goes on in the spiritual lives of others. There is no Christianity outside the church because being a member means humbling yourself and practicing forgiveness of others face to face in the free for all of direct relationship. If you can't forgive a person who really annoys you enough to remain in a direct relationship with them, then your forgiving feelings lack an incarnational dimension. If you sit out in judgement of literally millions of church goers how well will it go for you when you stnd before God someday? I offer this as just some friendly advice from the perspective of someone who has been an outsider and found my way back in for all of the above reasons. Think about it. Could church be a great spiritual challenge that you are avoiding for selfish and judgemental reasons? Could it be that being a member if a church is meant to be a commitment like marraige ie for better or worse rather than some relationship which is based on your personal happiness which can easily evaporate?

[Lucy]

Peggy, Get to know me alittle before jumping to such conclusions. Lucy

[Trish]

Lucy please read Peggies entry again.

[Lucy]

Trish and Peggy, I havent the foggiest what this is all about but from where I'm sitting Peggy's response is a classic fundamentalist one, that has invovled acting as my judge jury and executioner, deciding the state of my heart, and condemning me. Please drop this matter as it does not glorify and honour God. Lucy

[Darryl]

Sorry to come so late to this discussion, because I've been away on holidays. Lucy is right: I think those of us still in the church can learn a lot from those who are followers of Christ, but not inside the institution of the traditional church. Although our first instinct is to correct them, it just may be that they have something important to say that we need to hear. It sure doesn't hurt to at least listen.