Everyday over the last week I have passed a sign a couple times a day. The sign reads, "Amazing Vacation Church School" and then gives a date. Growing up in the church I am very familiar with what is typically known as "Vacation Bible School." Many of you have been to a VBS, most churches do them some don't.
This sign struck me because something was missing. I had never seen a heard of anything called Vacation Church School. So what do you learn at VCS? Do you learn the history of the church going back to the apostles and early church fathers, working your way through the Reformation until you get to the modern church? Or do you learn how to behave at church? Maybe it is about church etiquette. What do you learn at VCS?
When I try to figure out what Church School is I come to the conclusion I have no idea. I do however know what's missing. The Bible is missing. No this does amaze me, but I don;t think that is what they mean by "Amazing Vacation Church School. This "church" which is putting on VCS happens to be a Unity church. They believe in more than just the Bible. They accept other religion's thoughts and philosophies. Which is fine, they have every right to do so. But it is so confusing when a group tries to be a church without the Bible.
The reason I know this, is because I know of churches that place more emphasis on things out side the Bible than the Bible itself. When this happens, it is hard to see the church as anything other than a club that meets once a week. There are some churches that do Vacation Bible School and the only motivation for the VBS is to see how many kids they can get to come. They might as well call their summer event a Vacation Church School also, because the motivation has little to do in teaching kids the Bible.
Now here is my question. Can a church really call itself a church if the Bible is not at the foundation of it's existence? Let me know what you think.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Loving God
I read a quote yesterday that has stuck with me. I am reading Francis Chan's "Crazy Love" and he said, "When I look at my relationship with God as a chore, a sacrifice, then I am getting the glory--not God."
Those who go into full-time ministry have a tendency to look at what they do as a sacrifice and a chore. While there are sacrifices that take place let's be honest, we need to drop the martyr syndrome here. I am guilty of this. That's why this quote stuck with me over the last day.
Those who are not in full-time ministry this quote applies to you also. I am going to say something that a lot of people will disagree with, even some professors I have had in college. Why do we have to show all this appreciation to volunteers for their service in the church? There was a time appreciation was not shown and there was not a problem with getting volunteers, people just served. Don't get me wrong I think it's good to show appreciation to volunteers, the problem comes when those who serve expect it and get upset when they don't get recognized for their good deed.
When we expect recognition it's a sign of a shallow relationship with God. A relationship that is based on personal incentives. Our attitude should be the same as the apostles who considered it a privaledge to be beaten up for the sake of Christ. Our motivation to serve becomes love not reward or a self pity party.
Maybe this is one of the problems with the church today, it is filled with people who decided when they are willing to make a sacrifice and when they are going to live an independent life from God. Good thing this was not the attitude of Jesus.
Those who go into full-time ministry have a tendency to look at what they do as a sacrifice and a chore. While there are sacrifices that take place let's be honest, we need to drop the martyr syndrome here. I am guilty of this. That's why this quote stuck with me over the last day.
Those who are not in full-time ministry this quote applies to you also. I am going to say something that a lot of people will disagree with, even some professors I have had in college. Why do we have to show all this appreciation to volunteers for their service in the church? There was a time appreciation was not shown and there was not a problem with getting volunteers, people just served. Don't get me wrong I think it's good to show appreciation to volunteers, the problem comes when those who serve expect it and get upset when they don't get recognized for their good deed.
When we expect recognition it's a sign of a shallow relationship with God. A relationship that is based on personal incentives. Our attitude should be the same as the apostles who considered it a privaledge to be beaten up for the sake of Christ. Our motivation to serve becomes love not reward or a self pity party.
Maybe this is one of the problems with the church today, it is filled with people who decided when they are willing to make a sacrifice and when they are going to live an independent life from God. Good thing this was not the attitude of Jesus.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Conversaton with a Hindu (3)
I met with my Hindu friend last night. We are going to set up a time to go eat Indian Food together. I want him to show me what to order. There is nothing like sharing a meal together.
Last night we talked about Genesis, particularly Adam, Eve and the fall. When Ram got there he said he wanted to talk about Genesis. I saw this as a moment of God's providence because I too was feeling led to talk about Genesis.
He asked me about the forbidden tree, the tree of "knowledge." He wanted me to define "knowledge." I knew where he was going because in the Hindu way of life, knowledge is important. There is a point in which we reach a level of enlightenment. I believe this is true in Christianity as well. Although our points of enlightenment are different.
I explained to him I have often wondered why God placed a tree in the garden, pointed it out and said "don't eat the fruit from this tree." It is like telling a child not to play with something. The child probably wouldn't have messed with "whatever," if you had not drawn attention to it. I told him that the purpose of the tree was to provide a way for man to "choose" to follow God with "free will."
But there is another part to the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We have to understand good and evil in order to truly be enlightened to God's love for people. This enlightenment revolves around grace. Grace is the point of enlightenment for a Christian. It goes beyond just using the word "grace." It's the point in which we realize we do not deserve God's love, we can not buy God's love and we can not earn God's love. God freely gives us grace because of our condition due to sin. It is freeing when we realize we are no longer bound by a law system.
Another thing I am finding out about the Hindu way of life is that they are trying to achieve a point where they become one with God. So are we as Christians aren't we? Now it is a much different way of thinking than Christianity, but the goal is the same. I asked Ram how do you reach the goal of being one with God? He told me this is where meditation becomes important.
I told him Christians desire oneness with God also. Our oneness though is an eternal relationship with God, in His presence. This oneness comes through grace. Our grace comes only through Jesus. We have to believe in Jesus, who did not deserve to die. He chose to die and pay our penalty for sin. He was buired and resurrected. All of which happened so our penalty could be paid in full.
At one point in the conversation he did say he believed in Jesus. I need to talk to him further on that comment. Next time he is going to talk about the importance of meditation for a Hindu and how that brings us into oneness the Brahman. I am going to talk about becoming one with Jesus' death, burial and Resurrection through Christian baptism. Which again tells the story of Grace.
Keep praying God leads this discussion. Less of me, more of God.
Last night we talked about Genesis, particularly Adam, Eve and the fall. When Ram got there he said he wanted to talk about Genesis. I saw this as a moment of God's providence because I too was feeling led to talk about Genesis.
He asked me about the forbidden tree, the tree of "knowledge." He wanted me to define "knowledge." I knew where he was going because in the Hindu way of life, knowledge is important. There is a point in which we reach a level of enlightenment. I believe this is true in Christianity as well. Although our points of enlightenment are different.
I explained to him I have often wondered why God placed a tree in the garden, pointed it out and said "don't eat the fruit from this tree." It is like telling a child not to play with something. The child probably wouldn't have messed with "whatever," if you had not drawn attention to it. I told him that the purpose of the tree was to provide a way for man to "choose" to follow God with "free will."
But there is another part to the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We have to understand good and evil in order to truly be enlightened to God's love for people. This enlightenment revolves around grace. Grace is the point of enlightenment for a Christian. It goes beyond just using the word "grace." It's the point in which we realize we do not deserve God's love, we can not buy God's love and we can not earn God's love. God freely gives us grace because of our condition due to sin. It is freeing when we realize we are no longer bound by a law system.
Another thing I am finding out about the Hindu way of life is that they are trying to achieve a point where they become one with God. So are we as Christians aren't we? Now it is a much different way of thinking than Christianity, but the goal is the same. I asked Ram how do you reach the goal of being one with God? He told me this is where meditation becomes important.
I told him Christians desire oneness with God also. Our oneness though is an eternal relationship with God, in His presence. This oneness comes through grace. Our grace comes only through Jesus. We have to believe in Jesus, who did not deserve to die. He chose to die and pay our penalty for sin. He was buired and resurrected. All of which happened so our penalty could be paid in full.
At one point in the conversation he did say he believed in Jesus. I need to talk to him further on that comment. Next time he is going to talk about the importance of meditation for a Hindu and how that brings us into oneness the Brahman. I am going to talk about becoming one with Jesus' death, burial and Resurrection through Christian baptism. Which again tells the story of Grace.
Keep praying God leads this discussion. Less of me, more of God.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Tax Collectors and Prostitutes
I was reading in Matthew 21 this morning and something Jesus said caught my attention: "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you" (Matthew 21:31).
Who is the "you?" Because whoever it is, tax collectors and prostitutes have a better place in the kingdom of God. Right now I do not have much good to say about our tax collectors in the United States and I completely understand why the Bible puts them in the same class as prostitutes. This still doesn't answer the "you" question though.
Who is the "you?" "When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus' parables, they knew he was talking about them" (Matthew 21:45). The "you" are religious people. Not just religious people, but pious religious people. People who just don't get it.
The "you" are those who are unwilling to follow Jesus. They prefer to stay focused on what they know and are not easily persuaded. They are people who just want to go to church, not be the church. They have wrapped themselves around tradition, rituals and the law. They may talk about grace, but they don't live by grace.
Jesus also says about the "you" and their refusal to buy in, "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from "you" and given to people who will produce fruit" (Matthew 21:43). Wow! If you are not going to follow the way of the Father, the kingdom of God will be passed on to those who will follow. In this case, he is talking about tax collectors and prostitutes who surrender themselves to the mission of God, giving up the ways of their past.
While we as the church keep looking at the tax collectors and prostitutes of the world with judgement, God is using them to advance His kingdom.
Francis Chan asks this question in "Crazy Love" (I read this this morning also), "I wonder how many church doors God wants to shut today?"
How does God look at "you?" Is it the same way Jesus looked at the most pious and religious or is it like the tax collectors and prostitutes?
Who is the "you?" Because whoever it is, tax collectors and prostitutes have a better place in the kingdom of God. Right now I do not have much good to say about our tax collectors in the United States and I completely understand why the Bible puts them in the same class as prostitutes. This still doesn't answer the "you" question though.
Who is the "you?" "When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus' parables, they knew he was talking about them" (Matthew 21:45). The "you" are religious people. Not just religious people, but pious religious people. People who just don't get it.
The "you" are those who are unwilling to follow Jesus. They prefer to stay focused on what they know and are not easily persuaded. They are people who just want to go to church, not be the church. They have wrapped themselves around tradition, rituals and the law. They may talk about grace, but they don't live by grace.
Jesus also says about the "you" and their refusal to buy in, "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from "you" and given to people who will produce fruit" (Matthew 21:43). Wow! If you are not going to follow the way of the Father, the kingdom of God will be passed on to those who will follow. In this case, he is talking about tax collectors and prostitutes who surrender themselves to the mission of God, giving up the ways of their past.
While we as the church keep looking at the tax collectors and prostitutes of the world with judgement, God is using them to advance His kingdom.
Francis Chan asks this question in "Crazy Love" (I read this this morning also), "I wonder how many church doors God wants to shut today?"
How does God look at "you?" Is it the same way Jesus looked at the most pious and religious or is it like the tax collectors and prostitutes?
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