These are just my general thoughts and observations.
So, I’ve been reading a TON of blogs lately, and there a bunch of people that have been posting lately with A TON of encouraging ideas and comments about how they believe the church is doing these days. I REALLY enjoy reading these blogs and strive to be like these men… positive in speech and all actions rooted in love.
There have also been some that have used some very sarcastic tones concerning the state of the Church. They say that the Church should stop this, should start that, should stop being excellent and be more theological, should start being more excellent and less deep, should embrace everyone no matter what, should embrace people who want to plug in to the vision and service only, should bleh blah, and should not bleh blah.
I agree with some, disagree with others, and on some I’m indifferent. They are all relevent ideas and questions that need to be addressed. But, the fact is, it doesn’t matter what I believe about any of that stuff… as it relates to this topic.
Here’s my point… I wouldn’t go up to a man I knew, or one I didn’t know, and critique his wife. And I SURE wouldn’t critique a man’s wife BEHIND HIS BACK.
I believe as the Body of Christ, we are to stand up for those who are doing God’s work, and do everything in our power to bring those outside the church in. In doing that, I don’t believe there is any room for sarcasm and judgment in or around the church community. If you think my church is doing great, say it. If you think my church is doing crummy, don’t blog about it and hope no one in my church reads it! There are ways to communicate OTHER THAN venting openly on the internet for everyone to read.
—Sometimes, things need to be addressed: James says to go to your brother if you have a problem. I believe this applies here, also. If you think a church is doing something that is counterproductive to the Gospel mission, GO TO YOUR BROTHER. Don’t run for the internet and tell all your friends about how this guy has gone off the deep end. But also, don’t let it go and watch that church and the community suffer from it. Have some respect, but say what needs to be said, for the sake of the Gospel, IN PRIVATE.
—Sometimes, things need to be stuffed: If you have a problem, and you don’t think that person/organization would listen with an open heart and mind… pray for them, and then forget it. If God gives you a burden for them, pray hard. If you feel like He releases you from it, drop it.
Please, brothers… let’s stop the back biting, nit-picking, and judgments that divide the Body and separate us from the community. Let’s start building each other up. I’m involved with a church right now that the cops get called out to almost every service because of “noise violations.” However, the pastor of that church has a heart for people and strives to be known as a positive influence in the community. He doesn’t blog about how stupid the ——— County Police are, or how they could be doing something else. Actually, they are doing EVERYTHING they can to fix the problems from bringing in a sound consultant, buying a BUNCH of sand to isolate everything, etc… this is what I’m talking about. Also, there is a pastor that leads a huge church a couple counties over from where I live, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard him bad-mouth another church. He has one of the biggest churches in the nation, but you never go to his blog and read, “Those guys over there just don’t get it, they need to do it like this…” If anything, he is encouraging and uplifting to those churches around him that are doing Kingdom ministry, and those that aren’t, you never hear him talk about. Why? For the same reason you wouldn’t critique another man’s wife.
Let’s be positive… and if you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.
Thoughts?
By the way, I have contacted the few blog writers that I believe have taken part in this and addressed it… privately… and had a couple of GREAT conversations about it. Thank you to all of those who have been so open to these thoughts and I hope we can all be positive about the Church in our online communities.
