I was thinking about several things today while driving home from work. I was thinking about how are own feelings influence the church. I have seen closed minded thinking kill a church. A church in the town I formerly lived was dying. It was a beautiful church but part of the congregation wanted to do some things that would bring younger people into the church. A contemporary worship, activities for young adults, thing I think would work in the town. The other part of the congregation just wanted to keep things the same as they always had been. The were life long members of the church and controlled a lot of the finances of the church. They had the control and power per say. Well as in anything the people with the power won and the church split. The people who wanted to change moved on and formed another congregation and thrived bringing many to know Christ. They offered the programs, the spirit and the vigor it takes to bring the love of Christ to others. Do you know what happened to the other side? Absolutely nothing. One by one as they end their life here on this earth the number of people in the congregation continues to dwindle. The fact is, the church who's sanctuary can hold several hundred now holds less than 50 and that number continues to dwindle. Sad, very sad. I know some people are set in their ways and I understand that change is hard to accept and grasp but folks, Christ came into this world to change the world and save the world. If that is not radical change then what is? If we are not willing to move from where we are to where we need to be to bring others to Christ then why even bother. Lets just lay down our hearts and spirits and say Lord take me now!!! Because there is nothing left. Mainline churches, and I am not pointing at any particular one, are bleeding and dying, and many want to do something about it but they do not want to part with the "traditional" things they have done to move to meet others. To expect people to walk in to church is not realistic these days. We have to work, like Christ did, to bring everyone to see the gospel truth and to expect young people to come into the church and the ways we have always done them is not moving to meet people where they are.....its expecting people to come into "my" way of thinking.
People let's wake up to the fact that this is a changing world and things are not the same today as it was yesterday. We need to lose the "old" mentality and adopt a fresh face for Christ.
Just some ramblings of a former minister....
