Life applications.
Pharisees.
Commercial Christianity.
Everywhere I turn.
"If I count
The hands that
are raised."
Yet, the reflection
is not of a heart--
changed forever
but rather an
emotional overhaul.
Perhaps we should
remember to play music
when we preach,
reassuring ourselves
that we are in control.
"Come forward,
kneel down,
declare yourself
so that I can count."
When Paul and the apostles
spoke,
he shared from the Bible.
No three pointers
or invitations
Yet they asked
"Brothers,
what shall we do?"
Jesus, our savior
Our God, Our King
declared himself
that there would
be suffering.
Wealth, health,
and prosperity...
Congratulations
America, you succeed--
In business, education,
Picket-fence houses,
Saying no to puppy mills
but yes to pro-choice.
No heart for immigrants,
illegal or not..
Churches ostracize
and complain,
Create a bubble
of complacency.
Our own genre:
Christian fiction
Self-help
"Do not make
my Father's house
a house of trade."
Marketing Christianity:
"If it's three main points
it'll really sell."
Frown upon the world
for their sin and disgrace.
Yet we "Christians"
like our women pretty
with just the right weight.
Our children need to
fit in, the older
generation
obsessed with
looking younger.
Yet "Wisdom
is with the aged...
understanding in the
length of days"
Our values are flopped.
Our ways are crooked.
Deny that God can move
that He can speak--
audibly today.
Hurrah! You just put
God in a box.
Protecting yourself from
the abuses you say;
it does not
apply today.
Yet Joel
prophesied of old,
"And in the last days
it shall be...
I will pour out my
Spirit on ALL flesh,
your sons,
your daughters
shall prophesy..
young men shall see visions..
old men shall dream dreams."
It is in the name of Jesus
that we are healed.
I understand that it is fine
on mission trips
when with
people groups unreached,
to engage in such tactics.
But we would never
dare to declare our
dependency on God
and His grace
as long as we stand
on American ground.
Bent over,
a perverse generation
devoured by gray areas.
To the world I say,
"Be who you are;
you have no one to please."
Turned off by our strategies
to get them in "church"
Oh good, they say,
a building where
my family can be divided:
nursery, youth,
children's church,
big church,
pray groups in between
Pizza night, game night.
Fellowship is in high demand,
but we know how to compete.
Entertained to death.
Cutesy stories
and sermonettes
blended together
with Biblical truth,
a murkiness
that no one can clear.
Scripture...
"Breathed out
by God..
profitable for
teaching..reproof..correction..
training in righteousness"
Why is it not enough?
We are to be
"competent,
equipped."
So congratulations
America,
we've made it.
For we are competent,
equipped for sure
Experts at
Three point sermons.
Life Applications.
Even, Being Pharisees.
Verses referenced: Acts 2:37, John 2:16, Job 12:12, Joel 2:28/Acts 2:17, 2 Timothy 3:16-17
