I recently wrote a post about apathy in the church today (See “Apathy”). It struck me after publishing that piece that while it was heavy on stating the problem, it was a little light on providing solutions. It’s easy to spot problems and rail against them. It’s another thing entirely to take a step back and suggest solutions. I don’t want to be a person who simply points out flaws but presents no way to correct them. I want to be like Jesus. He was all about answers. His mission was to provide a solution to the problem, not simply point out our flaws (John 3:17).
Archives for February 2013
Apathy in the Church
Apathy is the rule of the day in the American church. We are surrounded by evil yet cling to our traditions in hopes we can keep the world at bay. I don’t know when it all happened and I don’t think it is unique to America. Free and affluent countries around the globe have squandered the wealth and opportunity afforded them, and now a new generation is turning away from God in record numbers. We had so much and we did so little. I believe this will be what we are judged for when we see God. How could we who were so blessed have produced so little?
Life Lessons from Samson
I have always been drawn to the story of Samson. Maybe growing up as a long-haired rock-n-roll guy, I liked the “no hair cut” rule of the Nazarite vow. I love how God has recorded stories about such diverse individuals that we can always find someone who resonates with us. Samson had it all. He was the strongest man in the world. Having devoted his whole life to God, he should have been one of the greatest men in history. Unfortunately, the details of Samson’s story are more often than not very sad, and ultimately, quite tragic. Instead of living out his days as a great man of God and leader of Israel, Samson squandered his blessings and ended his life as a ridiculed slave.
Excited to be a Christian?
Are you excited to be a Christian? Does the thought of serving Christ every day give you an utter sense of peace and purpose? For too many there is a palpable lack of excitement about the privilege of being a child of the King of the Universe. The conversations I have with fellow attendees at a weekend worship service rarely involve discussions about how amazing our God is. We sing songs of worship proclaiming His majesty, but our conversations generally devolve into the mundane or selfish. Encountering fellow believers outside the “church” environment reveals similar results. We have the best news the world has ever heard. We have the truth and the only hope. So why aren’t we more excited about it?
Finding God’s Will
Many Christians are consumed with a desire to find God’s will for their lives. They spend their time reading books, taking assessment tests, and attending seminars that all promise to reveal these secrets to them. It seems everyone wants clear guidance on what God’s will is for their lives, yet so many are frustrated because they can never quite seem to find it. Jim Rohn used to say that anything we pursue will eludes us. Finding God’s will is not something we pursue; it is something we become as we surrender our lives to Him.