I read multiple blogs and news stories on a daily basis to prepare for my show and some of them are Christian blogs and others are not. What I find ironic is that the Christian blogs tend to be the ones that are the most negative. Many of these blogs point out whats wrong with the modern church yet they fail to mention what should be done about it. These blog writers spend all this time flinging mud rather than getting off their rears and actually doing something about whatever their particular grief is. Now, I know that I can be somewhat negative on this blog about some of the stuff going on with the American church but in my defense I am also attempting to do something about the way the church is going in this country.
Another grief I have with some of these blogs is that they seem to believe that their denomination of Christianity is the only write one. This is simply not true. The fact of the matter is that all one needs to be born again is realizing that they are a disgusting individual and destined for hell, fall on their face and repent for their sins (not only ask forgiveness but turn from sins) and have faith and trust in Jesus Christ. From what I have seen, there are born again believers in every denomination (there are also wackos in most denominations). These bloggers act like everything that their denomination doesn't believe is utter heresy. I know that there are some heretics out there but I don't believe that you can call people such as Joel Osteen a heretic but i do believe he is an individual that is missing the point by not sharing the gospel. The best course of action in cases such as Joel Osteen would be prayer that he will become convicted for not sharing the gospel with the millions that watch him and that he will begin to share the glory of the gospel.
My point in all of this is that it is important for people to know about the "different" (good and bad) things happening in the American church but most bloggers focus only on the negative as well as just criticizing and not offering any opinion on how to fix it. If every person that blogged about the American church and its downfalls were to get off their butts, get on the streets and do something to counter what they see wrong rather than just throwing mud at each other it may be possible to bring Christianity back to the old way and not to this emergent way(I mean in their beliefs not their use of technology).
As far as the ministry I am involved with, we are not only commenting on the things we see that are good and bad but we are also taking what we say and put it to practice. If we don't like that the Gospel is not being preached, we go preach it.
My charge to you then, is if you see something you don't like in the church don't just sit there and say that its wrong but offer your suggestion on how to improve it and if possible take action to put that suggestion into practice.
God bless,
Anthony
P.S. I love to hear any of your suggestions and comments for me or even stuff in the American Church.
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3 comments:
I could not agree more! We as bloggers need to stop placing ourselves higher than every other Christian that has a slightly different belief. Me being involved with you in ministry am a witness to the fact that we do practice what we blog about. Like you said if we notice that some people aren't preaching the Gospel we will go do that.
Amen Brother
~The Fire of New Desire~
I do agree with your sentiment here as a general way of life/thought - it's OK to point out what's wrong or how you're concerned, but you also need to be willing to offer helpful suggestions and actually do something about it.
As I'm reading your post I'm also thinking that while I do care about the American church since I live in America, I tend to live life basically a bit more simple. I'm concerned about hearing from God about what He wants me to do in this day. For a couple of examples: Tonight I had a chance to offer support to another mom who I don't really know, but who seemed upset, at my son's football practice. The other day when my husband and I were out hiking he felt God moving him so he started sharing the gospel with a girl who was also out there hiking and the girl prayed to receive Jesus.
I'm not sure if I'm explaining this well or making sense but the point I'm trying to make by both these extremely simple examples is that life is about the present. I'm not responsible for the American church but I'm absolutely responsible to live lovingly, sacrificially and obediently each day in the life where I'm at.
Anthony, I responded to your comment over on my blog. I do appreciate it.
A lot of the things you say here don't apply to me. I am not hung up on denominations. And I don't consider myself self-righteous.
My way of writing is, to me, a way, however small, of addressing the issues that I have.
Those friends of mine, and others who read what I write do not consider it insignificant.
The reason that there is so much "negative" attention on this type of preaching is because it is so pervasive. It is not the ONLY job, but a part of the job.
As for Joel Osteen... How is it NOT heresy for him to teach positive confession and that humans can create reality with their words? God alone is the Creator. How is it not heresy that Jesus went to hell to finish the atonement? He is a Word of Faith teacher, and they are rife with heretics.
As for him turning and preaching the Gospel, it would seem that, by his OWN words to Larry King, he has to LEARN it first before he teaches it to someone else.
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