How Big Is Your Box?
Do you have to fit into my box or I into yours?
So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. - Genesis 1:27
God made us all so different - all so unique - yet ALL in His image.
So, I ask the question again: Do you have to fit into my box or I into yours?
I submit to you that Church, the place where Christians gather to learn, encourage, grow, and worship in corporate harmony, is nothing more than a box. It's a location, typically with doors and windows (but not required), where people gather.
Some of those boxes have extensive rules, including a dress code and restrictions on acceptable behavior. The people who worship there tend to be wired by God to need such things.
Other boxes have little or no rules. Freedom of expression and exploration are openly encouraged. This box might not even have any walls, just wide open spaces.
While the people in these two examples might not be comfortable exchanging boxes, they can still be united in purpose - God's purpose.
The recognition and acknowledgment that God did not create us all the same and yet all in his image is vital to finding the common ground we all share: Jesus Christ.
Beyond the Blue
About Me
- Laurence
- There really not much to me. I'm uncomplicated and straight forward. I retired last year from the U.S. Air Force and now work for as a manager in the home warranty industry. Dang, I sound hecka boring! But, my life is the best! God has blessed me with a beautiful wife and an awesome son. And, because I have a close personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, my life is completely fulfilled.
9 comments:
Great post Laurence. You are right, we do not need to fit into each others boxes. I think right now we are all struggling to UNDERSTAND each others box. We also need to understand that nobody's box is perfect. There is no church that is perfect, if there were then EVERYONE would be reached and we would all get along.
Speaking strickly for myself, this journey has been a HUGE revelation for me. The Lord is trying to show me where I need to be...not me and my friends, just me. He has shown me that He needs me out of the church building for now because there are things I just have not been seeing clearly due mostly to the fact that I cannot say "no" to the "running of church". I am so busy working, I have not been SEEING what He wants me to see. Over the years I have killed myself by developing and running programs. I have lost sight of my first love, Jesus. I have always been in the mind set that I am working for Him, but the reality is that I was working for the church. I was in my "ministry bubble". I told myself I was out in the world, but the reality was I was only dealing with the part of the world that came to the church building. Is this the church's fault? Ultimately, it is MY fault. I allowed myself to get off track, but the "running of church" did not help me either. I was praised for killing myself in ministry. The more I did and the harder I worked, the more I was praised. The Lord was not happy with that. I was working, but was I REALLY making a difference? Is the Christian walk suppose to be more about discipleship of believers or bringing new people into the kingdom? The Lord is telling me it is more about seeking the lost. What did the great commission say? It said to go and bring the Good News to the world. What I have been doing the past 9 years is mostly discipleship, not reaching the lost.
What He is showing me is that there is an ever growing segment of the population that will NEVER set foot into a church..they just won't. I was talking to one of the youth I worked with for the past 8 years and she told me that most of her friends are not saved and that even though she has invited them to youth group COUNTLESS times, they won't come because it is at a church. Three of our best friends from college are the same way. They just don't like "church" and they will never go. So, who is reaching them? When I mentioned to two of them that we were no longer going to a "church", all of a sudden they wanted to know how we could not be in church and yet our faith is still intact. It fasinated them. Before, they never really wanted to talk about things related to God and our church life. They were polite about it, but they showed much more interest in how we were going to follow God, but not be in a building.
So in this long winded comment, my main point is that I am not anti-church. The Lord has shown me that for right now He wants to show me the world outside of a church building. Will He show me this and then send me back to the building to share what I have learned? I don't know. Is He showing me this to prepare me to reach those who will never set foot in a church building? Maybe. The point is He showed me something and I am trying to be obedient by allowing Him to show me. Am I trying to bash organized church? No. However, I am willing to look at organized church and see there are problems with it. Does that mean those who are members of an organized church and those who choose not to go to a church building cannot be united? Absolutely not! We are brothers and sisters in Christ. So, why are we always focusing our energy on who is right and who is wrong? Let's love each other, talk and encourage each other, but let's get to work! People are going to hell!
Ok I know that I am slow here. I guess I don't see why it has to be one or the other. In my perfect little world, everyone in the congregation would do thier part so that all the work wouldn't fall on just a small group that does it all. Then everyone would have the time and energy to go out into the world ( a park, Starbucks, a neighborhood, etc) and evangalize. We could all reach out to the lost. I do realize that it's not a perfect world but one can dream. I miss all of you who have left!! Jason came over tonight talking about what a great afternoon he had at the Cheyenne house. He was happy to spend time with you all. I think that my family needs to make it a priority to worship and visit with you all from time to time.
I agree, Diane. I think it has been hardest for the kids. It was lovely having Jason and Stephanie H. over this afternoon. It also made me realize that we need each other's perspective. We all engaged in conversation, and Laurence's input was very valuable. What I think I got out of it, is that what we are doing right now COULDN'T be accomplished while we were so actively engaged at church for many of the reasons that Vicki listed. We would try to have community and fellowship with each other, but it was very sporadic, because we had to choose between that and all of our other commitments. Right now we are devoting ourselves pretty full time to the relationship part of it all, and that is almost impossible to do when almost every night of the week is already scheduled. I think it really just boils down to personal choices and priorities, and one person's is not more right or wrong than anothers. But just as iron sharpens iron, we need to continue meeting together with everyone we care about and respect, so that we do not become too onesided in our thinking. You all are welcome anytime!
You know what's striking me the most about the "organized" religion debate?
It's real similar to the "how do I make a living to feed my family" debate.
Both have a job to accomplish.
Both have goals and quantifiable results.
Are they the same? No.
But the ideologies are the same. The dogma that people apply to them is the same.
A lot of it has to do with how a person was raised.
If their parents were wealthy, and they taught them how to be, then it’s a good chance they will be too (the Jews are a good example of this: financial abundance is important in the Jewish faith.)
If a person was raised in a church environment (I mean “raised” in the new Christian sense – if a person was ‘saved’ in a church setting) then that’s what they know and what they have been taught and that’s what they’ll be comfortable with.
God doesn’t have any boxes.
God lives in a round room. No corners to get caught in.
See, this is one of the problems I have with our ‘modern’ society. (The liberals have seen to this pretty well.)
It used to be that you had to EARN your opinion. Now any putz with an Internet connection has an equal voice to the true gurus, the people in the trenches that are making a difference in the world (this rant is general – not specific. Just an outlook .. also this applies to a broad range of topics, not just organized vs emerging churches)
You want to talk about good marriages? Where’s your happy spouse?
You want to talk about how to make money? Let’s see your bank account.
You want to talk about how to raise kids? Dr Spock’s son killed himself, so let’s see your happy well adjusted children.
You want to coach basketball? Let’s see your NBA ring.
You want to have an opinion about the Bible? Where are the Ten Commandments, Jack? Let’s see and talk to the people you led to the Lord and you minister to.
This was the main problem I had with that ‘Looking in from the Outside’ guy who was haunting our collective blogs.
He would depth-charge the blogs with his crap and then scoot without building a relationship or backing up WHY we should listen to him.
Just because you are breathing doesn’t give you the right to have an opinion.
I would never in a million years try to argue with a war-grizzled veteran about the horrors of war that I merely read in a book. His opinion, his perspective, trumps mine.
They are hard fought. They are tempered with fire, like hardened steel.
If you want one, go earn it.
That’s done by experiencing it yourself. Working both sides of the fence. Trying it both ways.
Need to make more money? That doesn’t mean getting a second job.
That means reviewing everything you believe about finances and money and seeing if it lines up with those who are making it happen every day.
Need to bring more people to Jesus? That doesn’t mean another bake sale.
That means questioning everything you know about “church” and piety and safe walls and comfort and finding out what really makes God tick. That may mean to leave the church and figure that out in the process. It may not, but it MAY.
The only person that has it all figured out is God. The rest of us get to look at the picture through broken mirrors and blinders.
To argue against emerging churches, or, more accurately, to argue FOR a certain rigid dogma about organized church, without ever having been to the other side, without ever trying something new or different or uncomfortable, is the worst kind of arrogance.
A great question was asked: Are you doing everything in your power, short of sin, to bring people to God?
I can say for myself – absolutely not. I was put on this earth and given my talents by God to worship Him and glorify Him and further His ends.
I’m doing better than I did yesterday, and a month ago and 5 years ago, but I’ve got a long way to go.
One thing I can say in my favor: my mind and my spirit are open. If something I’m doing needs to change -- done.
If I was filling out a job application and it asked “What do you think is your greatest strength?” my answer would be “My ability to change.”
A mind is like a parachute – it only works when it’s open.
So let’s all make sure we have a good foundation for our opinions before we pound our shoes on the table like Khrushchev.
You may learn something tomorrow that puts everything you said today in a different light.
Rush – ‘Tom Sawyer’:
“No his mind is not for rent
To any god or government
Always hopeful, yet discontent
He knows changes aren't permanent
But change is”
Changes aren’t permanent, but change is.
(And the ‘god’ they talk about there is the little gods we make in our lives. Not the God we know.)
Sorry about the length.
I love you guys!
Dale
We loved having the Maier boys ~ next time bring that lovely bride!
We'd love to have the Clontz's too....
Okay Laurence, bring on Part II!
I agree with everythig that has been said. Susie, you are right on! Let's REALLy hold each other accountable (in love). Nobody is looking to go off track, we want to follow God's leading for our own lives. Let's continue talking. As iron sharpens iron.
I agree with you Lawrence. Keeping it simple yet not. I like that. That he made us different yet we some how share the same reson for living and how in God's eyes (Taking this to another level) we are all equal. I think that is an important thing to read and talk about. Thumbs up.
Alex
Dale, man, I am liking what you have to say these days. Good food for thought. I may not always agree with those in the conversation, but I say, "Bring it on, so I can have something to chew on." Sometimes I may swallow and sometimes spit it back out, but I love the opportunity to chew on it!
Right ON laurence... we ARE united on the common ground of Jesus Christ! And that's the best soil upon which we battle the enemy!
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