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#Post#: 10292--------------------------------------------------
Diary of a Wimpy Church
By: Kerry Date: February 3, 2015, 9:43 am
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I found a thought-provoking article called Diary of a Wimpy
Church. I can't copy it here since it's copyrighted; but it's
about our priorities as Christians and what we pray for.
HTML http://www.rebekahsimonpeter.com/diary-of-a-wimpy-church/
#Post#: 11888--------------------------------------------------
Re: Diary of a Wimpy Church
By: Justaname Date: April 11, 2016, 10:48 am
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Interesting points. I notice that this was posted over a year
ago. Yet today I find it still very relevant.
I agree, we are a pretty much a self centred lot. Therefore
prayer is much about "us", as the article says 'our' health, or
the health of friends and family, or happiness, for the same.
As we think about the prayer life of Jesus, mostly it was in one
to one fellowship with His Father.
I believe that the only time that He prayed for Himself was in
the Garden.
At most time he was focussed on the glory of God being the most
important thing.
Neither did he seem to be always wringing his hands about people
being or not being converted.
It was most important to Him that Father God was glorified.
I agree with what was said. We don't find the Jesus kind of
praying in the churches.
I remember as a young christian totally disliking the Thursday
night prayer meeting. It was so boring. But no one dared to say
that! Except for one old lady. When she opened her mouth every
hair on my body stood to attention. SHE knew how to pay!
I'm not sure that is the whole reason why the church of today is
wimpy. But yes, it is powerless and forgettable. It doesn't
know how to pray. I don't think Jesus would recognize what is
called 'the church' today. It doesn't even seem to be the same
Church that it was just 50 years ago.
#Post#: 11891--------------------------------------------------
Re: Diary of a Wimpy Church
By: Kerry Date: April 12, 2016, 6:07 am
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^ Could it be that people aren't growing up spiritually? This
passage from Paul comes to mind:
I Corinthians 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then
that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a
child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away
childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to
face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I
am known.
If we are still babes but think we've arrived, we lack
motivation to go on, to progress. I see stages people may go
through. The first state is before being converted. The new
convert can be compared to a newborn babe. Paul's writings
have other passages that show how some people are to be tended,
cared for, prayed for, by the more spiritually advanced. I
also tend to think God is more generous with people at this
stage, generally answering their prayers even if they lean
towards being selfish prayers. This is to encourage the
spiritual children who learn God is real and can make things
happen. In the physical world, we see parents taking care of
their children when the children aren't doing anything to
deserve it. Their children have selfish wants and needs, and
the parents provide. This seems proper to me at this stage.
The next stage is when God seems not to answer the selfish
prayers, perhaps not answer any at all. This is a test. Are
we good just so God will do what we want? Are we trying to buy
favors by God by flattering Him or being good? When the soul
is ready to become righteous without this impure motive, I think
God sometimes pulls the rug out from under people if that is
what is needed. He did it to Job. So problems arise that
didn't before; and it may seem God isn't at work. But if the
souls have grown enough, the Divine Love alive in them will seek
to find solutions to the problems around him. The God-Nature
"in" those persons will begin to operate. They are no longer
seeking "God out there" to do things for them; instead the
God-Nature within is ready to emerge and blossom. Instead of
being "takers" in the church, they become "givers."
Why do we not see this happening more in our churches? Poor
leadership perhaps? The spiritual babes may remain spiritual
babes if they lack leaders to nurture them and to encourage them
to "grow up." Then too, perhaps it's people craving weak and
unspiritual leaders?
"Consider Job." Job did find a good teacher; and I believe at
the end, he was no longer "seeing as through a glass darkly."
Job grew up. The text has God telling him to gird his loins --
today we might say stand up like an adult.
It's fascinating to me too that Job was so concerned with "me
and mine" in the beginning. His own children seemed to
preoccupy his mind; but it also seems to me, Job may have been a
miserable man to be around. Why did his children visit each
other and not him? That suggests something to me. So there
he is, praying and sacrificing for his own children -- and we
have to wonder if that was the best thing he could pray for?
He was imagining they might have sinned. He didn't even know if
they had sinned; but he was still praying away. It didn't do
any good.
In the end, we see Job's prayers for his friends did some good.
They had sinned; and God told Job to pray and sacrifice for
them.
#Post#: 11898--------------------------------------------------
Re: Diary of a Wimpy Church
By: Justaname Date: April 12, 2016, 2:50 pm
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Many good thoughts there. And your ref to 1 Cor 13.10 Food for
thought.
We did seem to get God's attention much easier when first
becoming Christians. And prayers were answered so much easier
and quicker.
I have often pondered this. *Are we as mature as we think that
we are?
The early christian life when always checking with God, before
doing something, and praying over and about every situation,
caused us to feel much closer to God. Plus, it made life much
more exciting in seeing answers to prayer.
Then we grew up! Like you say, we were no longer small children
holding daddy's hand.
But is it better now? We don't pray about every little thing.
If dad put us in charge of the shop, then we keep the shop as
well as we can, just how dad told us to do.
Yet it is not seeming like the cozy times of being
young...sitting on dads knees and being read bedtime stories.
Now we are no longer 'tucked in at night', we go to bed alone,
and we read our own bedtime story.
Sometime I ask, is maturity better. I miss the childish cuddle
times with God.
If the Church is now 'mature', then I don't like it either. To
me it seems very plastic, staged, and controlled. I can't go
there.
#Post#: 11912--------------------------------------------------
Re: Diary of a Wimpy Church
By: paralambano Date: April 16, 2016, 5:27 am
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Results are what matter. I'd bet none of the disciples Jesus
sent out to heal and teach had any illnesses themselves.
Love your neighbour as yourself. Love Good in certain ways
first. No evil in God. How can we heal others when we're sick in
so many ways ourselves?
Results. Many Christians cripple up to church week by week as do
the Hindoo and Muslim to their places.
All I hear are platitudes in criticisms. Results are what matter
not mental masturbations. The early Christians awed people.
para . . . .
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