Ok: I will explain the image below. Keep reading....................
What is it with all the life application teaching these days? Can we just have a preacher open up the book of Matthew (the toughest one to teach out of, in my opinion), and preach out of that for a year? How about leaving our life experiences out of preaching more and remind us that it is not about us? How about stopping the endless years of working on our "journey" in "Bible Study" and be finally be claimed healed enough to go out and be life to others? (Hang around with me. I'll assist you in moving forward, not stagnant)
Not to start out too harsh, but I see the pendulum swinging in a dangerous way, and how do you reverse this?
My sister and I used to claim that we didn't need therapy (this was many years ago), and we could save our $25.00 co-pay by sitting in church. The preacher can just talk to us for free and yes, we called it free therapy. We were under a trance back then, but the devil works like that. We don't know we are in the trance until we pull out of it and say, "Whew, what just happened there?". Thank you, Lord. The God of second chances. He has given me more than a couple.
I don't know everything, but I am very observant. I see what appears to be very reputable churches "buying" modules of some kind of dribble and then they present that, and preach a little around it. How does the Holy Spirit work in that? You mean to tell me that you as a herald, a town crier for the message of Salvation are going to tell the Holy Spirit that you already have the docket full for Sunday and are going to talk on depression? Do you not understand familial spirits and that some people are very susceptible to taking home your "junk" you are preaching on, which is not life filling, life sustaining and life giving?
I want to go to church to open my Bible, hear the Word of God, be explained to some degree what God is speaking through the pastor about this to his flock, get revived with great music to give Glory to the Lord and hug and chat with sisters and brothers in Christ. To be filled for the week with community worship.
If you want to add a life application teaching, please don't do it when you are supposed to preach. Do it on Wednesday nights or any time but the typical gathering time on the Day Of Rest.
"Preach" in the dictionary (Google) states "to proclaim or teach." It should be a combination of both.
The cool thing is that I am not employed by a church. I make a living working in the medical field full time. I am an evangelist for Christ full time as well. Whatever the Holy Spirit puts on my heart. The phone rings, and there I go to a nursing home, a parking lot or give away tracks and books. (Prayer ALWAYS precedes the work the Lord has for me to do) I have nothing to gain by what I am called to do. I can step on toes, I can be politically incorrect because I don't have to worry about my salary, my retirement plan or my tithers pulling their chips back out of the game.
If I choose to write a book, or travel to speak in the future, I will be situating myself as to be hated for the Gospel. My income should never drive my participation in the introducing others to Jesus Christ. Either loss of income, or gain of income. It isn't my money anyhow!
You may say I am an arm chair quarterback (aren't we all over-using that term???). Well, I am qualified. I am filled with the Holy Spirit, born again, daily Bible reader and prayer on my knees lady. I walk in the Holy Spirit, obey the Holy Spirit, smash down idols as quickly as they build up in my life type person.
I believe in the Old Testament and its value for THIS DAY. I feel we have washed over it with a grace message that leaves people abandoned when tragedy hits and they can't understand the nature of God because they never studied the history of Adam through Jesus. It shocks me when I see weathered old Bibles in peoples hands and they are simply the New Testament! Yes, have a cheap NT in your purse or car, but your bread for life should be the entire Spirit inspired Word of God!!
I also feel that old hymns have increased value in this day. Read those lyrics! They are not "Poor me, I am a defeated Christian" type lyrics (please discern what is happening to contemporary Christian music). I am unfortunately hearing respected pastors denounce the old hymns. Yes, we need always to have a "new song". But, history proves that the Good News doesn't change, just because our world is visibly a mess. It is even more terrifying if you use your spiritual eyes to see what is going on in this broken world.
I have no beef with my current preacher. I just want to make that clear. I have heard awesome preachers in my community. I visit churches of friends and it is delightful to hear messages about 1) Revival 2) The Lord's Return 3) The need to be born again 4) Sin, repentance and sanctification.
Unfortunately, I see the word "I" used quite a bit throughout this blog. "I" apologize for that. (smiley face)
Let's get to some good news. The Creator of the Universe really deserves our attention. He is trying to communicate to us, through His Holy Spirit. He deserves all of our praise. He is worthy of all honor and glory. Let's not short change things by substituting what appears to be "good" for what is "Great". Let's realize that trends that cause comfort (false comfort--we all have to face pain) are very difficult to reverse.
Let's not have another generation or 10 for that matter, find out that what they got in "church" didn't add up with life. Let's not have people raise their fists to God and say, "They told me at church this was going to be easy". "Look what I've done for you, God and this is what I get!!"
Let's be careful about teaching about divorce, depression and other hard knocks things. Only a Holy Spirit filled pastor should be doing this, and only if the Holy Spirit is prompting Him to. (Many leaders in the name of Christ are not born again. Sorry.)
Hard knocks preaching should be about the subjects of 1) The oppressed, 2) The missionaries in the field and 3) The imprisoned for Christ. (I am not limiting the subjects, as there are more than that.) We in America are so stuck on what Oprah said about depression still from the 80's need to move on in Victory! Let's quit looking in the mirror and turn it around to capture a reflection of all of those outside of the circle of "me".
Lord, thank You for loving us. Thank you that you give us an ability to change into Your image, more every day. It simply is a gift, that You would save us. We ask Lord that pastors would discern Your will. Time is short, eternity is long. So many are hungry and misled, and don't know it.
John 4:23-24 "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and truth".
Matthew 5:17-18 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished."
