Monday, April 15, 2013

THE CROSS AND THE CHURCH CULTURE

If you can't stand the heat in the kitchen, get out is somewhat of a paraphrase I have heard since childhood.  It seems my grandpa and then my dad had this one memorized for little kids.  The concept seemed to be that if you can't take the pressures of life you best move on.

In the church, we need more to remain in the kitchen.

Kingdom life is not easy.  Church isn't easy.  Walking with God isn't easy.

All of it is necessary as well as rewarding.

When you take your turn(s) at being injured, don't run.  You are designed by God to be injured for the sake of the name of Jesus.  He was.  When you are discouraged, don't run.  These are God-moments designed to set off a God-movement.  I still treasure the note from Chuck Swindoll I received some 25 years ago which included the powerful phrase, Don't flinch!

When we have devoted ourselves to the super-happy, cheer-bearing, all-bills-are-paid system of organized religion, we have forgotten a most important Truth factor; the Cross.  While see don't hunt for troubles like children do Easter eggs, we shall not be caught off guard when church struggle arises.

And.....we surely will not abandon our brothers and sisters for safer and happier pastures. 

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