WHAT'S LIKE GOT TO DO WITH IT?

What does like have to do with the greatest system to hover earth?

• Do you like your church?
• Do you like your minister?
• Do you like your classes?
• Do you like the youth group?
• Do you like the missions program?
• Do you like the direction the church is going?
• Do you like the music?
• Do you like children's programs?

Understand, I do not think the use of the word like is illegal.  I do think it has become an assumed position in spiritual contexts that affects the church negatively.  Dislike tends to produce quitters.  Love seems to reverse such order and allow endurance.

It is surely permissible to like or dislike.  It is not justifiable, however, to refrain or resist ministering in the kingdom due to our preferences with either people or programs.  There have been, are, and will be many things that I don't care for in the church and in me.  But I will not quit.

It's one thing to find a congregation similar in spirit and direction.  However, we must guard against a laziness that refuses to learn new ways and adapt to things that don't seem to run to our "liking".  

Church won't go right simply because the anchor to it is the cross. Suffering is church oxygen.  We must breathe it in.

So I cheer you on.  Because there are things and/or people in the church that bug you, grow from them rather than go from them.  Some of the elders are difficult, you say? Stay put and let God teach you something you haven't learned from struggle. Preachers bug you?  Learn to pray. Programs are done poorly?  Seek ways to implement improvement rather than add complaint.

Jesus was at his best when he was roaming the hillsides as well as the streets.  He was also at his best when being publicly humiliated.  He was also at his best best when strung up on a cross.  And Jesus was his best, best, best when he exited the tomb!

Ours is such a pattern.  Look at Him.  His walk contained a few dislikes.  Yet....each of them brought us favor.  May we give our whims and moods a remodel so that even the very things which we do not like turn out to bless others because we chose to suffer rather than quit.