I did not know when converted in 1970 that the Kingdom of God would become new day by day. I didn't see it coming. Neither did I see ministry staying fresh; I assumed one had to work at it. Yet, engaging in God's labors is perpetually fascinating.
The church, though, struggles with finding the fascination. Some walk in it. Others are either oblivious to it...or fight it. A challenge today was the same as all yesterdays; will we allow God to express His creativity among us, within us, and for us?
I was in the ranks of obliviousicity. So strongly was I unaware that I assume today I remain very much unaware of God's deep desire to intercede with His kind, style, and dimension of work. Churches have shut off the flow of God within all communities.
This must halt.
Should I be accidentally misunderstood (compared to being intentionally), I want to point out that God loves the church concept so much that such is His design to reach the entire scope of humanity. Too, He also spoke through prophets and writers warning of man's ability to take His creation of community hostage for self-indulgent purposes.
Today, October 26, 2013, I am stirred--wonderfully, gratefully stirred--by the potential and possibility of how we could and should be church. Church isn't less needed; but rather more so. At the moment it seems we are struggling to make impact. There seems that there are reasons for this as God is surely about making life pop!
For one, there has always been consistent tension between what the church could do to reach the needy and what the church members want to maintain for Brother Status and Sister Quo. This couple has been recognized for so long as serving in our midst that even their very names are greeted with nonchalance for we mistakenly believe we have sufficiently dealt with them. We have not.
A thing that excites me--still--is the nature of Jesus. Where there were the poor and the blind-sided there was Jesus. His presence was never with high church but with low life. What will lift a church? Reaching out to the needy that they might be lifted up. Guess what is happening in America? Increasing numbers of poor.
Brother Status and Sister Quo have held the church of God in bondage throughout all centuries of her existence. We must awaken day by day to the risky possibilities and the unexpected potential of doing things for God which may be brand new to the earthy church mind. And once noticed, there will need to be some very bold and risk-taking leaders to see that such hope is offered to a valuable world growing darker by the day.
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