“T he general state of Christianity is much more cultural than authentic. The advancement of the kingdom of God and His glory are scarcely embraced as the objects of our greatest passions. The pursuit of these treasures is no longer what we strive for. Christ is not Lord over all our lives. We have made ourselves our own masters.
Life gets confusing. What was to be our highest pursuit is lost as our minds and hearts become consumed with lesser issues. If our thinking and our power are our own, then possessions become property rather than objects of stewardship. At best, we give our leftovers to God and keep the rest, indulging ourselves in the full and free pursuit of personal pleasure…”
There is a fascinating dynamic in all of this. We all know that our faith in Christ is not merely a matter of internal belief. If our conduct does not conform to that belief, then our belief can be called into question. The latter validates the former. It is almost impossible to live as Christ taught if we do not have a transforming belief that changes the way we live.”
-William Wilberforce
Authentic Christianity
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Amen!
How do you find an authentic church?I have been a church goer all my life and a baptizes believer most of it.Only in the last few years as I have saught God have I come to relize my church and all the churches around me are trying to put a christian spin on the desires of the worldly.
I feel alone and worry about my children.
I have not found any churches in my area that are not trying to build a bigger youth group and childrens church.
My church and church camp now, does not allow parent to attend the childrens classes.When I ask the kids what they have learned in sunday school they never know or they show me the moves to a song.NOT THE WORDS wierd wrapper moves.
My preacher talks openly about how his third child was lucky to be born due to his second child being such a handfull.He has also told widows that the church would not help them if they had family who “should” help them.Thats like not taking care of an abandon child because thier family “should” help them.He also has told many older people in our church if they don’t like something they are clinging to tradition.That has lead to most of our over 60’s leaving.
I could go on and on.I know our personal realationship with God is what counts.I just wish for some fellowship with some like minded people.That don’t involve typing and trying to spell.
LucyT, Your comment touches my heart because my family currently worships at home, lead by my sweet husband. We have also been unable to find a church that we felt like we wouldn’t be compromising our beliefs to “join”. This is a huge reason I turned to the internet, looking for fellowship and encouragement from fellow belivers, and instruction from a Titus2 woman. Sometimes I literally cry out in prayer that I could look into someone’s face, into their eyes, someone like Kelly that can give guidance that you can trust, and not just “fluff” that they “feel is right”.
It is so sad that most churches are more concerned about being a church, than they are about being THE Church!
Charity,I teared up reading your post.I didn’t really relize how close to the surface this need is.Your last sentence is so sad and so true.
We did stay home for a time.I guess because I was a preachers kid(raise by my aunt and uncle after a my grandmother died)(complicated childhood)I missed worshiping with others.I spent a lot of my life sitting in a pew.We did church 3 days a week and my uncle preached revivals at least once or twice a month for a week at a time.I loved it.I loved the warmth of all the small churches in our community.I loved the way the sun would set outside the churches as evening turned to night.I loved all the old hymns.I loved all the people who filled those pews with the passage of time showing on thier faces and hands.I loved serving those people in the linger longers after the service.(what ever happend to linger longers?)I loved watching the younger kids play setting on the cold basement floor beside thier parent.I guess I am old buy I remember a time when children set in church with thier parent.I wanted my children to know what it was like to know a whole community of christian people who where giving it all to God.I wanted them to see the testimony of the once rugged,strong man who had spent his life seving his God through service to his church now bent and ailing but full of joy and hope knowing he had fought the good fight and his heavanly reward would be soon.I wanted my daughters to see our modle perfect faithfull piano player grow grey with dignity and grace. I wanted them to see all the glorious examples of christ like service I witnessed as I grew up.I wanted them to look into the eyes of others and KNOW that person is one of them.
That is why we went back to church and that is why I have stayed for the last 14 years.Even when I thought we we’re headed down a slippery slope.But now service has become praise me projects, if you know what I mean,and every church I can finds purpose is to grow a bigger better church.
Hi Lucy,
I have felt the same way as you. We switched churches about 2 years ago and are now attending a small, family integrated church. It is not a perfect church but we enjoy it. We have one of the larger families in the church with 4 children but I believe that the Lord can use us in our very own church. Our church does not have a lot of outreach programs and I am thankful for that. I will pray for you.
Thank you Jamie,I know there is no perfect church.I believe church is about worshiping God,so I struggle a lot with whether or not this is a heart issue with me or not.I have been looking for a family intergrated church, but haven’t found it yet.Maybe God wants me where I am.I am not a very bold person. I have a hard time being in a place where I feel like I have to stand up for my convictions to everyone.I have lots of friend who love me but they still just think I am a legalist,over protective,or a control freak.
We have the largest family in our church with the exception of a single mom who has six kids.We have five.We are the only homeschoolers and you should hear the laughs when I tell people my 14 year old won’t be dating.
I think one of my biggest concerns about my church and a lot I have tried out is the lack of respect for the elders in the church.I am middle age but I still need and long for the wisdom of those who have gone before me.
Lucy,
Have you gone to The National Center for Family Integrated Church’s website? http://www.ncfic.org They have a church finder on their website. You and an e-mail I received today inspired me to write a post on my blog called Reforming Family. I think you will enjoy it. It is about this topic. I’m still praying.
Also, what does your husband say about everything?
Jamie,I have looked there a couple of years ago.I will look again.Thank you for the link.
I will be hopping over to your blog as soon as I get the kids to bed.
My husband is not the leader type at all,very shy,and I have tried very hard not to share my unhappieness with him.I was praying God would show me through him the way to go.He has suggested we try a new start up church that meets on saturday night and wendsday night.However my husband works wendsday and saturday night.
I will admit I feel a lot of guilt over thinking of leaving our church.My uncle is the assosiate minister he is getting older. I am his only family nearby and while he is a gifted singer.I believe do to the attitude of our younger church board his days may be numberd.He had cancer 6 years ago and was given 3 mo to live.He was healed.During his treatment is when everything began to change at church.The biggest changes have occured in the last year or two though.At a board meating my uncle questioned some of the changes.My preacher looked at him and said( we wanted to do this 6 years ago but you got cancer).
I also wanted to add that my husband has said he could go to church anywhere if I was happy,which tells me I have not been holding my tounge very well
Also, it sounds like a conviction, not a heart issue. I know for me it was a conviction and the Lord was always faithful to show me the whys behind the convictions. God is SO good!
This resonated with me and is something I constantly struggle with. I know how I want to live, and yet somehow the world often gets in the way. Then there are the times when I get in my own way. 🙂 Thanks for sharing this.