One of the subtle scourges of belief is what I call "inherited" Christianity: when people claim Christianity not because they've ever really developed a relationship with Christ or taken steps forward to walk with Him, but because they've always sort of been at church and thus assume that's just what it means to be a Christian, or because since their family is so committed and Christian they assume they naturally are, too. [Click title to read more.]
Tag: church life
Dangerous Assumptions
After some long and heavy conversations with people I had pegged as longtime believers, I realized that those in need of Christ aren’t just waiting outside in the secular world. They’re sitting in our pews. And they have been there for ages. [Click title to read more.]
My Frustrating Relationship With the Altar
Time at the altar is sometimes necessary, and very valuable. I wish there was more of it. [Click title to read more.]
The Problem of Christian Float
I call it Christian float: when believers can float into a church and even do all the "right" things in it (become a member, "plug in" to small groups or activities, participate in ministry) and somehow never end up fundamentally connected to anyone in the congregation. When they can show up faithfully and then leave the church after a day, a month, or after two years and find the reaction is exactly the same: indifference or ignorance. [Click title to read more.]
Your Glass Of Water
I challenge you this year to find a "glass of water" task in which you too will be spectacularly faithful. [Click title to read more.]
Why Fellowship Is Valuable When It Works
At its best, and as an ideal, Christian fellowship is (or should be) a place where we can drop pretenses, get comfortable, stretch our toes, look for and find and provide support, and enjoy the feeling of being somewhere that we're understood, loved, and supported. It's a community where the love of God is, at least theoretically, being made manifest constantly in surprising and wonderful ways. [Click title to read more.]
Why I Don’t Currently Hold An Official Church Membership
Every believer should have a place that they can call home, a place that invests in them, and a place into which they can invest spiritually, emotionally, and financially. In the meantime, it's okay if you take your time finding out where that place is. [Click title to read more.]
Don’t Let What’s Technologically Trendy Become A Stumbling Block
Technology can help our Christian lives, but it must surely not cause harm, nor prevent people from reaching Christ. [Click title to read more.]
You Don’t Have To Go To The Huge Cool Church. It’s Okay To Think Small.
There is nothing intrinsically wrong with Huge Cool Churches. I do encourage you, though, to realize that a Huge Cool Church is not the only, nor always the best, option for worship. [Click title to read more.]
Churches: Don’t Work The Body To Death
When the next opportunity for service or ministry comes around, don't cave in to the easy temptation to call the same old people (who are really so dependable and who will do it on such short notice!) and ask them to serve, or minister, or help, or provide in some way. Find other people to do it. Let it be known loudly that it's time for that core group of workers to have a rest and that everyone else is going to have to start showing up. [Click title to read more.]
Samaritan's Song 