1 Peter 2: 9-10 says, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."
What makes a "church" lifeless, dull, and empty?
Some say it is the music. Some say it is the speaker. Some say it's just because the Holy Spirit isn't there.
Then you have some nut saying it is because they painted the walls brown instead of yellow (don't be that guy).
All but the last seem pretty reasonable, but music doesn't save anyone and the speaker doesn't save anyone.
If the building is full of believers seeking God, the Holy Spirit should be there, right?
That is where my question lies.
I don't want to step on toes, but I believe that if your desire is for a vibrant church fellowship, you have to decide who does the choosing.
"But you ARE a CHOSEN people. . ."
The question is WHO chose them?
If it is a lifeless (not necessarily small, just dead) church, the people are probably doing the choosing. Choosing not to sing, choosing not to pray for each other, choosing not to help the poor, the orphan, the widow. You get my point.
In a vibrant, live (not necessarily big, just truly alive) church, God has chosen a people who were not a people. God has chosen a people to show His mercy, His love, His grace. When God chose you to step from darkness to light. BOOM! You became alive and your church should too.
If God chooses, the church is alive. If man chooses, the church is as good as dead.
If you are chosen, belonging to God, you can declare His praises today and your church fellowship will never be the same.
If I am wrong about this, still, don't be the crazy guy fussing about paint color.
2 comments:
Wade, Most if not all churches have a percentage of people who attend that have never had a spiritual birth. The Bible call them tares that are mixed in with the wheat (Matthew 13:36-43). Someday (soon I hope) God will separate the wheat from the tares. Until then the church will always have internal problems. Just keep on praising the Lord a let God deal with the paint on the wall people and the chosen frozen.
~Ron
Yeah, i know what you mean. i definitely know about internal problems inside the four walls. i guess i was talking a little more about the leaders of the church and not only the people in the pews.
You are right on with the praising and praying.
blessings. wade
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