I am in the process of reading "Revolution" by George Barna. Barna is examining the state of the church today. He states that millions of believers have moved beyond the established church and chosen to be the Church instead. I believe Barna is correct that believers are leaving the church. I have seen believers locally leaving the church for many of the same reasons that Barna discusses.
Though I believe that Barna is correct, I struggle with some of his conclusions. I have given my life to the local church - 27 years of full time service. For that reason and many others, I struggle with the book. Throughout my years of serving the local church I have seen many leave the church. Barna believes that these "revolutionaries" are strong believers even though they may not attend church. It is my experience that most people, when not associated with the local church, will cease growing spiritually and will eventually "backslide." It is my belief that a believer needs the local church as much as the church needs these "revolutionaries."
I believe that these "revolutionaries" are vital for the church to be the church. The church needs their spirit, their vibrancy. For the church to be everything that God desires, these "revolutionaries" are needed in the church and the church needs them.
I believe their is hope for future of the church or I would not be able to continue to serve the church. We really do need each other - the revolutionaries and the church. We seriously need to co-exist so that God can be glorified. I don't believe that God is honored by division of any kind. The church and the "revolutionaries" need to make the changes necessary for the two to co-exist and thus bring God glory.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Muldova
The Singing Men of South Texas (SMOST) are planning a trip this fall to Muldova. Muldova is a country that was a part of the former Soviet Union. It is located near Romania.
In preparation for that trip, our director of SMOST, invited a man who teaches at Wayland Baptist Univ. in San Antonio, to speak to us. This man, Bob, has a ministry in Muldova that teaches the Bible in the schools. Even though it is against the law to teach the Bible, his ministry has the permission of the Minister of Education of Muldova, to teach in the schools.
One of the interesting things that I learned about Muldova is that it is a country that is without morality. They do not have any semblance of right and wrong, because of the influence of Communism. As a result, business don't pay the taxes they owe (the country doesn't expect them to), which is 120 %. Obviously, a Christian has a difficult time being a believer and a business owner.
One story that I thought was especially good dealt with one of the Bible classes. Some boys were gambling with their cards and a teacher invited them to watch a video in the Bible class. They attended the class, and afterwards the teacher was looking for them, but they had already left the classroom. The boys, before leaving the room, had left the teacher their playing cards. They had been convicted by the Word of God through the video. Upon hearing about Jesus they had a sense of morality.
In a conversation with my Mom, I wondered how much is the United States like the country of Muldova? We hear in the news, almost daily, about events taking place that make it difficult to believe that someone could have a sense of morality. We hear of a young man who murders and dismembers his girlfriend because she was talking with other men. Have we lost a sense of right and wrong?
In preparation for that trip, our director of SMOST, invited a man who teaches at Wayland Baptist Univ. in San Antonio, to speak to us. This man, Bob, has a ministry in Muldova that teaches the Bible in the schools. Even though it is against the law to teach the Bible, his ministry has the permission of the Minister of Education of Muldova, to teach in the schools.
One of the interesting things that I learned about Muldova is that it is a country that is without morality. They do not have any semblance of right and wrong, because of the influence of Communism. As a result, business don't pay the taxes they owe (the country doesn't expect them to), which is 120 %. Obviously, a Christian has a difficult time being a believer and a business owner.
One story that I thought was especially good dealt with one of the Bible classes. Some boys were gambling with their cards and a teacher invited them to watch a video in the Bible class. They attended the class, and afterwards the teacher was looking for them, but they had already left the classroom. The boys, before leaving the room, had left the teacher their playing cards. They had been convicted by the Word of God through the video. Upon hearing about Jesus they had a sense of morality.
In a conversation with my Mom, I wondered how much is the United States like the country of Muldova? We hear in the news, almost daily, about events taking place that make it difficult to believe that someone could have a sense of morality. We hear of a young man who murders and dismembers his girlfriend because she was talking with other men. Have we lost a sense of right and wrong?
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Blogging
Can you believe my son hooked me up with a blog? Now I will have to think of something to write.
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