I read Mark Driscoll's blog tonight where he begins a discussion on sins of omission vs commission and it got me thinking... do we often promote a sinful lifestyle because of our fear of approaching the subject and topic?
We really have created a unique culture in church life... remember the pastor that encouraged us to dress up to church by saying "if the president of the US was coming to visit, wouldn't you wear your best?" -- as if we can only meet with the Lord in a building erected in His Name. I can think of several faux-pas' within our churches today that didn't seem to have quite as much difficulty rising to the surface of the Biblical text. So, my question is... Do we lack discipline and risk because we are nervous to mention that the Chrisitan life is not about a comfortable life? Do we see sexual sins and addictions more prevalent within the body of Christ because of our fear to talk openly about it as the Bible often has? (likewise, does this often cause shame when the word is mentioned, when it should cause joy in something God has created for good?) Does the body of Christ often lack effectiveness and unity because we are too afraid to approach morons (ok, strong word... maybe stupid-heads work) who twist and abandon good Biblical truth to accomodate their own personal views, causing the body to suffer and disessemble?
i just do wonder if the things we create as "no-no's" within our services are often the things that need to be spoken about the most (outside of the Gospel being preached) for our body to live their lives with more glory to the Father.
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7 comments:
Patrick,
This is Ryan Lyons. How are you man? I came accross your blog as I was interacting with some other guys up here at Southern Seminary.
Your post hits right at the heart of one of the primary issues of the modern church. I am convinced that most (though not all) of our churches (especially SBC) have lost any concept of a biblical ecclessiology. That is, an ecclessiology that is rooted in being a genuine community of believers in which individuals are held accountable, encouraged, edified, and yes, even disciplined when necessary, for their good and God's glory.
For whatever reason, we have defined church as attending and observing a Sunday morning worship gathering. Of course, this is far from the biblical idea of what it means to be an active participant in the local church. We have to redefine what it means to be a member of the local church, and we have to reclaim the biblical truth that the Christian life should not, indeed it cannot, be separated from active participation in the local church. And this participation in the local church means accountability, a place where people can share their struggles and know that they will be encouraged, as well as held accountable.
May God deliver us from our avoidance of confronting sin, and give us the grace necessary so as to recapture the love of one another, the kind of love that is willing to "bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galtians 6:2). There is so much that could be said on this subject, but i better get to work on some other matters. Good post.
Ryan Lyons
Hey Ryan, great to hear from you!
good comments. i agree, i think we need to rethink a LOT about the church; we have gotten way off task.
how is southern these days? did you go to the 'together for the Gospel' conference?
drop me an email sometime (pat@northcrosschurch.net)
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