Distractions #2
You know, I was just thinking about what I wrote, and I think we get a little distracted in our spiritual lifes also, don´t you? We are recently talking with a couple who have been in the church for years, but suddently feel they need to seperate and start a new congregation in their home. They aren´t from our congregation, but we have been friends for some time.
Suddenly they were "distracted" by "rethinking" all they do. They were frustrated with their congregation, with their traditions, rutines, struggle for control.... and so they decided that maybe they needed to rethink things. What things? How to show Christ´s love to others? How to bring others to know the peace we have in Christ? How to strengthen our own relationships within our families? How to live daily based on Christ´s teachings? How to perservere towards our eternal goal? No, none of these.... They are rethinking the real important things. Music in worship, women leading prayer, what day to have the Lord´s supper....
Talk about frustrating, it seems that their frustrations have distracted them from what they need to be doing, and they have instead focused on what they want to be doing. Does that make sense?
We have tried to encourage them and talk with them, telling them to not let their frustrations with this particular congregation lead them to deny sound doctrine. There is nothing wrong with the doctrine of the apostles, or Christ. The problem is in the humans who tend to loose focus. The doctrine is not wrong, our focus so many times is.
I think it was Paul who said we are not to be distracted by genealogies, false doctrines, myths, meaningless talk... all they cause is contriversy and discussions. We need to be out there doing good works, God´s work. I mean really, do you think God is gonna be more pleased with the brother who has abundance of knowledge, but hasn´t left his Christian library, or with the brethren who simply knows one thing, Christ´s love, and has been totally occupied in just that durring his entire life? I know that salvation doesn´t come from works alone, but aren´t our works proof of our faith? If one spends so much time rethinking, and researching, and investigating.... maybe his faith isn´t all what he thinks it is?
Faith comes from hearing, but I also think it comes from getting out there and seeing how God moves us to doing His work, and from seeing how God works in the lives of those who seek the simplicity of His true gospel meaning. What about you?
Suddenly they were "distracted" by "rethinking" all they do. They were frustrated with their congregation, with their traditions, rutines, struggle for control.... and so they decided that maybe they needed to rethink things. What things? How to show Christ´s love to others? How to bring others to know the peace we have in Christ? How to strengthen our own relationships within our families? How to live daily based on Christ´s teachings? How to perservere towards our eternal goal? No, none of these.... They are rethinking the real important things. Music in worship, women leading prayer, what day to have the Lord´s supper....
Talk about frustrating, it seems that their frustrations have distracted them from what they need to be doing, and they have instead focused on what they want to be doing. Does that make sense?
We have tried to encourage them and talk with them, telling them to not let their frustrations with this particular congregation lead them to deny sound doctrine. There is nothing wrong with the doctrine of the apostles, or Christ. The problem is in the humans who tend to loose focus. The doctrine is not wrong, our focus so many times is.
I think it was Paul who said we are not to be distracted by genealogies, false doctrines, myths, meaningless talk... all they cause is contriversy and discussions. We need to be out there doing good works, God´s work. I mean really, do you think God is gonna be more pleased with the brother who has abundance of knowledge, but hasn´t left his Christian library, or with the brethren who simply knows one thing, Christ´s love, and has been totally occupied in just that durring his entire life? I know that salvation doesn´t come from works alone, but aren´t our works proof of our faith? If one spends so much time rethinking, and researching, and investigating.... maybe his faith isn´t all what he thinks it is?
Faith comes from hearing, but I also think it comes from getting out there and seeing how God moves us to doing His work, and from seeing how God works in the lives of those who seek the simplicity of His true gospel meaning. What about you?
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