What Church?
Published February 2, 2014No question seems to bother believers more these days in America than, “What church should I go to?” Or, more worrisome: “Should I go to church at all?” These questions primarily arise because of a growing dissatisfaction in our life situations. We see this in current divorce statistics, job opportunities and working conditions, consumer preferences, and of course, church attendance. Gone are the days of happy stability, consistent perseverance, and dedication for the long haul. Nowadays we have a “restaurant mentality,” where we shop around for everything from the right cell phone to a new mate on the internet, just […]
read moreWhy Church?
Published October 13, 2013Jesus said, “…upon this rock I build My church (and the “rock” is Christ, not Peter); and the gates of Hades (Hell) shall not overpower it” (Matt.16-18). That sounds powerful to me. Yet, as we look at the American church we get the feeling that it’s pretty anemic. There are some reasons for this: 1) the American church has been institutionalized and crystallized, hardened if you will; 2) the American church has become a business where pastors are trained as CEOs, successful managers; 3) the American church has lost its prophetic voice against sin and wrongdoing, i.e. we “go long […]
read moreThe Nuclear Church
Published July 6, 2012The scientific community just announced that they are 99% certain that they’ve found the long sought after Higg’s Boson, or as some refer to it, the “God Particle.” It’s that sub-atomic particle that supposedly adds mass to everything else, and in that sense, it is a creative driver. Now, I don’t expect everyone to understand particle physics. I barely comprehend what’s going on below the level of electrons, protons and neutrons, the building blocks of the atom. Yet, atomic theory and the machines, like the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Switzerland that make it real, are telling us something about […]
read moreRestaurant Christianity
Published August 19, 2011Do you have a favorite restaurant? I know that when Margaret and I visit our children in Phoenix we often go to a local restaurant for a meal together. There are a lot of choices. In fact, in the one mall that they live near we can choose from Olive Garden, Outback Steak House, Red Lobster, Chili’s, Luby’s, etc. It’s an eater’s paradise. Well, it’s the same with churches. We’ve got 38 choices up here in the White Mountains of Arizona between Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside and Snowflake-Taylor, and Christians seem to make church choices the same way they make restaurant […]
read moreWhat’s the Use of Church?
Published June 25, 2011This title may not inspire you. You know what the church is, right? It’s the place where you go on Sunday to fulfill your religious duty, and hope that this gets you some credit before God. But, if the truth were known, you’d rather be at home, or out recreating, than sitting through another Sunday service. Is this too harsh? Maybe. Is it truthful? Oh, yes. In fact I had a Christian friend, who’s active in his church, tell me as much with a tinge of guilt. Why feel this way? Well, first of all, church takes work. You can’t […]
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