There are many churches that are going through difficult times right now. I know our local church body is not alone. One thing that has struck me in numerous conversations that I have been having over a period of time is that individuals are seemingly without hope about what is taking place or already has. As I sit here reading a book by Willow Creek called REVEAL, I'm struck all the more.
One thing that I firmly believe that is missing, in not only in our local church, but in most churches in general, is that of the body of believers raising their hopeful voices. We must stop constantly looking behind us and look toward today... tomorrow. Yes, it is necessary to evaluate and take inventory of where we've been. Yet, if nothing is done with that information, it might as well have not even have had time invested in it. And without hesitation... I submit that the most vital piece of information often gets completely overlooked even though it gets tossed about.
Our hopeful voices should not come from a program, a mission statement, a building, a particular personality, or even... dare I say... a denomination affiliation. For in the end and every moment in between.... hope in those things fall short. The only hope we have is found in Him. And honestly? That is enough. It is sufficient. It is every thing in life... and living.
Raise your hopeful voice. And let Him write the music that changes the notes of mere existence..... mere Christianity.
#Hope#Hospitality
6 months ago
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2 comments:
Well said, Camey!
Camey,
What a great reminder. I know all-too-well the tendencies to evaluate, critique, and analyze when it comes to how churches do things. We recently had a service project at church in which 25 people helped pack holiday meal boxes--we ran ahead of many other teams on site that day, including one run by a team from UPS, and wound up taking on five extra pallets of packing. At the end, we all reflected on a job well done, and it was nice to actually feel like we could embrace the power of our work through Christ. No one complained. No one critiqued. It was truly uplifting--or as you'd put it, hopeful.
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