Back again...again...and again...I think

“Been a long time.”  Seems like I’ve said that an awful lot on this blog and I hope/pray that I’ll not be saying it again for a while.  It would be easy for me to say, “You know, between seminary, commuting 500 miles a week to said seminary, pastoring two churches, and of course, being a father and husband, I’ve just been way too busy for this.”  Which would be very understandable and mostly true.  However, I’ve written so much for the blog over the past year, so there’s been time enough for it and the creative juices have certainly been flowing, but wow.  I kind of hit a point with so many blogs out there that I really just questioned the wisdom and even my own personal integrity of continuing to add my voice to all of the noise out there.

It seems that so many of them, especially the “Christian” ones, are little more than vanity projects.  Look at me!  Believe like me!  I’ve discovered a new, hip version of Christianity! Let me show you why I’m better, smarter, and more loved by God than you!  I read most of it and frankly, I just sorta, kinda want to bury my head.  There is a pretty large part of me that has grown to despise the pervasive blog culture, especially of those called “Christian”.  Do understand that I am not holding all of them in such judgment, there are some very good, powerful, and thought provoking one’s out there.  Also understand, that in saying such things, it’s really my own neurotic way of throwing myself under the bright light of inspection to determine if I am or am in the process of becoming that which I despise…the overblown, puffed up, self righteous, self important Christian blogger.  And you know what?  Maybe I am, although I hold out hope that because I find myself worrying about such things that it is proof enough to the contrary…kind of like you know you’re not crazy if you’re actually worried about being crazy because the truly crazy would never concern themselves with such things.  Or something like that.

The truth of the matter is that I just really don’t know.  I look at some of the stuff I’ve posted on here and I kind of cringe, while there’s other things on here that I really like, but for the most part, I didn’t find anything overtly pretentious.  However, I am still in process of determining not only the validity of this particular blog, but also that of my reasons for keeping it.  So, it is with these thoughts, these concerns that I will tentatively set out to keeping the blog at the very least, semi active.  If ever I do have reasonable cause to believe that I’ve crossed the particular line that I so desperately seek to distance myself from, “The Cantankerous Christian” will be no more.

Finally, much has changed.  Seminary really seems to have a tendency to do that, not to mention pastoring two churches.  Such things really have a way of changing perspectives and priorities, and I say my experience as both a seminarian has been wholly, or is it holy (lol), positive.  Both have proven to be blessings beyond anything I could have ever imagined.  I feel like there has been a maturing not only of me as a person and a child of God, but a maturing and deeper maturation of my theology and faith.  I hope to be able to bring this to The Cantankerous Christian as we attempt to get this going again.

Oh, and before I go, worry not…I’m still PLENTY cantankerous.  I just like to think it’s better aimed and more finely tuned.  Be on the lookout for “The Destruction of Christmas”.

Cantankerously Yours,

Corey

Return of the Cantankerous One :)

Wow! It has been a loooong time since I’ve posted on here. Over a year…yikes. It’s amazing how much has changed since October of 2009. I’ve now finished a year and a half of seminary at Asbury Theological Seminary and am still enjoying it far more than should probably be allowed. The biggest change, without a doubt, is that I am now the pastor of not one, but two wonderful United Methodist Churches in western Kentucky. I started back in June of this year and have truly been blessed by these wonderful congregations in countless ways.

When I was appointed, I had already set my Fall semester at school, to which I had decided to attempt 12 credit hours with the encouragement of a “big eared midget” (9 hours is full time). Obviously I could’ve changed the schedule up, but me being me, I said, “What the heck?” Did I mention that my commute to campus is two hours one way? Across the wide open wilds of Kentucky? Yeah, it was a near suicide mission, but I survived it (purely by the grace of God) and kept my GPA intact. I can giggle on this side of it, but the next semester, I have scaled back to a more human 9 hours, with 3 of those hours being done online. I’m proud of what was accomplished this semester, including coming to the very bizarre and unexpected realization that I REALLY enjoy Greek, so much so that I’m taking the next Greek course in the Spring. However, I’d also be lying if I didn’t admit to breaking out into a cold sweat at the thought of ever attempting such madness again :) Needless to say, such a schedule, combined with being a husband and a father is not conducive to blogging :( However, it is my hope and intent, to get back after it now in some form or fashion.

There has been much that I’ve wanted to write about, actually thought I was going to write about over the last year plus, so it is not as if the blog has been far from my mind and heart. I deeply enjoy writing pieces for the site, but I especially enjoy and treasure the many interactions I’ve had with folks from all over the world through this crazy blog.

As I sit here and consider a return to the Cantankerous Christian, I can’t help but to wonder just how much things have changed. I’m still every bit as cantankerous as before, no worries there :) and while I like to think that there was always compassion balancing the passion, I do find myself much more compassionately cantankerous than before. Will that affect my writing style? Will it still strike a chord with folks? We’ll see. Perhaps the differences will not even be noticeable.

With all that said, I am more convinced than ever that the church has lost its collective mind and heart, so there should be no shortage of things to wrassle with. In closing, I want to thank the many folks who emailed this account to share your feelings on the site and the writing. That was the first time I had checked it in a year and I was immensely touched by the words…and I promise to check it more regularly :)

Hopefully, I’ll get something up on here next week. My wife has suggested posting my sermons or videos of them…but I’m not quite sure about that yet. She’s much more daring in such endeavors than I.

Until then!

Cantankerously Yours,

The Cantankerous Christian

What Are You Living For?

This past Sunday I sat in on my old Sunday school class, for the first time in months. Responsibilities in other parts of the church have effectively removed me from the class roster(although I do get the honor of teaching in there in a couple of weeks). But, I do try to make it in there when I do have the chance. Wonderful group of people, with lots of wonderful memories.

My church has been involved in a church wide study for the last several weeks. I’ll be honest and it’s no secret to most, I avoided the study like the plague. Not because there was anything inherently wrong with the study or with the good intentions I have to believe were ultimately behind it, I just had issues with the timing and the approach. The details really aren’t important and it certainly hasn’t been a divisive issue. I don’t have to agree with everything and everyone certainly doesn’t have to agree with me. And besides, that isn’t what this piece is about.

But to get at what this piece is about, I do have to share the main reason I stayed away. I had previewed the study before the church decided on the curriculum and I recognized it as one of those things where in a class setting, my personality (nice way of saying opinion) would end up dominating. As a Christian, as a person in ministry, and as person who has committed their life to ordained ministry, I’m a firm believer more is expected of us. Nominal Christianity is in fact, not Christianity at all.

So, I attended the class, which was on the final lesson of the study. I knew this going in and I went in prepared to behave myself :) And I did. I asked a couple poignant questions, intended hopefully to compel thought beyond and after the class. This class is used to me poking and prodding, always with a smile and in a good natured manner, so this was definitely muted for me.

However, it was the last five minutes of the class, the summing up of the study, which really stuck with me going away. Now, once again, I feel it important to qualify a couple of things. It was not a problem with the person teaching, the study, or anything else to do with the class. For me, it was a moment of illumination that transcended the class and the local church, to the church universal.

The teacher, passionately asked the class to consider the differences that five more minutes of prayer might make over the next year, or how doing one more good deed might make a difference, or even how attending one extra Sunday might draw you closer to God. John Wesley was invoked, by an old retired pastor, either rightly or wrongly, “Fake it, until it becomes real!” For me, it was a genuine moment of heartbreak and alien silence. The odd thing was, I couldn’t articulate it at the time, had no clue exactly why I felt the way I did, I just knew that my heart ached.

I had another responsibility to take care of at church shortly after this class, after which I immediately left to go to an urgent treatment center. For a broken heart? Nah :) I had been fighting a sinus infection for a week and a half at that point and I felt like my head was going to pop. But on the way there, it hit me with a simple question that rang out in my heart, “What are you living for?”

Five minutes. One extra act of grace. One bonus Sunday in the very house of the Lord. “What are you living for?” Is this what the Christian life has become? Compelling people to devote a minimal and I do mean minimal, amount of extra devotion over a year…and then celebrating it? I can hear it now, “Yes, you big grump! Everyone grows at a different rate, not everyone is at the same place in their walk!” I get that, and I embrace it. I love, admire, and even envy my Christian brothers and sisters beginning in their walk. It’s exciting, it’s fresh, it’s reinvigorating for me. It’s what it is about, new believers, walking with them, shepherding them. They’re pure because they haven’t been beat into submission yet. BUT, THIS IS NOT WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT.

New believers “get it” in a way that is lost on the “church” (do note those quotations). I’m talking about those folks for whom that message, those requests were made of. They’re requests not only being made in my church, but all over. Five minutes. One extra act of grace. One bonus Sunday in the very house of the Lord. Has our faith become such that this is a valid approach for “mature” Christians? Is that even faith?

Please know that I am not picking on my church, I’m picking on the culture of church. I’m picking on these "12 step program" approaches to faith. I’m talking about those approaches where Christ is not even secondary to our busy lives, but somewhere down the long laundry list of things that occupy our minds, lives, hearts, and souls…and then to be told that this is okay, that this is faith. That you are trying, that God doesn’t care. I beg to differ.

What are you living for? What gives meaning to your life? What if those requests above were made, not to be accomplished by the next year, but the end of the next day? By the end of this afternoon? By the end of the hour? “You ask too much you big grump?” Am I?

We have lost the very basis of our faith, our professed believe in God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. A man died for YOU! This isn’t some far away story, that has no bearing on your life now. Blood was spilled on your behalf, so that you would have the opportunity to spend eternity in paradise. But it wasn’t just any man, or any blood. It was God incarnated in a man, Jesus Christ. Beaten and battered, mocked, spit upon, and nailed to a cross. Lifted into air, to die the despicable, shameful death of a criminal, alongside criminals. God. For you, for me, for us.

What are you living for? That you have to be asked to give a little more time, to devote a little more of yourself. Have we lost sight of what was given for us? What was endured for us? That cross is not 2000 years ago, it is right before our faces. And all too often we spit upon it, myself included, when we cannot find the motivation or need to live a life in accordance with that gift. We want a faith to be lived in increments, we don’t want to be pressed, we don’t want to be uncomfortable. Was the cross comfortable? Did God not give His all for us? Besides, since when was freedom uncomfortable?

What are you living for? I had a professor say one of the most poignant, powerful things I’ve ever heard a week or so ago. “Jesus Christ does not polish chains; he shatters them.” I’ll take it one step further. He doesn’t help us decorate them under the many guises we place upon them to hidethem, to make them easier to accept, either. He doesn’t embrace those chains along with embracing us. He does not hug us and our chains, He is repulsed by them. He stands at the ready with a big, giant hammer, begging and pleading for your to fully trust Him and to allow Him to complete His gift to you; freedom in Him. Let Him shatter those chains.

What are you living for? Five minutes. One extra act of grace. One bonus Sunday in the very house of the Lord. Is this worthy? Is this honoring the sacrifice? More importantly, is this honoring the LOVE that was given for all? Those requests? Don’t let them be made of you, allow Christ to do that which He is begging you to do. Let those requests be made by you, not of others, but of God. I want five more minutes to pray. I want to be used by You. I not only want to enter your house, but I want to take it with me, in every place that I go, in every thing that I do, and in every word I speak. Let Him have those chains, get out of His way, and release yourself.

What are you living for?

The Indignation and Exasperation at the Commercilaization of Christmas or a Blog That Really Isn't About Christmas

Before I begin, I know it has been forever :) Having spent the summer preparing to go back to school and then actually doing it, has dominated most of my time...which has most certainly been a good thing. Life at Asbury Theological Seminary has been and continues to be everything that I had hoped it would be and SOOO much more. It is truly a blessing. So, while it definitely cuts into the blogging time, that is definitely not a bad thing…probably in more ways than one.

What better way to mark my return to the Cantankerous Christian than to write about one of my favorite subjects in the whole, wide world? Christmas. As I look at the counter, it’s already dropped to 70 days and seems to be picking up steam. I’m absolutely giddy with anticipation as you can probably imagine. One of the coolest things about being such a well known Christmas fanatic is that I have become the go-to guy for Christmas questions, stories, and discussions. The kids at church now demand to know how many days it is to the blessed day. Needless to say, I’m having a blast.

This morning, through Facebook, I was having one of these Christmas-centric discussions, when the question turned to the commercialization of Christmas. The discussion was centered on the observation that the stores are currently rushing to get their Christmas merchandise out. It’s a conversation that I hear year after year, after year, after year. And I always listen patiently and smile. Honestly, I usually don’t have much of a response. The points are always valid, there’s no denying that. For most people, Christmas is about everything and anything, but what it should be. I get that. Me? I get Christmas. I try to live my life in, through, and for Christ in such a way as to honor him year around. I don’t need a special day or season to do that.

The decorations, lights, trees, and all that good stuff? For me, it’s more about remembering family, friends, and good times. Nothing about those things (lights, trees, and such) evokes the images of the life of Christ and His words for me. Just the other day while perusing Christmas decorations, I smelled the distinctive smell of garland. Instantly I was transported back to Keokuk, Iowa, in the house on Williams St, decorating the tree with my mom, and watching the Mr. Magoo Christmas Carol on tv…circa 1977. And this big old grump was reduced to a big, old lump. I have so many wonderful memories tied to that time of year, that I just can’t help it. Do I take the time to remember Christ? Yup, but in those regards it is no different than any other day. I don’t need a special day, once a year to do that. Christmas to me is more about spreading joy and cheer, and just flat out having fun. My problem? I tend to try and use that as an excuse to do those things all year long :)

However, this is not what this particular blog is about; me and my Christmas illness. I’m quite happy with my illness, so leave me alone :P. When the question was raised, for maybe the first time, I really took time to ponder it and I quickly came to a conclusion…and hoo-boy is this one probably going to ruffle some feathers.

I think the once a year indignation that Christians feel at the commercialization of “their” holiday is far more tragic than the commercialization of said holiday. As Christians, we get all riled up when stores put their stuff out too early. We cluck out tongues at the “more, more, more” mentality presented in holiday commercials. We get upset when other faith groups protest the displays of our holiday. We shake our heads and our fists at the lines, the rushes, and the traffic. We feel the righteous indignation rise from deep within our innermost places when a store greeter has the audacity to bid us a “Happy Holiday”, rather than a “Merry Christmas”. I’m convinced that most of us spend the holidays angry, brooding, and heartbroken over the way the celebration of the birth of our savior is treated. Tragic stuff that is. We must defend the sanctity of such a holy day.

However, I’m left wondering about the rest of the year, which almost certainly contains the real birthday of our Lord and Savior. We get all bent out of shape over the mistreatment of a holiday, for which most experts agree, does not signify the actual birthday of Jesus. (As I joked with one friend, by counting down the days and celebrating Christmas everyday, I’m certain to nail the right one sooner or later) We grow voices and courage, we’re not afraid to speak our mind, we don’t hesitate to take a stand against such travesties as the local Wally World putting out Christmas decorations in October.

But it raises some questions for me. Where are the voices the rest of the year? Where are the stands being taken? Where is the courage? Especially when it comes to our churches, our families, and the world around us? We’ll take stands against the commercialization of Christmas, but we won’t take a stand against theologically unsound doctrines being preached from our pulpits? We’ll raise our voices against someone who gives us the incorrect greeting at a store, but we refuse to raise our voices against the injustices going on around us, even within our churches? We worry about whether or not people take the time to truly remember the birth of Christ, but we cannot concern ourselves with the souls and wars being lost within our own walls? We’ll stand tall and we’ll stand proud in defense of our holiday, yet we will not stand tall and proud for a savior that hung from a cross for us?

Does anyone else see the disconnect here? I hear more Christians during the holidays boldly defending and standing for their faith in a day and celebration, than I do the rest of the year about things for which we really should be concerning ourselves with. Me? I’m going to continue to enjoy and celebrate Christmas year around….The sleigh is big, the cookies are awesome, and the Savior worthy. I would absolutely love to have some company.

What I Want (or a really quick way to end a series that was going in circles)

I’ve been working off and on, on this proposed series for what seems an eternity. It’s kind of been an exercise in futility, in the sense that what I was coming up with for the blog was in essence what I had been writing for my proposed book and I was struggling with how to keep things separate…it wasn’t working so well.

I had a piece on indifference and not making Jesus throw up (Rev 3:16), one on the seemingly counterintuitive, unbiblical, un-Christlike fascination the church has with “leadership” (Isaiah’s prophecies on the “servant”, as well as Christ’s own words on the subject ((Mark 9:35)), one very cool piece about sports (this one may yet make an appearance in some form), one about convincing minds with endless classes, programs, or campaigns to garner a desired outcome, rather than transforming hearts and allowing God to do His work, and then the final piece.

They’re all written to one degree of completion or another, but in blog form, it just wasn’t working for me. In some ways it came off as pretentious and self righteous. And let’s face it, those are two things the world and the church needs a whole lot less of. Beyond that, I wasn’t going to tell any of you, anything you didn’t already know. Another problem with the church today? We’re real good at identifying problems, but not so great at addressing them and finding solutions. We’re all too often content with simply having determined/deciphered/discerned that there is a problem. Kind of like I’m doing right now, huh?

So, as I type this, I find myself faced with two questions…What do you want? What is the solution?

What do I want? I want passion and excitement. I want to be able to look upon Christians and immediately know that they are different without them having to open their mouths. I want their light and joy to blind me, I want to feel it, I want to be moved by it. I want to feel that something in me leap with excitement at that something in them.

I am so tired of this timid, politically correct, watered down “religion” that permeates the church today. I don’t want to hear about or read anymore books that essentially boil down to the easy way out…and if I do see/hear anymore, would someone please, I beg of you, point out to me in scripture where we were promised an easy go of it in this life? I want to see Christians that are moved and excited by the Bible and Christ, not the likes of The Shack and Rob Bell. I want to see Christians that truly know what it is they purport to believe and then are capable of executing those beliefs in a Biblical, Christ-like manner.

I want to see Christians that aren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves, that aren’t afraid to get a little dirty. I want to see Christians embrace the sick, the poor, the dirty, the undesirable, and the unlovable. I want to see Christians that aren’t afraid to sacrifice time, money, pride, dignity, sleep (among many others) and most of all comfort, in the name of serving their Lord and Savior and their fellow man, whether they be Christian or not. I want to see Christians loving those in and those of the world. If you want someone in the church, love them there. Don’t scare or damn them there. Did Christ operate this way?

I want to see Christians that understand the concept of joyful obedience. I want to see Christians that understand it is not our job to hold the world accountable, but rather each other. It never ceases to amaze me how badly we mess this up, by doing the exact opposite. I want to see Christians that aren’t only so in name or one day a week. I want to see Christians that are such 24/7, that are constantly, instinctively looking for a way to make a positive difference. I believe we are afforded only so many opportunities to truly make a difference in the lives of others…how many did you miss today? Do you even know?

I don’t want to hear Christians whine anymore of needing to be “fed” or simply not being “fed” at their church. If you’re mature enough to understand and recognize that you are not being spiritually “fed”…FEED YOURSELF! Better yet, FEED OTHERS! Do you need to be spoon fed your entire spiritual life? When do you transition from starving to provider? I can guarantee you there is plenty of spiritual nourishment in “feeding” others. (With that said, that is another one of those overused words/concepts that has been used and abused for far too long “spiritually fed”…please make it go away)

I want to see Christians that understand that the church is not a building; it is each and every one of you. You are the church and you take it with you wherever you go. Would you treat people the same at church as you do at work, the store, in traffic? You do. Speaking of…

I want to see churches that aren’t afraid to speak what God wants spoken, instead of speaking what they think people want to hear. I want to see churches that aren’t so obsessed with being all things to all people, but rather simply being a place of God, fellowship, and service. I want to see churches that are clique free. I want to see churches united in the basic tenets of our faith. I want to see churches that aren’t afraid to chase from their presence unsound, unbiblical teachings…this is becoming such a huge problem folks and it all goes back to knowing what and why you believe. Don’t proclaim it if you don’t know it, someone just might ask you for an explanation.

I want to see churches that could care less about keeping up with the place down the street, on the other side of town, or on the TV. Is God not a big enough draw? Are all the programs and amenities in the world bigger than God? I want to see churches do away with all these slogans, mottos, and visions. You want a slogan, motto, and vision? Here’s one for all of us, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."…or slogan, motto, or vision. How many of the world’s problems could be solved if this was the “soul” focus of the church?

I want to see churches quit focusing so much on what goes on inside their physical walls and focus on that big, giant, place outside. I would love to see the church function as a place of learning, fellowship, prayer, and healing. By extension of those things, I would really love to see the church function as a once a week rallying point/staging area for Christians to be equipped, prepared, and motivated to boldly take the love of Christ out into the world. I am so sick of hearing it and hearing people talk about it. Do it already!

I want to see pastors full of fire, love, and passion for Christ and the Word. This is not something that can be acted out, or put into a sermon, or spoken behind closed doors. One look into your eyes, one look at the fruits you produce is all that is needed to know if you are in fact genuine.

I want to see more pastors, like I do with lay people, that aren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and get a little dirty. I don’t want to hear of them shying away from someone or their problems because they are “messy”. I want to see pastors that aren’t afraid to step into the midst of a storm, that knows what it means to rescue the single lost sheep while the other 99 are accounted for.

I want to see pastors that walk the walk, as well as talk the talk. There’s far too many out there that talk a great game that say all the right things, but never step out from their offices. If you talk it, be prepared to walk it. Give me a great pastor over a preacher any day. Lead by example!

More than anything, laity and clergy alike, I want fire and I want excitement. I want risk takers, people who aren’t afraid to sell out for their faith and their savior. I want to see Christians that look at an impossible situation with a smile and the first question that comes to their minds is, “What’s the worst that can happen?”

I know I’m rambling, but I don’t care. I look at the life of Christ, the disciples, and Paul and I don’t see anything resembling what we have today. I don’t see the pursuits of comforts or riches and I certainly don’t see a fear of speaking the truth, of challenging when there ought to be a challenge, or of loving when they ought to be loving. I see a real fear of not doing those things, of falling short, of not doing justice to God above. They understood. Now is not the time for comfort, for riches, for all of the things we pursue. Our rewards come later; every Christian claims to know this.

The other question I posed was, “What is the solution?” And I just don’t know, but in that, as confusing as it may sound is the solution. All I have to offer? Come find me and we’ll cause all sorts of trouble for the Kingdom.

Start your own spiritual fires. Stop accepting the status quo. Stop accepting the excuses, “That’s every church.” Raise your voice and be heard, “Not here, not now, not my church!” Stop playing and start doing. Take a chance for Christ. Be that fire, you are the light of the world. Quit hiding it and start showing it.

UPDATE-Exciting Stuff!!!

Okay, I know I’ve been on a mini-hiatus again…but I have been extremely busy and I wanted to share one, big aspect of my busy-ness :) (Don’t worry, I’ll be back to my regularly scheduled cantankerousness very soon)

Some of you will remember that I wrote about going to the Children’s Pastors’ Conference back in January in the piece titled “Please Do Not Call Me to Children’s Ministry”. One of the courses I took down there concerned neighborhood outreach, something very near and dear to my heart.

It was the first course that I zeroed in on as a “must attend”. It was a great presentation and I came away moved and motivated. It was on the first day of the conference, and later that day, as I was comparing notes with the Director of Children’s Ministry at my church, we were both shocked to learn that the other was in the same class and equally passionate about the need for us to take Christ into the neighborhoods around our church.

Four months later (lightening quick in the world of church), we have launched God’s Backyard Faith Club. One of the very coolest things about this ministry is that it is not a “church building” ministry; it is a Kingdom building ministry. We are committed to meeting weekly with neighborhood children at a local park and sharing the Good News.

Yesterday was to be our first meeting and we did not get off to a good start. The neighborhood we are trying to reach is an “at risk” neighborhood, and we were greeted with freshly painted gang graffiti on the tables we were to use…and as luck would have it, the weather was not cooperating either. It was cold, overcast, and threatening rain. We were to have begun at 3:00 and by 3:15, I was beginning to prepare myself mentally and emotionally to really kick off the program the following week with the hopes of better weather and I was debating on whether or not to dismiss the volunteers…Then something remarkable happened…God moved.

WWYD...What Will YOU Do?

***Disclaimer…I don’t think I’ve agonized over a blog entry quite as much as I have this one. There is one aspect of it that I am really struggling with. Theologically, I think it is sound, or obviously I wouldn’t even think of posting it. And because I was and am struggling with it, I checked with two theological minds I trust implicitly…also doesn’t hurt that I think the world of them both as people. I tend to think the three of us, while sharing differences, are pretty closely aligned in our beliefs and approach. One raised an issue because of how it could potentially be construed. The other had no reservations. Gee, thanks guys for making the decision easier :) So, I in turn opened it to other friends whose opinions I trust and value. The response was unanimous, “Post it!” So, majority wins. I haven’t quite decided if I like this post or not, and it could disappear should I decide that I don’t.***

I know I said in the update that this was essentially going to be the beginning of a “pet-peeve” series…well, I’ve had a change of heart. This is going to be a “plea” series and a call to “arms”…feet, and heart series. And as such, I’ve been trying to figure out a semi-coherent order for these posts, simply so I can spread the thoughts out over a handful of posts rather than trying to cram it into one gigantic post that no one is ever going to read anyhow…so here we go, I think this one is a good jumping off point.

Excuses. I absolutely, positively detest them. We all make them to varying degrees, for varying reasons…especially including me. It seems they are an integral part of life, as are lengths we will go to justify them to ourselves and to God. Most of the time, we tolerate our own, and grudgingly tolerate those of others. However there is one that I find myself increasingly intolerant of. Matter of fact, quite frankly, this is one of those that truly angers me, and breaks my heart at once. What excuse is that?

“I know, but that’s every church.”

There is no fire here. “I know, but that’s every church.”

We’re losing people. “I know, but that’s every church.”

We’re not teaching the Word here. “I know, but that’s every church.”

This place is stagnant. “I know, but that’s every church.”

Apostasy is running rampant here. “I know, but that’s every church.”

Have you heard some of the theology floating around this place? “I know, but that’s every church.”

This just doesn’t feel like church anymore. “I know, but that’s every church.”

I don’t feel God here. “I know, but that’s every church.”

Hey, did you hear about program x, y, or z at the church down the road? “I know, but that’s….What!?!? Really!?!? Form a committee!!!” (sorry, I couldn’t resist that little jab)

“I know, but that’s every church.” I hear that and my heart just screams out, “I don’t care about every other church! I care about this one! Let’s fix this one and then worry about the next!” (It is amazing how that seems to cut right to the heart when people offer up that excuse and leaves them slack jawed)

It has become the excuse to every shortcoming, failure, and problem in the church today. And the thing is, it isn’t a point that is an opening to dialogue, it is the chosen weapon for ending a conversation. It is usually offered with the shrug of the shoulders, a half-hearted smile, and an immediate about-face as they fade back into the distance.

Think about that. When faced with a problem, the response all too often heard is, “I know, but that’s every church.” And people think that is a valid excuse. Oh well, everybody else has this problem as well. This is such a microcosm of what is wrong with today’s church and Christians alike. Marriage to the status quo, this defeatist attitude. Talk about surrendering to everything, but God…talk about apostasy, apathy, and indifference all rolled into one big stinky package. Is this what God and Christ expect of us?

Imagine if you will, coming to church one bright Sunday morning and the parking lot is empty. You find this odd, you wonder if you missed some memo, some announcement in the blizzard of such things in church. You park your car, as you consider these things, nothing is making sense. You look around the parking lot again just to insure you hadn’t missed someone or something, when you notice from the corner of your eye, a figure standing inside the front door. You immediately exit your vehicle, intent on finding out what is going on.

You approach the church, your eyes on the person standing in the doorway. You suddenly feel uncomfortable, as you realize this person is not dressed like you, and you do not recognize him. Your instinct is to turn and run, but you can’t. Something in you tells you that you were expected, that you must talk to this person.

You feel his eyes upon you and you find yourself wondering if you can take it and why you can’t run away. You enter the doorway and stand before this figure. His face is kind, yet stern. There is immense love in his eyes, yet there is immense pain as well. You feel his eyes digging into you, seeing beyond. You think you recognize him, but you cannot quite bring yourself to believe it, until He speaks.

“What have you done to my bride?” His voice is authority personified, yet there is hurt in it, maybe even desperation…and you bear every ounce. You have no choice. “I no longer recognize her, nor does she recognize me. Her ways are no longer mine, she has grown to love the sound of her own voice. She has grown deaf towards me, incapable of hearing me.

“What have you done to my bride? She no longer cherishes the words of my Father and myself. You have taught her rituals, ways, and doctrines for which I have no value. She has grown gluttonous and lazy, focusing inward, rather than outward.

“What have you done to my bride? Her natural beauty, perfect and true, is no longer visible. You have heaped layers upon layers of makeup and adornments upon her, I no longer recognize her face. I did not ask for these things! She was already beautiful in my sight! When our hearts used to beat as one; when my ways, were her ways.

“What have you done to my bride? You have turned her eyes and heart from me. You have focused her attention upon dead things, upon idols…upon the desires of this world. She has become boastful with her mouth, but cowardly of heart.

“What have you done to my bride?” The question is no longer rhetorical, He expects an answer.

The first thought, the first retort that comes to mind is, “I know, but that’s every church.” But you immediately think better of it, your mind races, your heart feels as if it is going to pound right out of your chest, when an answer is presented to you, one that will surely get you off the hook, and it spills from your mouth.

“But, I didn’t do any of those things!” You cry.

His eyes narrow ever so slightly, “You recognized these things. You heard Me speaking to your heart, you felt the Spirit moving you. You sensed My words forming in your throat. You felt your heart breaking with mine. You did not hesitate to complain to friends, family, loved ones, and even Me. Yet, what did you do? How did you respond? You watched. You did nothing and therefore, you did everything.”

You are crushed, figuratively, literally, you‘ve never felt such a weight. Just t when you think you can take no more, His countenance softens. His eyes are no longer narrow, they are soft, hopeful. You feel in that instance a love that is indescribable and you want to weep. You know you are not worthy, He knows you are not worthy. Yet, He loves you as much as He did the day He died for you and He calls you by name, as He asks:

“Will you help me? Will you quit standing idly by? Will you quit talking and actually start doing? What are you afraid of? I am with you, always. You once vowed to be my hands and feet. Will you now? Will you follow me?”