quote:Americans are in a new age of exploration, deploying new approaches to marriage, communications, sexuality, education, and more. According the results from a new nationwide survey by The Barna Group, the “and more” includes how people pursue their faith and how they choose to relate to God and other people of faith.
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George Barna, whose firm conducted this study, pointed out that this is not mere daydreaming by Americans, but that a spiritual makeover is already taking place in America.
Barna revealed that about 7% of adults attend a house church in a typical month, which is a seven-fold increase in the past decade. In addition, about half as many people now rely upon marketplace ministries for spiritual experiences as attend a conventional church service during a given month, and millions of adults are becoming increasingly reliant upon faith-based media – such as television, radio, and the Internet – for religious experience and expression. Put together, this represents a massive realignment of religious behavior over the past decade.
posted
In this day and age it is true that people are on a spiritual journey. All Christians should be, but most are confused when being presented with so many spiritual options even within our faith.
If they will admit it many people only want enough spirituality that will give them a facade of peace while living here on this planet. I guess you could say they want spirituality that fits their experiences and in no way does it ever condemn or convict them for their personal actions. Many want a spiritual philosophy that fits their political perspective, culture or lifestyle and others only want a happy place to go to when they are stressed or disturbed.
In the far distant past Christians stood out for some reason from all others involved in religion and spirituality. Sadly that is no longer the case. You may say that the way you live your life as a Christian sets you apart. Does it? I can identify Muslims, Eastern Indians, Hindus, LSD and many others that can meet you on any front with kindness, charity, patience, concern for others, that possess wisdom and are always ready to help their neighbor.
So tell me what sets us apart? Is it our claims of faith in Christ, of regeneration, eternity or what? Other religions also make claims of life after death, a good eternal life and so on. No our claims do not set us apart even though we know they are true.
If you walked a shopper down the grocery store aisle of religion you would be hard pressed to convince him or her that Brand Christian is the best because of your claims, your evidence, or how you live your life.
You may say let's get them in church and that will help convince them. Probably not. You can also go to other religions places of worship and find fellowship, religious studies, worship of some sort, make friends and do good things, have youth activities and so forth. No, our gatherings are not really much different on the face than others. And other religions have home church, cells and the like. So that is not so unique.
You could simply tell them that God has rules and if you don't follow those rules you will go to hell and if you do follow the rules you will be blessed. Has that ever really worked?
So what sets us apart?
It is not our claims of faith, promise of eternal life, or even our claim that Jesus died for our sins. Nor is it they way we live our life or how we meet, worship or do good things. It is not our knowledge of ancient manuscripts, old languages and history.
What sets us apart and tells this modern generation who will follow any latest fad, spiritual or otherwise, that have no knowledge of the Christian faith from which to begin a conversation, that we indeed have the answer?
The Answer? The only thing that sets us apart is the Holy Spirit.
All of our good work, obedience, living the right life, being filled with all wisdom and knowledge, worship and gatherings is useless when it involves the soul of another person.
Only He can reach through you to another person and convince a person of the truth while convicting them of sin. Only He can bring them to the cross and salvation.
If we are not seeing His work through us touching the soul of another person, then we have got the wrong end of the stick. We are not any different then any one who makes spiritual, religious claims.
So, what do we do?
Stop making claims, come together and talk about our failure in this matter and together begin to talk about what we must do to get God to inspire His Spirit to flow through us to all we meet.
God will not make us one people. It is when we become one that He works.
Why can't a forum be a place where dissension ceases and ideas flourish? A place where we together learn what is the path we must walk that will bring the Spirit of God alive in us. Not for our peace and joy but for the souls of others.
posted
Well, I'll tell you what I say, TH. That's good preaching. Amen.
I like your suggestions too. How do we "flourish? What is the path we must walk? How do we get God moving through us to others?
A good place to start is to repent. Repenting is not saying we are sorry, or even being sorry. Repent is to turn away from, to change direction. We've been living in church like pigs who have had pearls cast among them. We've been indifferent to the true riches for the most part because we will come to the cross, but upon it we refuse to die. We have almost as much of the old life alive as we did before we came to "the faith". Coming to God, by faith, is to turn from our sins and sinful ways. Romans 12:1 says we must die to self, and everything about it that we are passionate about that is not God.
It matters little whether it is "sinful" in and of itself. If it consumes our time and energy away from God, we need to cast it down. Put it death. Paul says this is not out of the ordinary for a "true christian". It is our reasonable service unto God. Vs 9 of Romans 12 in the Amplified tells us to flee in horror from all wickedness!
When I think of fleeing in horror, my mind takes me back to 9/11, when those buildings were collapsing and the great clouds of dust and debris came roaring down the streets of Manhattan. I remember seeing the pedestrians running ahead of it in horror.
Anything that has a tinge of wickedness, we should flee just like that. We should set our hearts on living Holy before our Holy God. For the Bible teaches that without Holiness, no man will see God. God says "be ye Holy, for I am Holy". Yes, I know we have imputed rigtheousness of Jesus. But that does not excuse us from living as a sacrifice of total self.
We were purchased with a great price. That means we are no longer our own. We belong to God and He has the right to dictate to us how we maintain our life of faith. We maintain it and live it by putting flesh to death in true repentance. Then and only then can we live in the resurrection life of Jesus. He then places in us, the will and desire to do His good pleasure. We do it because we desire to do it, not because we are commanded, though we are commanded. The commandment becomes pale in light of pure obedience and following the direction of the Holy Spirit. We must remember. That there is no condemantion for those who are in Christ Jesus AND follow after the Holy Spirit.
Well, I'm just getting cranked here, but I better stop. Hopefull others will comment as well. I'm really delighted that you posted this. God bless you real good for hearing and responding to God.
posted
Lahry's Quote: A good place to start is to repent.
So true. My opinion is this; The quicker the turn the faster the return. Don't wait to repent, do it quickly and especially if we feel unworthy to address God.
In our quest for God's Spirit to be active in us it would be easy to layout a plan that goes step by step. But I have not seen God work that way, at least not in my life.
I have been pondering this subject for some time.
What I have seen is that prayer and seeking is at the root of the matter.
PRAYER
1. The disciples were praying when the Holy Spirit arrived in power on Pentecost. 2. 4 Christians I read of decided they were missing something. The agreed to pray until an answer came. They went apart, each alone and did this. After 3 days they returned with a new life and being filled with the Spirit.
SEEKING GOD
From my own experience, I was seeking God when He filled me with His Spirit. I was not asking for His Spirit, just wanted to get closer and know more about God. I did not even know what a filling was and just accepted that I had been moved into a different state of mind and that God was working. For several months I walked in this, never questioned it and did not really know what it was. I did know that at times I was only an observer and someone else was using my voice and words. I was not the object, Amen, God was.
I suspect the disciples were seeking God / Jesus that day when the Spirit arrived. It's like seeking one thing and finding another. Seeking God is not wanting things from Him, or praying for His guidance or His will. It's about just wanting Him only. The Spirit seems to be most active when we are all about God and Christ.
So, my take is this. Prayer and seeking God. And may I add that it also appears God likes to work with numbers. I mean 2 or more. LOL
If you have different thoughts, please tell me. I am dead serious about this subject. If we get it right, just think of what God can do.
posted
Lahry, you have been reading my mind. I was thinking of that verse during this topic discussion.
Here is what I have on it from my little book of notes:
Matthew 6:33 But, seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
Definitions
Seek: Go in search of by going from place to place, inquire for, endeavor to find by any means.
First: Before anything else in the order of time.
Kingdom: The power of Supreme Administration. (The rule of God)
Righteousness: Purity, virtue, faithfulness, justice. (Also: right – wiseness, an old Scottish definition)
Comments
Living righteously: Living right and wise produces purity, justice, faithfulness, and virtue.
Seeking God’s righteousness: Learning how God would be and do during the events of this day. Bring it into my daily life.
Seeking the rule of God first: Do I consider it worthy to seek God’s rule in the first moments of my day? Do I know what the rule of God is?
Reading
The books of Proverbs and James.
So, I think we are in agreement that this verse actually holds the key to what we seek, which is, for God's Spirit to flow through us to others affecting the changes He desires in them. Am I correct?
-------------------- Tarheel I am a Warrior I am a Child
posted
Amen, brother. I would add "obedience" both to the Holy Spirit and the moral law of God to your list up there.
I've been asked to preach tonight. For the past three days, I've been before God almost continuously. All day today, I have wrestled with principalities and cried out to God. I finally got some peace about 3pm today. It's like God has consumed my life. It's all I live for and the reason I live. He is my all in all. No time for games, amusements, entertainments, and leisure. I'm pursuing God with everything that is in me.
Oh, and I don't think I read your mind. I think it is being in unity of the Spirit, beloved. God bless you real good today, and if you get a chance, pray for this old saint.
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