Do you think Two Church services a month is enough?

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Michlow

Actually Praxeas, you have hit on a very good point. A point which to me showcases the entire problem with the church. They are so focused on their building funds and programs they are not meeting the needs of the community around them. it's like they are so focused on the "church" (the organization, the building and all the stuff associated with it) and building their own kingdom that Jesus and his kingdom gets pushed aside.

Now, I know I sound critical. But I myself was guilty of that kind of attitude for a long time. In fact, this thread itself showed me that I am REALLY good at sitting around and talking about the problem, but not very good at finding a solution. And I finally realized that I need to BE the solution. I can't continue to go on and complain about what is wrong with the church and how the church isn't doing what I think Jesus wants it to do. No. I need to go out and myself do what Jesus is asking.

You were all right. Sitting at home is accomplishing nothing. So I need to find someway to go out and be Jesus to the poor, needy, hungry and lost in my community. And if I need to do it alone, then so be it.

What would be YOUR suggestions on what the church should be doing????

[Michlow]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

What would be YOUR suggestions on what the church should be doing????

Isa 58

6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?


Matthew 25

31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
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Now I don't want to minimize the importance of meeting the spiritual needs of people, I DO think that it is important. But I believe that first we have to show them that we love them as people, not as another number to add to our list so that we can say that we are "running 100" etc.

I think that in this day and age, if people don't think you care about them, they aren't going to listen to a word you say. And I think that in many people's experience with the church they have been taught that love is conditional. We will love you IF you are saved, IF you straighten up, IF you play by our rules. And that colors their view of God.