What if Jesus was in charge of our Churches?

Yesterday was Sunday, and I decided to go to church with my oldest son as my family hadn't been for several weeks. I had felt a strong pull on my heart that I needed to go and see if anything had changed since the last time my family went. I was also wishing for some encouraging words, music and fellowship, just to lift my spirit a bit.

Throughout the service, not much was different than every other time we had gone. The Pastor's message was the only part that brought some variation and thought, but it didn't seem like the few people attending took to heart what he was trying to say. It was just another message and the music was just another hymn.

We had some discussion after the service, which always ends right on time, and I had asked where they saw the churches direction going. The answer was not surprising but still disheartening. They simply have too few people to do much and those that are left feel they are too old to do what they know needs to be done. They are happy to support and pray for whatever I would like to do, but as for them, they just want to enjoy their service.

How can I respond? These are God loving people, who have a strong foundation and faith in Him. There is no doubt about their love for others and desire to serve God, it's just that they've lost their youthful passion that God can still work great things if they are willing. All they see is that they are a handful of older people who have too little energy left to do the greater tasks needed in our town. If they could only see how useful and valuable they are through my eyes, then they would understand how much our town needs them to be a lighthouse for all to see.

We have several churches in our small community, all the standard different denominations, and they all claim to have the true foundations and beliefs in God. However, as much as they state they are different in certain beliefs, they are very much the same in how they conduct their services and expect church to be. It really wouldn't have mattered what church my son and I went to yesterday, as the format, music and people are all much the same. The unfortunate part is if you don't fit with the traditional style church and know the proper way to behave, then there really isn't an option for you in our community for a church.

Don't get me wrong, for most of who attend our local churches, the style, music and format works just fine. So I have done my best not to rock the boat too much when I worked in one and helped run events with several others. The problem is I also own a business within the community where I hear comments from people regularly wishing there was a more up-beat contemporary church.

Many people in our community have attended one of the churches at one point or another, and have left because they found little acceptance, encouragement or inspiration from their experience. Others were pushed out because they dared to try and change how the churches did things in order to bring outsiders into the church.

Throughout my years of working within churches, I have seen remarkable times of growth whenever those in charge decide to break the molds they've cast and bring the church back to the essential basics of grace, forgiveness and freedom. As they broke their molds, people came and felt included and inspired. However, each time as the church grew, those in charge would decide to pull back the freedoms and plug the newcomers back into the old molds, so church could be the way those in charge believe it should be. The result is most of the newcomers would leave feeling hurt, deceived and disillusioned, and those in charge would be looking for someone to blame.

I wish I could write a column in the paper that reviewed churches like those who review the latest movies or restaurants. It would certainly give an interesting perspective for those within the church as to how others viewed them.

What I find the most interesting is that the bible teaches repeatedly, that the church is the body of Christ and those who believe are part of that body, plain and simple. It doesn't say we are part of one building with people in it, or one set traditional system of beliefs, just that those who believe in the Christ are part of His body, or church. So what should the church be like?

Paul teaches in Colossians 3:12-17

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

So I guess if a group of people gather together and focus on these virtues, it shouldn't really matter whether it's in a formal building, a house, out in a field or maybe at a Tim Horton's; what matters is how we fellowship with one another and if our focus is one of thankfulness towards God or simply a desire for what we want.

For me and my family, I dream of a church in our small town that would simply live what Paul is speaking about. I dream for a church where it doesn't matter whether you're rich or poorer; a sinner or a saint; prim & proper or a little wild; old fashioned or more modern; but, simply a church where all are welcome and we can spend more time singing a variety of songs both to praise God and to refresh our souls. A place where we can spend more time talking with one another to hear about what God is teaching each of us. A place where miracles can be shared by someone who is excited to share them.

Could you imagine a person jumping up in the middle of the Pastors message to say, "Can I tell you an awesome story about what God has done for me?" and then everyone eagerly wants to listen, instead of being upset because they dared to interrupt the Pastor and make the service run late.

The bible shares about the early church that was much like the one I dream of, but I question whether it's even possible to get back to it once more. I know of others, including myself who have tried and instead we find ourselves on the outside wishing for something more. We do our best to hold on to the hurt and cast-outs. We do our best to share the love of God with anyone willing to listen. We do our best to teach the way Jesus did. But imagine how wonderful it all could be if those few people inside the church, longing for others to join them, would realize all they need to do is let Jesus take charge of the church again and allow His grace, forgiveness and freedom to be our focus once more.

Just simply another thought I had.

A Little Bit About Me

Have you ever had a thought you wish you could share but question whether anyone would be interested in hearing it? Or perhaps wish you could share your whole thought, not just the parts that seem acceptable and interesting to those you hope will listen?

I know I often feel this way, so I've decided to create this blog to simply share my thoughts.

I guess a brief introduction of who I am and what I believe would be a great place to start.

My name is Daniel and I have a wonderful wife, two awesome sons, a bratty cat and an adorable puppy. I own a couple of businesses in the small town where I live. I lead a non-denominational Christian youth group that promotes openness, questions and a deeper belief in God. I volunteer with many different groups within my community and am also an author of two books, The Gift & The Purpose, based on spiritual warfare.

I've suffered with many health issues throughout my life, including a heart attack a few years back, but have never let them hold me back from living life or accomplishing my dreams and the purposes God has planned for me. My life has been impacted by cancer both through the loss of loved ones and the childhood cancer my youngest son had of which he almost died from. However, we were blessed with an incredible miracle of God and he was completely healed, which is a story I will definitely share in another blog later on.

I'm a strong believer in God and the saving grace of Jesus, but have often found myself on the outside when it comes to church and the rules of religion. My entire life has been one of trials and triumphs bringing me to a deeper understanding of who God is and the type of relationship He desires to have with us, not one bound by laws, but formed through Love.

I've developed my own beliefs and opinions by spending much time studying both the bible and the history behind it, studying other religions, learning from many different people, questioning everything, as well as, communicating with God and His creation, including angels and demons.

I have worked as a youth pastor in several churches; led many adult, youth and children bible studies; helped with many weddings, baptisms and funerals; preached many times before congregations; and, spoken before large groups and camps. However, throughout all these years I have been reluctant to share many of my deeper experiences and thoughts about God and the spiritual world because I am well aware of the judgments that follow whenever I or others have tried.

I believe in a spiritual world that exists alongside our own because throughout my life I have dealt with many spiritual beings and experienced a lot of supernatural events personally. Angels, demons and much more exist and regularly interact with us whether we realize it or not. I also believe there is a heaven and a hell, however, my understanding of what they are actually like often differs from many, again as a result of my own experiences with seeing them.

I don't believe in judging others based on their having a differing belief, religion, race, sexuality, financial position, or upbringing, than what I have. However, I do believe God created us all equal with the primary purpose of developing true and loving relationships that encourage and bring hope to each other, as well as, an honest understanding of who God is and the relationship He wants to have with us.

As I begin this journey of sharing my thoughts, beliefs and opinions, I simply ask that those who read them will keep an open mind to what is said and will consider that these are just my own thoughts, whether right or wrong, and I believe I have much more to learn and understand. If you wish to comments, please be respectful rather than judgmental, and I will in turn respect what you have to say as well.

Finally, I believe all people are entitled to their own thoughts opinions and understand that like myself, they have formed them through their own journey of life. And it is through this journey that we continue to questions and learn, developing new opinions and a greater understanding of why we exist in the first place.

I hope this shares a brief insight as to who I am and what I believe, which will offer a foundation for why I write what I do in the future.

I look forward to sharing this journey of my thoughts with those who are interested in hearing them. Thank you for taking the time to read them as well.