Whatever Takes Us Away

Okay, for my younger readers you may not understand the historical significance in this, but for everyone else here's a picture long waited for.

Paisley & Adams at the same table? Could it be? Well, in fact, it most certainly is. Bitter rivals and enemies for decades, sitting together trying to work out their differences and attempting to unite Northern Ireland.

The follow up to the previous post? Well, I was beginning to wonder if anyone in the world would understand where I was going with this and the previous post, so here it is. N. Ireland has been divided by religious lines for a long time (Protestants vs. Catholics) and there has been bloodshed over the region. The younger of the two men pictured was a leader for the IRA (Irish Republican Army) and a Catholic, the other a devoted Protestant preacher. So, how is it that both, supposedly believing in Jesus, yet lead many against the other - are now sitting together working towards the betterment of their home land? Divine intervention?

Take it for what it is worth on the surface or read into it, you take it how you'd like. Personally, seeing this image, knowing that the elder of the two would have rather died than be at this table even a year ago, gears me up for more. If the N. Irish can fix things, join together, even talk to one another, why can't more churches/denominations do the same? I'd say this is only the wake-up-call to having the world take the church seriously.

Who is who? or Why to we in-fight?

There will come a day when all Christians will be held accountable for their own actions, or inactions as the case may be. One at a time we will stand before the Holy One to be judged, will you be found in the Book of Life? Knowing that, by grace I have been saved through faith, I stand a pretty good chance of meeting with those that have gone before me and meeting with my Savior and Redeemer, when that time comes.

But then I fear, will I really make it? This, I am sure goes beyond denominational boundaries. Will our acceptance be based on what church I attend or belong to? Do the Baptists have a better chance on the entrance eam than the Catholics or Methodist or any other denomination? Doubtful, highly doubtful. So then, why do we, as the Body of Believers, feel it is necessary to fight amongst ourselves? "We're cannnibals, we watch our brothers fall; we eat our own bones and all; we fell asleep on the plane to wake to see we're going down in flames" (Relient K, Down In Flames from The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek). Again, is all this bitterness and fighting necessary?

Rather than builiding each other up in LOVE (as we're instructed) we continually find and create new and inventive ways of breaking each other down; smashing up any hope of ever getting along. Funny isn't it? The enemy certainly thinks so! What better way to ensure his time of power lasts on earth than to have the ones that should be fighting against him fight amongst themselves? Infighting, or Civil War, you choose the term you like better.

How did we end up this way? To that I can only offer suggestions.

Dissention among the ranks. We are a part of an army, are we not? And sadly, many of those who are in charge fail to see the whole Truth: Love. Many of those in command spread lies, take meaning out of context from Scripture, and fail to love and be loved themselves. Pray for our leaders.

Fractured churches. If we believe in the Father, Son & Holy Spirit (Trinity); hold the Bible to be God's Absolute Truth; and place our lives at the cross of Christ we are "Christians". I understand the need for different denominations (as each one reaches people in different ways), but I don't understand why one church claims to be better than others. We splinter ourselves into countless divisions and fail to see what and whose we are as a whole. Pray for all denominations to come together.

Inability to communicate. As with our divisions and dissention we often times fail to communicate between denominations. We fail to share the good things God has done for us and how this or that may be helpful to the church across the street, or in a different country, or a different denomination. Effective Communication is clearly needed and necessary if we want to continue our work in the faith. Pray that we can all communicate more effectively.

Non-ecumenical. This one ties it all together; dissention, fractures, and communication. As I've stated before, there are a number of different churches and each one reaches the lost differently. Some people are drawn to authentic worship through music (myself included), some are drawn towards deep intellictual teaching and preaching (put me in that one too), some like small and intimate settings, others are drawn by loud or even yelling preachers with music in the background; I could go on for a while with this, but I think you get the point. There is a need for different denominations, but there is no need for them to be fractured, there is no reason for one to point the finger at another in blame. We are Christians, right? Not Methodist, Baptists, Catholics, Church of Christ, etc. We belong to Christ, hence, Christians. Ecumenical Christians, not adhering to one denomination over another. We are all struggling towards the same goal, wouldn't you rather there be more people in heaven to rejoice with? Or, would you like to see only those in your specific church? The latter might be a much smaller party and less likely to include many of your friends here on earth today. Pray that we might all come together in the love of Christ.

Think it over. Test it. Seek guidance from the Holy Spirit in this. Don't let us become those on the plane, waking too late to find that we ARE going down in flames. Pray for the Church Universal that we might someday soon be one in body, mind and Spirit! Then, maybe the world that doesn't take the church seriously will change its collective mind.

Easter is coming.

http://egg.d21c.com/egg.swf

Enjoy!

You see this character? For those of you youngsters that have no knowledge or recollection of Muppets, this is Animal - my favorite Muppet. Why this one? Easy, he's the drummer!

Some of you may know I play multiple instruments, and as often as possible I try to learn a new one. I play the drums from time to time and keep my congas in the church youth room (still waiting for God to produce a percussionist for the group). Now, I was once told that when I play drums I look a lot like Animal, arms flailing around, head all over the place; I look like a nut! So, many drummers look like that. For whatever reason, this person was very serious about me looking like Animal.

I think what I failed to see at first was that I didn't just play the drums. Rather, when our praise band would get to practicing or when we would play Sunday mornings, or where ever I'd get into a rhythm (not a metered, musical one). I found that I was worshipping God through the drums. Crazy? Think again. Take a look around the world, we here in America live an incredibly privilidged life, even in some of the poorest areas. Running water, electricity, food that we don't finish and throw away; and when it comes time for church we spare no expenses. With our "worship" times Sundays we use the best instruments, the best sound systems, the best microphones; even at church we get caught up in worldly things. Look to Africa, you don't find Fender guitars, Gretsch drums, Peavey amplifiers - no, you get a hollowed log with dried animal skin tightened on it, rocks and anything else they can make rhythmic sounds with. Does it make it less of a worship experience? Not at all.

My point - I worship God through my music. I get close to God through music. I can feel the Holy Spirit in me through music. Now, there are other means by which I worship our Holy God; prayer, fasting, meditation, reading His Word, but it is music that really gets me close. So, once I realized this I got to understanding my friend's comment about me looking like Animal. Because I get so into communing with God through the Spirit by means of drumming, I tend to lack some semblance of control with my appendages and I look rather crazy.

Not that into playing an instrument? Fine. Find out what helps you connect with God. Find that time, that place, that thing you do that brings you into a closer more meaningful relationship and work at it. Who cares if you look like a complete idiot when you do it? Just look at Animal. He has fun, gets the job done and shares his passion with those he comes in contact with. That's what I like to do. Go worship!

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. 1 Thes. 5:16-22 (NIV)

We have reasons to be joyful and to give thanks, however, we sometimes forget to acknowledge the Giver of our gifts. We tend to cling to what we know and are comfortable with, holding on to those evil things we've grow so accustomed to. But, if we look at this brief passage from 1 Thessalonians we see something pretty clearly. We are : to be joyful, to pray continually, and to give thanks - this is God's will for us that are in Christ Jesus. When we accept Jesus as our Savior we will receive the Holy Spirit - who can help us in all circumstances. Now, if we continue to look at this passage we see a loop: if we give thanks in all circumstances, pray continually and do not put out the Spirit's fire we will be joyful always.

Watch out for those things that will drive you and pull you away from God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Test everything to see if it from God or from man. "For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." Acts 5:38-39 (NIV) Test everything and everyone you come in contact with, see what the origins are; God will let you know if it is good or evil.

Example: I have a friend whose blog I read frequently, and from time to time will post a comment. I recently commented on a really good post (as did many others) and when I went back to read his comment back to me I was surprised to see there were even more comments posted, yet many of them lacked something. Big words were thrown around, fingers were pointed, but no solution was presented. Some of the comments posted really got to me, people spoke like intelligent people (worldly intelligence and wisdom), but lacked true wisdom from God, they lacked Biblical principle, they spoke as infants in faith. I'm not judging here, and I am certainly not the authority on all things, but when you speak, when you read, use the Holy Spirit to guide your decisions, your words, your actions and you will be in a good position in your life.

Regardless of your circumstances, good, bad or ugly, think of who you belong to and be joyful always. Jesus came from the Father and Author of Life for each one of us - not so we would be weak, boring, lazy, or complacent; but so that we may have life and have it abundantly and with joy in our hearts. Be joyful to those around you and be joyful in all you do today.