Have you noticed how some church's today are not preaching or singing about things that really matter? The things that can really change a person's heart....their whole life?!
It says in Hebrews 9:22...."without the shedding of blood, there is no
forgiveness." That's talking about sin. No forgiveness of sin. My
sin....your sin....all of our sins. If Jesus had not shed His blood and
died for us, we could not be forgiven. So why are many of the church's
today doing away with sermons that talk about the blood of Jesus?
Pastors are saying that they need to preach about things that are relevant for today. What's different about today than 100 years ago? Yes it's true. Society has changed. We have much more technology than we had in years past....life styles have definately changed. But what hasn't changed is sin. Sin hasn't changed and what we as people need hasn't changed. And you know what else....who else....hasn't changed? JESUS hasn't changed! GOD hasn't changed! People who don't know Jesus as their Savior are still sinners. Unchurched....Sinners....all the same thing. People that do know Jesus as their Savior haven't changed. We are just sinners saved by the blood of Jesus!! So you want to talk about things that are relevant today? Well from what I know....that is relevant. There should be more preaching about the blood of Jesus so sinners know what it's all about. We need to hear more sermons about things that really matter. Things
that touch your heart and make you want to dig into a deeper
relationship with the Lord.
Godly worship is relevant....Why are they refusing to sing song's that talk about the blood of Jesus?
I have heard it preached that we must change the lyrics of
songs....disguise the true meaning....so as not to "freak out" any
unchurched people that may come in to the church service! Why? Because
if they hear you singing about the blood of Jesus, they may not
understand, and it just might make them feel uncomfortable. Or they
might ask someone why you would sing about JESUS' blood! Well,
my thought is....we want them to ask questions so we can tell them about
Jesus and how He can forgive them of their sins and make them a new
person! We can tell them that He can help them with their
problems....heal them of their addictions....make them
well. Spiritually....mentally....physically! Isn't that what it's all
about?!
We need worship that draws us into the presence of the Lord. When sinners come into church they need to hear something different than they hear out in the world. It doesn't all need to be slow and boring....but concert style really isn't needed either. There is a time for upbeat but there is also a time for slow and worshipful. As a sinner when I went to church I was looking for something different, not the same thing I heard on a daily basis. What's the point of going to church if what you hear there is no different than what you hear in the world? In many church's today it's as if you are at a concert not a church service. The church should not be compromising down to the worlds level. God is still the same....yesterday, today, and forever. He has not changed.
What else that is relevant is this....
Jesus died for everyone of us. He died on the cross and shed His blood for us! It doesn't matter if we were raised in church or not. Unchurched, or in church all your life but just not saved....it's all the same. It doesn't matter if we accepted Jesus as our Savior when we were 5 or 50 or 100 or somewhere in between. The fact is, Jesus shed His blood....died on the cross....rose from the dead....so that we could be forgiven of our sins and live for eternity with Jesus.
The bottom line is....
If the Holy Spirit is in your church service....everything will be okay. We don't need to dummy the gospel of Jesus Christ down. We don't need to leave out key words and phrases like....the blood of Jesus. We don't need to have concerts for worship. We don't need to worry about being relevant for today. If the straight Word of God is preached....and you don't veer off on what everyone thinks is relevant....people will come in and people will give their hearts to the Lord. It's the Holy Spirits job to draw them....not ours.
We are supossed to live in the world not be like the world!
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Malachi 3:6a
I am the Lord and I do not change....
John 15:19
If you belonged to the world, the world would treat you with affection and would love you as it's own. But because you are not of the world (no longer one with it), but I have chosen (selected) you out of the world, the world hates (detests) you.
Lovely post Chelle,
ReplyDeleteI was only thinking yesterday of a dream I had a few years back when I went to a church that was more interested in how many they could get into the building than preaching the gospel. Their service was just like a concert, people even clapping after the group was singing out the front. I thought 'Who is worshipped here?' That night I had a dream that I walked into that building and everyone was sat listening to the group singing out the front and applauding their singing like entertainment. There was no mention of Jesus. The church is not a building, it is the congregation of believers in Jesus who have been born again of the Holy Spirit. God bless you.
Hallelujah Chele. Blessings and thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis is good straight talk Chelle!
ReplyDeleteMy father in law once told me that times have changed...I replied, "True, but God hasn't"..This was about an issue with kids before my FIL was saved...He didn't get saved until he was in his 60's, just like my own mother.
I totally agree with this post...The Holy Spirit will draw hearts to Jesus...But, if all that is said and sang about is a pretty or entertaining song geared to getting young people pumped up...then the heart will not hear of the sacrifice that was made...that is a solemn thing...A holy thing!
~Blessings and love~ Lisa
Hi Chelle,
ReplyDeleteWell said, if the Word of God is preached, lives are changed. Yes some will be offended and leave. But many will also be convicted of there sin and come to faith in Christ. So many churches today are more concerned about dollars and numbers and not spiritual growth. Many try to build the church through mans wisdom, but Jesus said that He will build the church. He called us to preach the Gospel and to make disciples of men. I am convinced if any church faithfully preaches the full counsel of God and obeys God, then God will work through the church and Jesus will bring many to saving faith.
Thank you for sharing this and may God bless you,
Ken