While the Community of Denver anxiously awaits the arrival of
Activist Greta Thunberg to discuss important and vital issues
concerning Climate Change and accountability-the temperatures here in
Colorado Springs dropped last night to 11 degrees (21 degrees below
freezing) with many people that experience homelessness left to
freeze. This is the new humanity of the Church.
The current Political Climate here in the United States has
polarized the faith communities-we have moved from barely tolerating
each other to full on name-calling and assault. Christianity over
the years has declared her war on abortion, same-sex marriage,
terrorism, marijuana (after all, it is the Devil’s Lettuce)
immigration, drugs, prostitution, and of course people that don’t
tithe.
To what end? The impact of these campaigns has been a loss for
most and marginal at best. Thousands and thousands of dollars,
pulpit hours, protests and events have been aimed at handing issues
that Jesus did not say one word about. God forbid the next war we
wage be on homelessness and poverty (we already have, it is no
illegal to be seen asking for money or handing money to people asking
here in Colorado Springs)…
Countless hours in our church services are dedicated to conjuring
up the Holy Spirit (odd, since the Scriptures teach the Holy Spirit
is with us always)… hours spent on self-improvement and name
it/claim it… all designed to improve the life of the Believer.
Jesus is not your personal life coach. Jesus is not going to come
back and burn the faces off all the people that don’t believe in
Him. When Jesus returns, prepare for the conversation to line up with
Matthew 25:31-46. We want so bad to be the victors in our wars we
forget we are here solely for the purpose of the oppressed, the
disenfranchised, the poor and the needy. We want to thrill ourselves
with a 13 year old activist that we forget the 13 year old’s that
can’t afford food-and then we argue about the importance of feeding
them lunches at our schools.
What the hell is going on?
Please tell me.. honestly… what single part of your church is
doing any part of the words attributed to Jesus..? Have you gone the
route of being a Pauline based church (doctrines, hierarchy and
empowerment) or are you a church that embraces the message and life
of Jesus-a Jewish Rabbi from a backwater town whose message was so
powerful it upset both the religious ruling community and the Roman
Occupation?
While you are drinking your Carmel Frappe, tell me how, with the
churches in our areas, with massive buildings, huge mortgages, big
screens, worship bands (what do they worship?) Pastors in blue jeans
and polos.. how we are positioned to do the work Jesus left us?
Give me a church of 100 people or less, tucked in a rented
storefront property, willing to do the hard work-the Message and
Gospel of Jesus-willing to minister to the poor and needy-willing to
at least for one hour a week-not separate themselves from the mess of
humanity but actually invite them in…
Greta Thunberg was right about one thing.. shame on us…
