Tag Archives: the church

A Modern American Creed

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“Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints…”
(Jude 3 ESV)

While laboring away on my roof this Labor Day weekend, my mind had freedom to wander, and wander it did.  I began to ask myself, “Does anyone today really take their faith seriously?  Do I?”  From there the thought progression evolved into, “If we were really honest about what we believe, what would our credo be?”  The following is the result of such unconstrained meanderings through my mind.

Disclaimer – – Please take what you are about to read with a grain of salt.  This is meant to be humorous hyperbole, an exaggeration of no one particular expression of faith.  That being said, it is intended to expose some of the unbiblical things that we just assume about our faith.  If this lands a little close to home (as it does for me, at times), may it drive you to God’s Word, that you may be established and strengthened in your faith.

A Modern American Creed

I believe in God –

  • That is, I know there is a higher power, someone out there watching me.  I get my ideas about God from what I saw on Highway to Heaven, and Touched by an Angel, though I’d never admit that in public.  I don’t always have to pray or go to church, because I know that God is always there if I need him.
  • I know that God supposedly made everything, but science says that everything started with a big bang and evolution, and since I don’t know which to believe, I think I’ll just not think about it too much – anyone for a rerun of Seventh Heaven?
  • God wants me to be nice, do good stuff, and go to church; but understands when I can’t because it’s opening day for deer season, or when I was at the big game on Saturday and just can’t get up in time for worship. 
  • God gave us instructions for how to live called the 10 Commandments (which by the way I watch every Easter), but since those commandments are impossible to keep we really don’t have to try.  Besides, God is a loving God and would never judge us or hold us accountable for the things we’ve done.  Right?

I believe in Jesus –

  • Jesus lived a really good life.  He was always loving, always forgiving, and would never upset anyone by saying something hard or judgmental. 
  • Jesus wanted us to all get along, to accept each other just as we are, and to keep our noses out of other people’s business.  If you think that Jesus tells you to live one way, that’s fine for you.  But don’t presume Jesus told anyone else to live that way.
  • When Jesus was alive, he talked about how to get to heaven, and never really spoke about what to do with money, sex, or other day-to-day things.  Even when he did, it was all an allegory, a metaphor for spiritual things.  Jesus wants us to be happy, prosperous, successful, and independent.  If I am struggling or suffering in this life, I must be doing something wrong.
  • Jesus called some people to follow him seriously, these were his disciples.  Others got to follow at a distance.  For me, that means that some people can get real serious – go into missions, share their faith with their friends, be a pastor or a leader in their church – but others don’t have to get so committed.

Salvation –

  • I am saved because I am a Christian.  I am a religious person.  I go to church.  I try to help out from time to time.  I can even say the Creed and sing the Hymns on Sunday.  Overall, I am a good person; I might make mistakes, but God loves me anyway.
  • Salvation means I will go to heaven when I die.  It doesn’t really affect me much now, but it’s nice to know I’ll get to see all my family and friends when I get there.

Free Will –

  • God made me with free will, so I get to choose what I will do and what I believe.  I choose to believe in God, and that is why I am a Christian.  I could never believe in a God who would impose his will on others.

The Bible –

  • The Bible is the sacred book of the Christian religion.  People read it to know what God has done in the past.  It is full of stories about people who have followed God and how God has had to fix their problems.
  • The Bible was written by men who wanted to establish their religion.  It has some mistakes in it, and some of the things that were written a long time ago don’t really apply to us today; but overall, it is a pretty good book.

Heaven –

  • Heaven is God’s kingdom, and it is where all good people will go when they die.  When I get to heaven there will be rest from all the hard work I’ve done in this life, and I will see all my friends and family.
  • Those loved ones who have already gone to heaven are angels who watch over me.  They enjoy watching me do well in life, and protect me from bad things that might happen.

Hell –

  • This is the place were bad people go to be punished forever.  Hell is Satan’s kingdom and he lives there with his demons.  It’s always hot there, full of fire and suffering.

The Church –

  • The Church is where I go to worship. 
  • We sit in pews, which thankfully are padded, since the pastor likes to talk for more than 15 minutes. 
  • I have a hard time not napping during the prayers (you try closing your eyes, bowing your head, and doing nothing for more than 3 minutes and see what happens).
  • We sing odd songs, some are really old and use words that I’ve never said outside of church, some try to sound new but are really cheesy. 
  • Usually I don’t get a lot out of church, but every now and then it seems like the pastor’s talking about me (weird, huh).

Friends, I hope this has prompted you to really think about your faith, and what your faith means for your life today.  If you have questions, turn to God’s Word.  Feel free to call or email me, but whatever you do, “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”

SDG

She loved Bingo

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“Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise!”
Psalm 66:1–2 (ESV)

This afternoon I am leading a memorial service for someone who was not a member of my congregation.  She had no church family, so the funeral home called and asked if I’d step in.  I do this regularly; every life should be celebrated as a gift from God, every family needs to hear the promise of God’s abiding love – especially in the face of death. 

I did not know the woman that we are burying today.  I’ve read her obituary, and it is not unlike any other obituary that you find in the paper day after day.  She was born, married, had kids, worked here, enjoyed this, and condolences can be sent to…  Wanting to know more about the deceased, I called her daughter and asked if there was anything else that she could tell me about her mom, all she could say was, “she loved bingo.”

Wow.

I don’t want to speak ill of the dead, that is not where this article is heading.  But seriously, wow!

I cast no judgment upon this woman.  Only God knows her heart, and I pray that God, who is rich in mercy and grace, has received her into His Kingdom through His Son.  If she is saved, it is by the same grace and love that has saved you and me.  This article isn’t about her. 

I do wonder, however, what is wrong with the church today, what is wrong with the way we show God to the world, when at the end of life all that can be said is, “she loved bingo.”

Have we failed to communicate the awesome and transforming love of God?  I know there’s nothing like a good game of bingo to really raise one’s spirits; but compared to the glory and goodness of God, does bingo even stand a chance?

I woke this morning to Chris Tomlin singing Indescribable

From the highest of heights
To the depths of the sea
Creation’s revealing Your majesty
From the colors of Fall
To the fragrance of Spring
Ev’ry creature unique
In the song that it sings
All exclaiming:

Indescribable uncontainable
You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees
As we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Who has told ev’ry lightning bolt
Where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses
Laden with snow
Who imagined the sun
And gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us
The coolness of night
None can fathom

There is obviously a disconnect between the God whom we worship and the god that we are showing to the world.  When people would rather love bingo than be awestruck by the glory of God, then they really haven’t seen God in us. 

The world wants to see it.  They are desperately looking for someone who’s got a connection with God, someone who’s found meaning and purpose in life.  Unfortunately, too often all they see is a church full of people who fight and complain and are no different from people outside the church.

My prayer, brothers and sisters, is that wherever you are, you may be so enamored with the glorious radiance of the greatness of God that people will see you and say, “I want that!”  My prayer is that when brothers and sisters come together as the church, we may be a community that has been purchased and forgiven by the blood of Christ, reconciled to God and one another, working together to show the world the goodness and love of God.  My prayer is that, at the end of your life, someone might say, “She liked bingo; but she loved the Lord!”

SDG