Church
Body: The
Christian Church is the physical presence of Jesus Christ on Earth
Organization:
The Church is also an organization of people for dinners, prayers, visitation,
studies and other miscellaneous needs
Business:
The Church Company is responsible for finances, staff, maintenance, counseling,
purchases
·
Finances: salaries, tithes, taxes, mortgage, fund
raisers.
·
Staff: full/part time, volunteer.
·
Maintenance: building and grounds, vehicles.
·
Counseling: professional and amateur.
·
Purchases: buildings, vehicles, any and all
related items.
And there
you have it – allll most.
What about
the losses? The losses?
The
intention of God is to bring people into His Body the Church and keep them; but
some leave. Why?
Let’s list two
causes:
·
Do not like lifestyle: return to their previous
life, go to different religious group.
·
Hurt feelings/devalued(this is called the
revolving door): insulting, badgering, raging, controlling people drove them
away.
The
revolving door syndrome has been acknowledged for decades with no active resolution;
they are considered acceptable business losses. To address certain problems in
life, one has to slow down and focus only on the problem and these people are
called consultants, or experts.
If an
organization of any size or type rejects the conclusions and suggestions of the
consultants, nothing changes; which has been the case regarding people leaving
church and/or God.
Organizations
are fundamentally structured the same, whether churches, companies or agencies
in that they all have a management, employees and a hierarchy. Management adheres
to certain unwritten rules:
·
They support management and their staff.
·
They value their style and structure greater than
employee losses.
Scripture
differentiates a backslider (rebellious person) from an emotionally traumaed
person. Rebellion has always been a societal thorn whether religious or
secular.
Rebellion (dictionary.com)
1. open, organized, and armed resistance to one's government or ruler.
Trauma (dictionary.com)
1. an experience that produces psychological injury or pain.
2. the psychological injury so caused, a powerful shock that may have
long-lasting effects
A
spiritually injured person should be Christianity’s burden of concern. Each
human being has an autonomous will given to us by God.
Autonomous (dictionary.com)
1. self-governing;
independent; subject to its own laws only.
We can
choose our destiny and choose or accept the methods of achieving it but if we
let our emotions disturb our logic, our decisions may be flawed and dangerous.
I know people that turned away from God and any assembly because of actions or
statements by thoughtless, inconsiderate people. They convicted Jesus and
Christianity even though he was not involved and his philosophy clearly
prohibits the wrongs.
Most of us
will agree this topic can be discussed for several lifetimes. The point I
emphasize is to get away from the offending parties, whether by association or
distance; take time to heal, and then try forgiving but not trusting. Burn me
once, your fault; burn me twice, my fault. I have forgiven people that I no
longer trust and plan to avert the third burn.
Evil, bad
and injurious people have existed and barring a mighty repentance and act of
God, they continue to do what they will until they die. We cannot change them
and God will not force them because even if some see their fault, they will
often deny it as offensive or sinful.
As a male,
husband and father, I am confounded when another male, in the same status, emotionally,
physically or both abandon wife and children. Just as a bad Christian is a blot
on other Christians, a derelict husband and father shames conscientious men.
Have you ever
heard this question: “Why did God allow this?”? There are several variants but
the fundamental question is the same, why did he versus why didn’t we. From the
Beginning, God gave humanity the right to choose and with that privilege the
responsibility. He will step in when asked but as any parent that gives their
children the freedom to choose, they let them learn.
Let’s agree, for this
discussion, that God is not at fault for most of the World’s problems. If you
can agree and have been hurt by a catastrophic event or offended by a
professing Christian, then give Jesus an opportunity to redeem you. Pray, get together
with trusted Christian/Moral friends and attend an assembly you feel secure
with. God may never answer the question but if you can let it go, you will
benefit in this life and eternity.
Sometimes, it
seems there are more bad people causing havoc than good people ensuring peace
but this is opposite the truth.
Well, what
do you think of the Church and the God that created and maintains it? Is either worth another try?
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