Excellent stuff Jason. I have been wondering a lot lately about the benefit, or not, of the church organization generally, and this sermon is part of why. As bureaucracies grow, in my experience, they tend to lean more and more towards supporting themselves. Is it not nearly unavoidable that big church bureaucracies will eventually become self-serving and focused on, as you point out, what they do (and telling us what we should do and think) instead of what Christ did for us? I don't want to be too much of a cynic, but it appears that the "church" (which should really be called the organization) is more of a problem than a benefit. Would we be better served to focus on the preacher instead of the church, diffusing the preaching into smaller, independent units and away from the big church organizations? Anyway, thanks for keeping me thinking, as you always have.
"If you but believe..." I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief. I believe "(Jesus) will come again to judge the living and the dead (me)." What's gospel/good news is that the one judging me has given his life, his all, for me. With that blessed assurance how can I fear judgment, even for my unbelief. "If God is for us, who is against us?...Who will separate us from the love of Christ?... Nothing" Thus assured, thus freed, what may (not must) I do when I don't have to do anything? (Forde)
Excellent stuff Jason. I have been wondering a lot lately about the benefit, or not, of the church organization generally, and this sermon is part of why. As bureaucracies grow, in my experience, they tend to lean more and more towards supporting themselves. Is it not nearly unavoidable that big church bureaucracies will eventually become self-serving and focused on, as you point out, what they do (and telling us what we should do and think) instead of what Christ did for us? I don't want to be too much of a cynic, but it appears that the "church" (which should really be called the organization) is more of a problem than a benefit. Would we be better served to focus on the preacher instead of the church, diffusing the preaching into smaller, independent units and away from the big church organizations? Anyway, thanks for keeping me thinking, as you always have.
"If you but believe..." I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief. I believe "(Jesus) will come again to judge the living and the dead (me)." What's gospel/good news is that the one judging me has given his life, his all, for me. With that blessed assurance how can I fear judgment, even for my unbelief. "If God is for us, who is against us?...Who will separate us from the love of Christ?... Nothing" Thus assured, thus freed, what may (not must) I do when I don't have to do anything? (Forde)