Christian Church looks like a "lamb duck" leader!

Blog  # 5          April 7, 2011-04-07

 Christian  Church looks like a  “lamb duck” leader.

In Alberta politics, when a party seems to be losing ground in electoral support, the blame usually is placed in the hands of that party’s leader. When all the debate of blame ensues, the leader  promises that he/she will resign and a new leader will be chosen at future party conventions. Until the next leadership conference, the result is that the leader now becomes a “lamb duck” leader as he essentially is restricted in providing any effective leadership while still in office.

How does this relate to the Church? The Church that came out of Pentecost some two thousand years ago has had its up and downs in all the various ages. Many predictions have written the obituary of the church over and over again. In my time, many of the faith community pollsters have written “ichabod” on the door posts of almost every denomination. I stand amazed that we can so quickly right off the declaration of Jesus when he says ...”I will build my church.”

I do want to write a few lines and try to give some reasons for my picture of the church that will ultimately triumph, but right now looks a little like a “lamb duck” leader.

The first thing that I see is that the church has some very radical and flesh orientated ways of trying to fight the good fight of the Kingdom of God. A few weeks ago the media gave large sections of their news programs to recording the burning of the Koran in a so-called “Christian” church. Everyone knows that this act would stir up a tsunami of hate and terror. Protests broke out, innocent people were killed and hate crawled deeper into the hearts of the offended. The result for the Christian Church was a world- wide slap across its face as the offended, and the world politicians, and the bloggers of every stripe declared the senseless and unchristian the act was. A few years ago, it was the same when so-called Christians used violent means to end abortion in the states. I don’t understand how people who say they follow the principles of God can intentionally do such acts and bring such violent criticism to the church. This I do know that the church needs to retreat to the scriptures where it is declared that the spiritual fight of the Kingdom is not flesh and blood, but spiritual realms of darkness and rebellion. We therefore cannot fight at that level which is what I see the incidents above portray. How can we imagine that burning the Koran on earth is a spiritual battle tactic? This dealing with things in the flesh has become standard in our churches today. We pay for lawyers to make sure that we have the right constitution, we have the right documentation, we have the right rules to deal with unrighteous individuals who can and will cause trouble in our congregations. The Scriptures inform us that ...”For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;). As long as we seek our fleshly measures to deal with spiritual problems we will be no different than any other service club in the neighbourhood.

The second reason I think the Church has become a lame-duck leader is this whole areas of music. I heard about one church that 3 services (seating was abundant in each service so it wasn’t to help with the crowds) each Sunday morning to combat the problem of everyone wanting his style of music and worship. The first service was the grey haired, Gaither   “classic” like Coke, never to be changed. The second is the “contemporary” service attended the typified by the carefully groomed multi- coloured hair,  modern young successful yuppie family. They want to be secure the distant leadership of HillSong and the latest song out. Then there is the more “extreme worship” service where almost everything goes. The music, the so-called worship actions, the brazen hair colours, seem to fit into the hard-driving beat of today’s rock and roll and in some cases Heavy Metal Gospel. What does segregating in three separate service do? I think we encourage a division of the Body of Christ where we can relate to each other because of the difference in music style. Also I think generational divisions surface that divides our churches and our families. And lastly, we encourage a defiance of Scripture in that we don’t have to “lay our lives down” for our brethren. We are so typically in the Judges era where everyone does what is right in their own eyes, without consideration of the Body concept in the Kingdom of God. This activity does not represent the concept of (Joh 17:21)  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. What does the world see?

Of great concern is the fact that the church does not have solid foundation of absolutes. By this, I mean we can carry our latest translation e-bible to church. We read and hear messages from the sacred passages. We can even allow a couple of minutes of self analysis in the light of those scriptures. But, nothing really settles in and becomes a change factor in our lives. We give the right image of carrying the Bible close to our hearts, but f the truth be known, before we reach the car, we have sluffed of what we have heard and read. The conviction of the Holy Spirit has died away to a faint whisper in the local bush, ignored because of all the other “important” issues on the agenda. The rampant selfishness of so-Christianity seeks ways of hindering God’s work in our lives. (2Ti 3:16) says ...”All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” It is the Scriptures that the Holy Spirit uses as His sharp sword for deep surgery in all those who are hungry and thirsty for more of God. When the church can snub the sanctifying activity of the scriptures and the Holy Spirit, the church becomes a “lame-duck” leader in times when the world needs an eagle who soars with the Mater over the affairs of this world.

Lastly, at least for this time, is the fear the church carries on its shoulders. The people of the church are afraid to really define their status in our work place. They are afraid to stand alone in the absolutes of scriptures. They are  afraid of not fitting-in and receiving some degree of persecution. They are afraid of the Holy Spirit and what He might do in their services and in their lives. (1Jn 4:18) says “ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” This brings us to the open question of how is the church’s love relationship with God. If the church loved God as much as it verbalizes, the church would look different than it does. Nothing is stronger than the perfected love between God and Hi church.

This blog seems a little pessimistic, but I always hang on to the fact that the Church will be built by God and not even the gates of hell will stand against it. I long for that day. “Lame-duck” leadership will be replaced by the power and might of the “lion of the tribe of Judea.”