Thoughts for the Christian blogger
So often I’ve been amazed at what I see here in the Christian blogging community. In some cases, I’ve read a blogger’s posts over time and seen tremendous growth; in others I’ve noticed several bloggers post on the same subject at the same time quite independently of one another. More than anything, I’ve seen that many of us are willing to set aside our differences in background, culture, nationality and doctrine to spread the Good News to a worldwide audience as one. It seems quite clear to me that God is up to something in all of this. I can’t help thinking that this is how a movement gets started, at least this is how many movements have started historically speaking.
The church is a living thing; it is organic, active and a force to be reckoned with, yet the lesson we must draw from its history is that like other organic things, it has ebbs and flows in its life. This has been evident throughout the history of the last 2,000 years; it is also evident in the life of ancient Israel. In much of the Western World over the last 60 years or so, the church seems to have been on the decline, it has ebbed. Could it be that we are seeing the beginning of the next flow? I believe that is the case, for not only are interesting things happening in blogs, but there is a transformation going on in many places today; I have seen it and experienced it myself, I have been involved in it myself. Most of us don’t really know about it, it hasn’t been reported in the New York Times, but it is there nonetheless. You might have heard something about it, perhaps you have heard that there are crazies in some parts of the country who aren’t “doing church” the right way; so modern, so odd. Of course, that’s what they said about the Great Awakening back in the 18th century, but it was very real and it had a huge impact both in Europe and America at the time; it was even one of the contributing factors leading up to the American Revolution.
I cannot pretend to predict the future, and I won’t try to do so here, but it seems clear enough that God is pretty busy these days, even though it’s the “other side” that is grabbing the headlines. Maybe one of these days, I’ll write some more on this, but for now, I really want to take this in a different direction while keeping these observations in mind.
Most of us are very aware of our relationship on a personal level with our Lord; these relationships are precious and we write about them often. More and more of us are becoming aware of the relationships that are forming among those of us who write Christian blogs; certainly I am. I have gotten to know several of you in fact over the last few years. For many, this community is more “real” and loving than their church relationships at their local church, you know the face to face relationships with other believers. We may find that our experience here is more fulfilling because even though we may all come from differing backgrounds, we are all of one mind when it comes to what is really of importance, while our friends at our regular churches are stuck in the mud; trapped by circumstances or old bad habits or whatever else is going on there. More and more we can see the difference…
Before you throw up your hands in frustration with your local church and consider the blogging church as a better alternative, I would ask you to think a while…
Consider: Isn’t it possible that God has brought us together here so that we might see a little bit of what is possible, and then take that vision back to our local churches and become the catalyst for transformation in our local congregations? If your relationship with Jesus Christ is precious to you, and your relationship with other Christians online is becoming precious to you, doesn’t it occur to you that those relationships that are “in person” with a growing and vital congregation that has its focus on brotherly love and selfless service would be even more precious?
I can say very clearly that my relationship with our Lord is nothing less that wonderful. I can also tell you that my relationship with the community of believers in my “home church” where such a transformation began about 6 years ago is wonderful plus ten. (If that makes any sense) I am pretty sure that I know the reason for this: It is because that relationship has the added feature of purpose; God’s purpose. We know from Genesis that God created humans for relationship with Him and to accomplish His purpose. Relationship + purpose = fellowship between Man and God and that is why we were created. Here in the “church” of blogs we have a taste of that, in our local congregations, we have the chance to have the entire fullness of Christ.
So, here’s a new challenge: If you will not step up, then who will? If not now, when?
I am, as always, looking forward to your thoughts…
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Our Lord’s teaching really does not include corporate church. He did not tell the woman at the well to worship with Judeans in the Temple or with Israel (Samaritans) but in Spirit and Truth. Revelation 18:4-5 Ezekiel 9:4-10 teaches us to separate ourselves from corporate worship as it is under a curse, lest we get under that curse.
Real disciples are few and far in between. For now, online is our village.
We certainly agree on the last point! 🙂
Church period is over. Fairly soon, we all will be secretly meeting, going “underground.”
You may be right about that. In the meantime, while the light stills shines, maybe we should make the most of our opportunity.
We should always do as Jesus directly leads us. What looks right is irrelevant. We are called to be disciples meaning that we only do as we are told specifically. Otherwise, we are just being religious. I am slowly unfolding my testimony which will explain it well.
Amen! Well said!
I will one day explain a situation where His messenger could only breathe in or out at His command. Disobedience would have been fatal. It cannot be explained in public as it even now can literally cost people their heads.
I understand as I long for the day when all are free to tell the whole truth
Dear Don, chattering away in the background. Quiet in the comments boxes. When you posted “A Challenge” a conversation begun, as always with differing opinions, preferences, comfort zones and starting points. I think I might have been the polar opposite at one point.
Yet one sentence here makes perfect sense:
“Isn’t it possible that God has brought us together here so that we might see a little bit of what is possible, and then take that vision back to our local churches and become the catalyst for transformation in our local congregations?”
And one thought growing and still evolving:
What if this “coming together here” addresses your original “challenge”: Where is there “building up” of those in a surviving congregation if none is available “locally”? (paraphrased correctly I hope)
What if this community becomes a resource for “isolated” thrivers? A place where those with the desire to be more, do more, love more – not just in the privacy of their own prayer closet – but within and through the people they congregate with – the communities the live within … find a resource for “thrivers not survivors”.
A place of “relationship + purpose = fellowship WITH purpose” – a place to build up those where no “building up” is available locally – letting each feed that energy back into our churches locally – to help (yeuck!) “one person at a time” become the person who is energised – to become the one catalyst – the first “I do believe” in surviving congregations … and to be here today, tomorrow and each tomorrow thereafter.
(and I will stop before this drifts into yet another “blog bomb”)
Yep. That’s it. So simple. So obvious. So amazing.
So why did it take me so long to see it clearly?
Don, as always you are most kind. You have heard my chatterings – my tangle of knotted thread thoughts – ever-changing – never “simple” (or obvious!). Thank you for your consistent “love in action” in these words. Thank you for being a VIP bit of “body”! 🙂
I am only a servant.
Put the kettle on (please) 🙂 🙂 🙂
Will do, come on over!
I think the internet has the potential of bringing the same kind of effect in believers as the Gutenberg press did when it put Bibles in the hands of common people. The best sermons are the testimonies of the saints because these testimonies are evidence of God’s working in the world. It can’t be provoked by any human method but only by the Holy Spirit. The institutional church can’t fake the work of God through methods. Not everything expressed online is genuine either but it does give the saints a place to express their love. We can take Jesus with us into any lifeless church. That is a better way than staying home but Jesus is where our needs are met, not in any institution.—Good series. I’ve enjoyed it!
Glad to hear it, thank you. Who knows? Maybe we’ll take Jesus into an institutional church, and He will turn it upside down! 🙂
Thank you
I am more and more convinced that the intentional choice to “go personal” is the real cutting edge right now. The sirens are all singing for us to replace our personal “one anothers” with expert video teaching, take it easy on ourselves and let the flashy tech do the work. This is so so wrong.
I think many otherwise solid teachers and pastors and church people just need a reminder of what God intended when he invented the church.
I think you’re right. It sometimes seems kind of lazy doesn’t it?
Thank you Don!! =-)
🙂
While the church is in decline in America, possibly the Western world, it’s still the fastest growing religion in the world. But I do agree that there are the stirrings of a fresh awakening and a much needed reformation in our ideas about Christianity. Great series. Blessings.
Thanks Mel, much appreciated! You are right about the rest of the world, hopefully they can send more missionaries here to give us a hand!
Amen. In fact, many nations are sending missionaries to our cities. That’s a very good thing. Blessings to you brother.
And to you Mel!
Thank you for this Don. There are many Christians out there who feel abandoned, confused, frustrated, disenfranchised by their established traditional corporate churches. “Church” has become nothing more than another ‘business enterprise’, marketing a watered down, cheapened version of ‘the gospel’ with the intent of amassing revenue. Real believers are seeking more than that, and are willing to peruse our blogs in hope of discovering “the deep things of GOD”. If we can benefit, enlighten, or comfort even a few, it is well worth the effort. I don’t plan to abandon my home church, but I gain my nourishment from God’s Word, and simply desire to share it with those who also seek more depth.
Thank you Dan. Blogs have their role to play in this, and are well worth the effort for sure. There are also many local churches that are brightly blazing in their truth and testimony as well; I think things may be changing for the better out there, at least I hope so.
We have the mind of Christ – when everything that is taught fails to reflect the mind of Christ we know that the “Church” is failing, it explains why millions now are wholly secular in their belief’s. So why is blogging so important and why is an online ministry necessary?
Jesus was always where the people were, the same applied with the Apostles and the modern media has always been used as a resource by faithful evangelizers.
Today people spend their bite size moments reading articles on the net – they use it to find answers – in truth many trust the impersonal contact over the face to face because it is so easy to be conned.
Jesus is using every method for preaching and teaching even in countries where Christianity is banned and the friends in faith are imprisoned and persecuted. So this is a valuable tool for Christians and for the those who want to corrupt faith. The reader still needs God’s Word to guide them, they need to see the mind of Christ in action and most of all they need to have access to resources that enable them to learn for themselves.
The time is coming when we won’t be able to practice our faith openly until that time we have to take every opportunity to Preach the Word, to be at it urgently currently in favourable season but also in the tribulation to come.
Does the Church face a challenge? Not really organised religion is already rejected so the truth is all that will prevail.
The future remains Spiritual but we should ensure we use digital for as long as we can.
Enjoyed the blogs as usual just haven’t had much time to respond recently – made time today.
I’m glad you did, thank you for taking the time… I have that challenge myself 🙂