The switch.

 I can’t believe the relief of actually making the change in churches. The sark cloud has lifted. Sunlight is visible instead of a dark cave of doom and gloom. The fear of hearing another sermon with inappropriate titles and words has been changed to a hopeful anticipation of how discipleship will be presented. Information based sermons with no applications are self serving for the presenter. 

I do not like the drift that LFF has taken  yes it’s for missions but it’s out of obligation  the passion is not there  yes the preaching is from the Bible, but there is no passion for discipleship  yes there are good people attending, but there is a lack of attention to detail  sensitivity to ongoing medieval issues, mental health concerns in the community, or linking up with other churches does not seem to happen  prayer concerns are documented as if on a clipboard, without genuine follow up to pray for new developments  new ideas are criticized  

The snubbing and deer in the head light looks are a mystery but I’ve grown weary. The hunkering down end game with a home school flag on the roof have bothered me. Yes the world is evil but God calls us to engage with non church goers, tone in positions of influence. 

Feeling marginalized and silenced is not healthy and anti Christian like. More than that is the insensitivity to those who have experienced trauma or health crises. Mocking medicine and science, aligning with a politician at the expense of the kingdom is not Biblical. 

Back to the Bible

Instead of standing passively by, we can be intentional! Here’s where we start. Look less at the people in the church and focus more on the real reason for being there. In Psalm 118:8 we are told that, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”

We go to church to worship Jesus Christ, not man. In Christ there is peace, not division. He has all the answers to our problems, not man. Being in fellowship together is the only way the principle of “iron sharpens iron” can work!

Here’s another important thing to consider. Jesus has placed us right here, right now, in 2023. He prepared each of us for this time and place to know and serve Him. In Matthew 4:19, Jesus promises, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Compare how the

Holman Christian Standard Bible puts it, “Come follow me! I will teach you how to catch people instead of fish.” To become fishers of people, we can’t be as effective as He wants by ourselves. We need the boat, the nets, and the crew to help. Outside of the community

that church provides, we lose all of those advantages! There is no way a loner can be as effective as a group working on the same task together.