Serving Others as Serving Christ

[~InHisHands~]

Yay!!

 

[MrJim]

What if Jesus didn't intend to create another religion? Along the lines McLaren talks about, what if He simply wanted to have the Kingdom of God here on earth and not a religion?

 

[~InHisHands~]

Well, back in biblical days, were there actually religions? It seems to me that folks were either christians or non-christians back in those days. Am I wrong on this count?

 

[MrJim]

Well, back in biblical days, were there actually religions? It seems to me that folks were either christians or non-christians back in those days. Am I wrong on this count?

There's a bajillion religions going back to the beginning.

I'm wondering if God's plan was to fulfill the OT by creating something bigger than "Christian Religion" in its many forms--the Kingdom of God. And yet the Kingdom of God has been turned into a religion-a package in many forms but still just that-a form.

In service to others--which is to Christ himself--is the faith in practice, and not all the "other" stuff. I bet that is what lambslove has been getting at all this time. I've been persuing that perfect package, though verbally saying "I know no denom/group is perfect" but in that pursuit I'm missing the whole show. My chase has been for religion and not Christ Himself--which is those to be served and in turn I am Christ's body (as believers are), hands & feet to be that servant...

 

[~InHisHands~]

You didn't know that?

 

[MrJim]

You didn't know that?

Guess I looked at that part as an "extra" part of being a Christian. First important is making sure that you know what you believe, that the theology is correct. Then being the servant can take on whatever shape I want it too, but theology is the most important.

what a loser

 

[~InHisHands~]

It's not about the religion. It's about the living. How you live, who you are and what you do with that life is what God is looking at. If you show up for church every Sunday but, have no compassion for say a co-worker who just needs someone to talk to, then what good is church going to do you? You have to do more than just take the word in. You have to let it come to life inside of you. You have to use it. Church is just dandy. But, if you don't live what you learn, then it's no different than just reading a good book. I think this is part of what some Christians struggle with. They go to church. It makes them look good. But, deep down the messages from the word haven't taken root inside of them and they aren't living a Godly life other than through appearance. Church can't fix someone being hateful unless they actually take the message of the Lord into them and live that way.

 

[~InHisHands~]

Church isn't God. Church isn't what I'm trying to become like. Church isn't living inside of me. God is my everything. I rely solely on his word and my relationship with him in order for me to practice my faith through the way that I live. It is a daily struggle.

 

[MrJim]

I want the church to be my teacher and my guide in all this-it is Christ's body and then that has been the reason for the search because I don't trust myself to do things right. But you know what? Serving others isn't exactly rocket science, is it? And if the Church is consumed with materialism & consumerism then just go and do--find a body regardless of whatever they call themselves, and just go and do and be the body.

Tail waggin' the dog here...I think that it would be easier to know less and trust more...

 

[~InHisHands~]

then just go and do--find a body regardless of whatever they call themselves, and just go and do and be the body.

Tail waggin' the dog here...I think that it would be easier to know less and trust more...

I think you got it.

 

[~InHisHands~]

But "the Christian religion" is neither the ultimate goal of Jesus not the ultimate goal of God, in my view. Rather, the goal of Jesus is the kingdom of God, which is the dream of God, the wish and hope and desire of God for creation--like a parent's hopes and dreams for a beloved child." [Generous Orthodoxy pg 303]
Our parents want us to have a security in life. A future. Our futures though, as God's children is in our eternal lives and the security therein.

 

[MrJim]

But "the Christian religion" is neither the ultimate goal of Jesus not the ultimate goal of God, in my view. Rather, the goal of Jesus is the kingdom of God, which is the dream of God, the wish and hope and desire of God for creation--like a parent's hopes and dreams for a beloved child." [Generous Orthodoxy pg 303]
Our parents want us to have a security in life. A future. Our futures though, as God's children is in our eternal lives and the security therein.

And I think I looked at that security as being the "religion" of Christianity-the "correct" church, the "correct" theology, the "correct" everything. (And it's no wonder I wandered about and wasted nearly 20 years-though I guess it's not wasted if it's education.)

THEN I took all that and created some kind of faith that was "at odds" with others. You know, "You need to believe like I do" (instead of "walk alongside me following Christ in love serving others"). There were all the battles against "secularism" and "false doctrine" and whatever crusade was at hand.

Along the way I picked up a lot of knowledge about a lot of things regarding bible, church, & church history. And a lot of people confuse knowledge for wisdom-so I would get those "pats on the back" for being such a "good christian boy" yet feel in my heart that they didn't know who I was. Knowledge without love and wisdom is a dangerous thing.

No wonder I've had such a miserable & wandering "walk with the Lord"

 

[~InHisHands~]

Wisdom and love are a lot different than knowledge and christianity.

 

[catlover]

Wisdom and love are a lot different than knowledge and christianity.
---------------
Exactly.

 

[Jehane]

Knowledge isn't much good if it doesn't make you wise & neither is useful if they impede your walk with the Lord. I have seen knowledge destroy people's faith & belief because they haven't exercised wisom. I have to be careful in this regard myself. Knowledge can be a real trap.

 

[catlover]

I get more from caring for my elderly friend than a church service...I must be turning into a heretic.

One day, I had to bring my elderly friend to the hospital and he was depressed and scared, so I held his hand and prayed over him.

God spoke to me more with that situation than a church service. I was thinking that the other day, looked up while driving, and was greated with a huge rainbow...go figure. Maybe God's church is outside of four walls.

 

[oliveplants]

Maybe God's church is outside of four walls.

My son talks of going to church, and I tell him that he is the church. He thinks I'm teasing, but it's true.
I like the quaker term "meeting house." Also the notion that "the service begins when the meeting is over."

 

[~InHisHands~]

Oddly enough I get more out of the potlucks than I do the sermons. That's pretty bad. *L* But, I agree, I know we're supposed to go to church but, there's been so much stuff that seems to have moved into the churches anymore that isn't safe or healthy or even christian. I want sermons. I want to learn. I want more Jesus and less service. I want to be taught how to become more in his image. More hymns and more yacking about who didn't show up isn't going to help me with that.

 

[Jehane]

There's lots about the Quakers I like. I like they did away with the fripperies & tried to bring their meetings down to an encounter between the individual & God. That's the bottom line.

 

[~InHisHands~]

Are you a Quaker Jehane?