Marketing the Church

These comments are in response to another blog and its comments. You may read them here: http://blog.9marks.org/2008/09/does-your-churc.html

It seems to me that the church has forgotten Heb 10:23-25. The "church gathered" is for encouragement and exhortation. It is a refuge to meet with one another to build up each other in the faith. Corporately we share our individual expressions of faith. I thought our songs of praise were for our Lord. If I sing off key, what is the difference? I am not trying to impress anyone. It is my heartfelt expression of my love for Him. I come together with other believers to be exhorted and encouraged by the teaching of the Word. If a believer (visitor) comes to a service and cannot see that as the emphasis of our services, I am sorry. Is it not rather a sad commentary on the believing visitor, looking for a church home that the emphasis is on the music, or size of the youth group or how new and swank is the church's building? The question we need to ask is, "Just how critical is this time to me? It it optional or foundational and essential?" If an unbeliever visits a service, I would hope that they would pick up on our heartfelt worship and encouragement. However, the service is not aimed at them. Evangelism is for the "church scattered". It is there in homes, schools, workplace, etc. that we share the gospel. It is the winsomeness of the Savior that should attract unbelievers. Don't get me wrong, I am all for excellence in all that we do. I just won't let the lack of it get in the way of my worship. I remember who I am... as one of my friends used to say... "a good for nothing, saved by God's grace."

God's Wonders

Last Night's Moon

Josette

Forgiveness

The question has come to me of late from a couple of sources... "How can God forgive me?" The sources were believers wondering how God could forgive (and forget). This may not be one of my better answers.

First, if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Okay, that one wasn't too far off Biblically!)

Second, If God was like us (and He isn't), then even if He threw our sins into the depths of the seas, He would not have any problem retrieving them to use them against us! Same for the sins being separated East from West. (See how far we can slide in so short a time?!)

Third, If God is God (and He is) then He cannot forget. He chooses to remember our sins another way. (See if you like this mental picture). When Satan accuses the brethren, he calls God's attention to our failures and lists our sins. Yet when God looks at a believer's "bill (listing our sins and the payment due)" all He sees is the big, stamped in red, PAID IN FULL. The statement of debt, great or small, is overshadowed by the notice of payment. In other words, when Satan accuses us, God uses it to "remind" Himself of the glories of His Son and his perfect work on the cross. He is "reminded" that the work was totally sufficient (thus the PAID IN FULL). The accusation has just the opposite impact on God than Satan intends. Instead of the focus being on our sins, it is now on our Savior and His Son. Another round of rejoicing goes up in heaven!

We don't sin that grace may abound... but grace does abound!

With my love...