Can't improve Christianity, it's already perfect.

Remember products that were supposed to be better than their counterparts or products that “improved” the original?

Who could ever forget the new Coke? Coca-Cola thought it was time to update Coke because it had been losing market share. Some smart people thought they needed to redo the formula and rebrand. It launched in 1985, renamed Coke II in 1990, and was discontinued in 2002. Coke spent over four million dollars on development and marketing, and was left with 30 million dollars of unused product. It was a big flop.

In 2001, Apple introduced the world to a new product that would change everything. It was called the i-Pod. The i-Pod was a portable media player that could play downloaded music, videos and more. Five years later, Microsoft launched a “better” product called the Zune. The Zune would do the same thing as the i-Pod but consumers were already hooked on the Apple device. Millions of dollars and six years later, the Zune was discontinued.

The world is always trying to make things better. Better cars, smarter phones, louder speakers, better-tasting food, etc. And that includes Christianity. Take Mormons for instance. Joseph Smith claims Jesus spoke to him about special tablets. Smith “found” these tablets and interpreted them, writing a companion to the Bible. Smith is claiming a new and improved Christianity. But that just isn’t the case. 

Christianity is already perfect because of Jesus Christ;

“2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. ” – Hebrews 12:2

Our faith is already perfect because He made it perfect through His life and His actions on the cross. While our faith cannot become more perfect, certainly we can be better followers of Christ. So, if there is anything that could become new and improved, it’s us.

New through our belief of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and improved because we have turned from the old self and set our eyes on Jesus. Who provided something better for us, a reconciliation with God that leads to salvation for all eternity.

Can the church get better? Certainly, because we the church can get better. But our faith, our faith is perfect in Jesus.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Glen

Socially awkward.

I am socially awkward, I admit it. I can sometimes have a hard time speaking one on one, but put me in front of a few hundred people and I have no problem speaking. It's weird I know, but it is how God wired me. God wired the church to be a certain way too, it makes us socially awkward, but there is a reason for it. 

Certain social topics that are no longer up to debate is making the church look even more socially awkward than it should. According to society, homosexuality is ok, gay marriage is ok and now changing gender is ok. These topics are spilling over into the church and the church is not reacting well

I am not a psychologist, psychiatrist, or sociologist. I cannot speak to someone’s mental state. I do not have the educational background to speak about why people make certain choices. 

What I am is a pastor, a Christ-follower, who has been called upon to share the Gospel, to make disciples and help lead some of God’s sheep. 

So a few random thoughts. First, we should never start a sentence with, “Well I believe…” without being able to back it up with scripture. Are there times that we may not find the answer in scripture? Sure, but those are few and far between.  If we seek a truthful answer, God will provide it.  And, by the way, we should be prepared for the answer. In other words, be prepared to admit you were wrong.

Second, let’s be consistent. I am floored by the number of people who voice their opinions about a mistake a Christian makes and has repented for, but then will hold up someone who is clearly going against the will of God and is leading others down a sinful path. (Yes, I said clearly. There are many passages in scripture that are clear. It is what it is.) We are to abhor what is evil and hold on to what is good. Abhor doesn't necessarily mean we have to know what you are thinking. Sometimes the best way to love someone, is to just not say anything at all.

Third, my finally but not really finally, it’s easy for us to sit back and call people freaks and say how disgusted we are for their decision, but it takes someone special to go find that person, befriend them, love them and share Jesus with them. Jesus did not call the woman at the well a whore or freak. He did not call the sinners he hung out with names either. He called out the religious leaders of the day who made a mockery of their office and God’s law. 

It is not the job of a pastor, elder, deacon, Sunday school teacher, lay-leader or any Christ-follower to weave social issues into the church. It is our job to weave the Church into society in order to see people come to know Jesus Christ as Lord.