I didn't really get time to write about it yesterday but I was really thinking about how much different our congregation is than the other churches of christ in our area. I had a really great conversation with one of the youth the other day(you know who you are!) about how she noticed how much different we are and wondered why we are so different. I think it is great that we are more progressive and open to change than some of the more traditional churches of christ. I believe that to grow, we must change. I don't believe you can grow and be stuck in tradition. We must adapt to the environment we are in. No, we shouldn't become a part of it, that is to say, be like the world, but we must adapt how we speak and how we reach out to the world so that they understand us. Change should not be made just for the sake of change, but it should be made with the thinking that it will get the message across in a clearer and easier to understand way.
The OAR congregation has really changed in the last 10 years. Wow, have we ever changed. We are the only congregation within probably 100 miles or more with a praise team. We now use a projector. We sing newer songs. We have really, really shed the stereotype associated with the Church of Christ...you know...We are the only ones going to heaven. I believe we have done a good job reaching out to other church families in the community to show that we love them and care for them are interested in what is going on within their church body. We have worshipped with them and fellowsipped with them in ways we may not have been so willing to do 10 years ago. I believe that we have stopped just believing whatever the Church of Christ is supposed (imagine me putting up two fingers and bending them) to believe and we have studied more for ourselves and with one another to see, for sure, what the bible says. Borrowing of Faith is not a strong faith.
We are not the perfect church by any means, and we have yet a long way to go and always will, for that matter. But the change and growth that we have made is tremendous and has been a blessing to me, and I know to so many. Now we need to go out into the community and share the message of Christ with all those around us, both as a church family and as individuals. I would like to know some of your thoughts on the changes we have made, and why you think others, or yourself, may be afraid of change. Feel free to leave a comment.
Have a blessed day!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Hey there little brother. What you are doing through this blog is great. What you said about the change in our church body is very true. We have seen a change for the better in past 5 to 10 years. If I wrote what I thought it would be just a recording of what you said.
You know the things that have been going on in my life here in the past few months. I want share them all but for those of you who do not know I will share just a bit. In the past six months or so my life has been a struggle. I don't say that to blame it on anyone but myself. My spiritual walk had been pretty much non existant. My marrage has been on the down fall and my attitude toward others has been, well lets just say it hasn't been very christ like.
Here in the past two or three weeks I have seen a drastic change in my life. First of all I have confessed all my sins to God above and to my family. Even though I think that I may have commetted the ultimite sin I know that God have forgivin me and I know that he will not condem me for what I did. And know that my family has forgiven me is a blessing from God. I know seek what God has for me in my life and I want to share the Good News with everyone I can. Getting in His word is now a daily routine for me and that is something that I look forward to every day. If we get in the Word and not just read it but study and understand what God's plan for us is, we will find that our walk with God will be blessed in multituedes. I hope that you will let God control your life because he will change you in ways that you can't even imagine. "Let Go And Let GOD" Little brother thanks for your encouragement and keep up the great work. Love ya dude.
God bless everyone.
Rom. 5:8
Looks like your blog has touched several lives...a GREAT thing!
I am glad our Church family is such a special place. Though it would be great to have more folks, more money for missions, etc., I can't imagine a better collection of people anywhere!
Thanks for your work.
Love in Him,
MIke
Post a Comment