“The Christian church is dying.” “Younger generations aren’t committed to coming to church.” Add your digs or own comments to these. Any of them I will refute. No, the church isn’t excelling in the traditional ways that many of us grew up knowing. This is the part you won’t necessarily love reading. Do you remember that age in which you realized that your parents, while wise, did not hold the same belief systems that you do? That moment when you out of rote memory disciplined your child in the same manner your parents before you did, and then you realized that you wanted to make changes.
The younger generations today are doing a new thing. Careful how you read that because I did not say, ‘bad thing’. These groups of young adults are forcing us to be more honest in our faith. For them it’s not just alright to say you’re a Christian, they want us to mirror that in every aspect of our lives. Which means it is doing a couple of things. First, it is requiring us to rethink our personal beliefs and our actions which can create a deeper, richer faith. Second, it is returning the church to the image that Christ desired. Authentic. Able to see our own sins, willingly admit them, and mindfully change them. It makes you wonder who is measuring these types of statistics?
I was reading a Bible study by Lisa Harper. In it she talks about Aaron’s role in the golden calf episode (Ex. 32) Listen to what he says in v.24, “so, I told the people, ‘Take off your gold jewelry.’ When they gave me the gold, I threw it into the fire and out came this calf!” This is absolutely one of the funniest things I have ever heard! Aside from the fact that this couldn’t happen logistically, it is hilarious! At least it is until I hear my voice saying things like, ‘I didn’t do it.’ No matter how I word it when I deny my own role in my sin it sounds like Aaron’s ludicrous comment.
When we are able to be honest, real, the church has no way but up. Why? Mostly because Christ said that the church is his and that nothing would ever prevail against it. But also, because when we are thinking like Christ we are living like Christ. Each one of us has something that we justify like Aaron. Serious and deliberate self-examination reveals this to us. If in faith you have moved beyond this Aaron-like behavior, then you are fully aware of the magnitude of Jesus’ gift and receive it with a similar humility. Either way the roadblocks that keep God at a distance are removed allowing the Holy Spirit to work freely which ultimately impacts the church in great and powerful ways.
In what ways do you need to be authentic today? What things do you need to be honest with yourself and God about? I do not ask these questions to instill guilt. It is my hope that you will reflect on your need to reshape your thoughts. It is my hope that you will seek to be transformed in such a way that you will experience true, lasting peace. The only way to achieve that is through Christ. This is not a ‘pat’ comment. If you want to hear more about my story and how it has shifted, I’d love to share it with you. When I wish these things for you it is because I know it can happen, I know that you can find permanent, positive change.
– blessings for your journey
Monica Swank 