I'm not able to sleep. I'm frustrated. And sad. And angry.
How is it that there are churches that can sell people on living their best lives now? How is it that churches can get away with positivity messages? How is it that we are fighting ourselves on the things we should do here on earth to gain access to the kingdom of heaven? "Well done, good and faithful servant" does not mean "Your deeds were good, dude" or "Thanks for getting all of those commandments right." It has to mean, "you believed in me, welcome home."
How do those false teaching churches explain the death of a 20-year-old because of a hiking accident? Or a beloved father and husband of cancer? Or a beautiful baby, born to live only two hours? Or a woman who gets paralyzed from the neck down in a diving accident? Or divorce upon divorce upon divorce? Do they comfort with platitudes that Jesus makes things right? He does, of course. But not here. Not with our weak and frail bodies and minds. Not with this sin in our hearts that never leaves us. I believe that perseverance produces in us a desire for heaven. A longing for it. We will not get heaven here, in this nation, in this state, in this city. Anyone who teaches that is a false prophet. This means you, Bryan Adams.
Give me a church that helps me cope. That tells me it's not up to us. That reminds me it's a temporary sort of happiness I feel about things. Give me repentance, and an acknowledgment of sin, and a belief system that won't crumble when circumstances change. Help me find "joy" that is only achieved by Jesus' work. Then, and only then, I will have no need to turn away because He won't let me.
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