by Mitch Casson, Pastor of Families and Outreach
MC Midweek Oct. 18, 2023
Recently, the youth department has jumped into a book study by Francis Chan called “Letters to the Church.” We are just two weeks in, and I have been fascinated by it. I wanted to share some intriguing thoughts with you.
Chan starts off by looking at the early church Christians and how they had such a reverence for God. The church today is far different from that of the early church experience. The church today has fallen away from what God would want for His people. I believe that God grieves when we as Christians live in a way that shows that we do not believe in His promises and power. The journey back to faithfulness for churches and Christians will not be an easy one. It will take time, prayer, and much devotion if we desire to get back to where we are supposed to be.
Change will require dedication, humility and will require us to self-reflect. We may have to set aside our own desires and traditions and get our focus back on God.
We often come to church and find ourselves focusing on any number of things. We place our attention on the building, the people, the music, the preaching etc. If we are not careful, we can focus on anything and everything but God.
In the study, Chan explores the sacredness of God and how we as Christians get to commune intimately with the Creator of the Universe. This should cause us to fall on our knees in awe, but today’s church just sees this as some common thing. Christians sometimes treat talking with God just like any other conversation. The study implores you to reassess where you are in your own Christian walk and gives you guidance on how to get back to centering your life on God.
Church, we as Christians must do better. My prayer for us and for the church is that we begin to wholeheartedly seek Jesus by removing all obstacles and barriers that would get in the way and bravely pursue Him in every aspect of our lives. I hope that we can exhibit boldness and an urgency to pursue His mission.
Hebrews 12:1-3 says this:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
We serve a mighty God. Adjust your focus and chase after Him unashamedly.
