The church today has become far too inwardly focused. As a whole, we have long failed to give an active account of the true gospel. Instead, it is preached as dry words from pulpits, only to fall like brown and dead leaves at the feet of people who need much, much more.
People who have truly been affected by the wild-running love of our God can not live lives that do not in some way serve others. It is the heart of God and his son Jesus Christ to minister to the lost and the needy (1 Samuel 2:7-9, Psalm 35:9-11, Proverbs 14:21, and many more), and as Christians our hearts have been drawn into conformity with the heart of our Creator as it beats to bless his creation (Psalm 29:11).
Sadly, the church has become a cell surrounded by iron walls. We were meant to be, by Jesus’ command, an open house, full of love and generosity, always seeking to draw in and simultaneously go out and bless(Acts 26:17-18). Today we are locked in pews and Sunday morning chairs in solemn traditions that do little to shine the Glory of God before a world that so badly needs and sort of light.
Is it any wonder that Mormonism and Islam are two of America’s fastest growing religions? They are religiouns in which the people live out their professions of faith, whether they be truth or not.
To put it simply, most Christians are weak. They are one hour on Sunday mornings, several lightly emotional, hand raised songs, and maybe a half hour of a well-dressed (a tie is essential) man speaking words that, more often than not, don’t have much passion behind them. There is so little power to give life. As a preacher once said, “There are dead people in the pews people there are dead men in the pulpit. Dead men cannot beget living children.
Passion, friends, passion! It is a fire that will spread light to the world. Passion is the heart of God; a God who runs after his bride century after century despite the way she turns against him time and time again. Don’t be held back by the iron walls that have been erected around so many people’s souls and hearts. Such walls block out light and end with the soul dieing a silent, choking death for lack of air. Instead, tear the walls away and breathe. Meet the eyes of God and catch a taste of the fire that causes even the cherubim to burn and heaven and earth to flee, simply because they are in the presence of one so great. That is our God. He will come and will not be silent. And if he isn’t going to be quiet, why should we?
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