Day 125: Cause Or Effect?

Redbox movie rental kiosks are everywhere now. I remember back when they were just a start-up company in McDonald's restaurants only. I believe this was back in the 2004-2005 date range, but just guessing. I do remember they didn't last very long in the McDonald's that I visited. I actually only remember a kiosk in one out of the four in my hometown.

Now, just a few years later, Blockbuster and Hollywood videos have closed their doors and filed for bankruptcy protection. Also their is now a Redbox located in several locations across the city. I can think of 6 without even trying and I am sure that their are even more that I do not know of.

So, why the big change? Is the growth of Redbox the cause of the other two DVD rental stores' collapse or is Redbox's popularity an effect of those businesses calling it quits? I think consumers are cutting corners everywhere, which led to the demise of the traditional rental stores because of their pricing. Redbox just so happen to be already semi-established and strategically started opening kiosk seemingly everywhere you turn. Multiple locations, low rental rates and ease of renting have made Redbox the primary source of movie rentals for a lot of people.

Just shows you how quickly the landscape can change with businesses. Sadly, this is how a lot of churches change as well. Many churches sit empty or now house businesses or even homes. This is because the Word of God was not spoken in truth. Also people have stopped attending church services and supporting the ministries as much. Is this the same cause and effect or has the spiritual climate made the final turn for the worse? Are we living in the Laodacian days? Has the "church" become mostly apostate which led to changes so often? Or did the changes so often in the message or styles of music played cause the decline?

Churches now want to focus on felt needs or trying to supply things for people instead of actually preaching the Word of God. Whatever draws someone to a church is normally what keeps them there. For example, if a family is taken a box of food they feel obligated to go to that church. They will keep attending that church as long as the food keeps coming. Stop giving them food and they stop coming, because the food was the draw and not God's Word. This is also true with clothing, musical styles and other extra curricular devices like Upwards sports and even certain classes or "teachers"/ preachers.

It is the pragmatic, "Purpose Driven" philosophy that is the norm now. A very man centered message is preached, many man centered programs are taking he time and resources of the people that attend the church. Before I go further, programs to feed and clothe the needy are exceptional ministry opportunities, but how they are initiated and carried out is the problem. More times than not food is taken and a small prayer may be said with the family and the delivery people are gone. They may leave church literature, but not a mention of the gospel or how God is using that particular body to minister. God is not the focus, but the hungry people.

I think this is causing church attendance to wane. Too many programs that focus on man and not on God. The Word of God is not being preached. When their is a sermon it is filled with cute little stories or jokes and not relying on the actual scriptures to convict. Emotionalism and easy believism has taken the place of true biblical messages. God is no longer the focus, but the numbers of converts or attendance.

So, is this the cause of the decline or the effect of it? I'd say it is both. It is the slippery slope that Spurgeon spoke of. The decline started many years ago and the "church" has continued the decline. It will only get worse and I see it getting worse by the day here in the bible belt. Many are chasing after an experience or personal satisfactions and not hungry for God and His Word. These may be the last days after-all.

Day 83: Church Family = Real Family

Today's picture is of a dear brother in Christ, Stan. He says that he isn't very good at speaking in front of groups, but I think he has done very well the times he has felt lead to speak. He has been shown a lot over the past few months and wanted to take an opportunity to let the rest of us know how God has been working in his life. His testimony of God's goodness really blessed me this evening.

Stan really means a lot to me. He has been a very good friend, has taught me a few things and is a wonderful man that God is using greatly. He challenges me sometimes when he asks "what's God doing in your life right now?" But I need that challenge, because I always need to be aware of just what God is actively doing around me. I do pay better attention, not to have something to tell Stan when he asks, but his questioning has just opened up a facet that I was ignoring. An area of understanding that was missing from my daily walk.

Stan is but one part of the body at Oak Grove. He is just as integral as the pastor or any other member of the body. We are all connected, we are all part. We should be just as connected as an actual body, when a hand is hurting then the feet should know. For the most part I think this is true there at Oak Grove. We are a tight knit group of people that realize our standing before a holy God. We know we are needy and we know that God uses the body of Oak Grove to minister to one another. I can attest first hand to that.

Oak Grove is also part of the larger body of Christ. We have the life blood bond of Christ. We may just be a little toe on the fuller body of Christ, but that little toe is needed. The other body parts are worldwide and we need fellowship with those other parts as well.

If you do not have a church home I implore you to seek God to show you where He would have you. Then search out a church family that is true to the Word of God firstly, then where you feel like you belong. Do not do those in opposite order as many "churches" out there cater to the flesh and are quite good at it. Seek a church that stands on the authoritative Word of God, salvation by faith alone , by grace alone, through Christ alone, to the glory of God alone. Do not fall for the slick gimmicks or the tickling of ears or the lusts of the flesh.

I know the struggles of being in a church that does not properly preach the Word of God. After God truly saved me, He allowed me to see a lot of things going on around me that I had always seen, but I then saw them with new eyes. This was the church I was raised in, that my mother still attends, so I had a lot of investment there. Thing is, God was not the draw any longer. The man centered, purpose driven philosophy had filtered in over the years. With the installment of the newest pastor, the church started a more rapid decline to a man centered message. I do not pray for that congregation nearly enough, but I need to. It would be awesome to hear that they have repented of their man centered ways and means and turned to God and His Word for everything. Out with the social club, in with the true Church of God.

John Piper and Rick Warren Closer Than Thought Theologically? Really?

John Piper, you have left many scratching their heads over your recent announcement that “America’s Pastor” Rick Warren will be taking part at the 2010 Desiring God National Conference.

When I first heard this a few days ago I thought that someone had mis-heard someone say something to somebody and just got the story mixed up. Boy, was I wrong. It is official and Piper has stated “I’m gonna need a lot of help to know why I should feel bad about this decision”. To which my reply would be – if you know there are major concerns by those in the same theological position and views that you have, then you already know WHY you should feel bad about this.

At first came my confusion. Then I realized, “Hey Jeff, John Piper has a lot more theological truths in his little finger than you have ever attained”. In fact Piper has been a teacher to me through his books and videos and I have a very high regard for him and his decisions. Just, right now, I do not fully understand this one. I am, however, becoming more open to see what the Lord has planned through this.

I, for one, know that someone can be full of many wrong views of scripture and of God. I know firsthand that God can and does bring people from those false teachings and beliefs to a better and more complete understanding of His Word and of theology in general. If you would have called me a Calvinist 5 years ago I would have argued with you that I would never even entertain the thought of the God choosing who He would save. But, the more I am drawn closer to God, the more understanding He allows me to attain. It is definitely baby steps for me. God had been very gracious to me over my whole life, from birth, to allowing me to live 30 years as a false convert in order to give me a heart full of compassion for others that believe the lies of the American church’s false gospel.

So, I am anxiously waiting to see what God has in store. I could give a whole laundry list of what Rick Warren says and does that do not align with scripture, but right now that is not needed. Right now I am being faced with the realization that God may have answered my (and many others) prayer that Rick Warren may have the scales taken off of his eyes and be shown the same grace and mercy I was shown, deliverance from a man centered gospel to a where the Gospel has to be, focused on God and not wavering at all.

Be in prayer that this is used by God to His glory. That lives will be changed, perceptions challenged and that Rick Warren will stand in front of the world and repent to the Father for his past stances on many issues, his man centered focus, his ecumenical flavorings and the other things I care not to mention right now.

Video from John Piper “explaining” his decision: