Words to Ponder, The Decline of the Church (cont)…Morrow Mirror…July 7, 2013

Words to Ponder, The Decline of the Church (cont)…Morrow Mirror…July 7, 2013.  The future of the church has always been one of hope.  When people of faith open their hearts to the power of the Holy Spirit growth comes: individual and collective growth. Christians have hope in Jesus Christ and no one can snatch this hope away. 

I believe, as I said in the last article, the church’s decline is due in part to church members’ reluctance to share their faith stories.  As I pondered this thought, I wondered if some Christians are reluctant because of our cultural emphasis to be politically correct. Political correctness is not a bad concept, but when our desire to ‘protect someone’s feelings mutes our freedom of religion then I wonder if we have not ‘thrown out the baby with the bath water.’  I strongly disagree with misguided Christians who beat up non-Christian with the Bible.  No one should intentionally hurt another person’s feelings to make a point.  However, if Christians are going to reach non-Christians we need to live out the commandment to love our neighbors. 

‘Loving our neighbors’ does not mean we have to agree with our neighbors, only that we will love and honor them as children of God, regardless of our disagreements.  The power of love is greater then any disagreement. To love our neighbor is to establish a caring relationship and relationships open the door for dialogue; and when the lines of communication are opened and empowered with Christian love, prejudices are destroyed and lives are transformed. When the doors of our heart are opened the Holy Spirit enters not with a stick but with the light of Christ, which brings about growth: individual and collective growth. Words to ponder.  In Christian Love, your pastor and friend in Christ, Ed