sharing ideas to stir compassion and action

If you have been around me much and had the pleasure of hearing my pet-hates about Christian Community, you would perhaps have heard me complain about our tendency to be so preoccupied with ourselves… something I like to call “internal churning”.

We give the appearance that we are making great leaps forward for the gospel but all we are doing is sitting around whinging about things that shouldn’t take the priority of our thoughts, energy and actions. I confess… I complain too but I really want to set myself and you a challenge that instead of the internal churning lets look out beyond ourselves, look for opportunities to serve others… perhaps even the lost!

This quote  by C. T. Studd seems to sum up my sentiment of internal churning:

“Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell,
I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell”

Where I see internal churning:

• Compare the vast majority of products and resources in our Christian bookshops… majority of products are ‘pep talk’ material for Christians. How good would it be if more people put increased energy into truly evangelistic and accessible products for the unchurched / unbeliever?
• Christian Websites are mainly for the Christian too… The amount of quality websites or blogs dedicated to the sharing the gospel is low compared to the tech-savvy, clean and funky sites for Christian leadership, outreach, ideas, church planting etc.  It’s rare for Christian blogs to address the non–Christian who may stumble across their site. (Bloggers take note from DMDC who regularly addresses: Not Christian? Read this.)
• Our churches’ budgets and their support of mission and evangelism.
• Complaints about sermons, lack on inter-congregational events, or just the pure lack of social events at church.

Don’t get me wrong… I think we need to encourage each other all the more as the day approaches (Hebrews 10:25) and Christian friendship is vital for survival but sometimes encouragement comes when we serve alongside each other and focus on something else than ourselves.
START today… instead of having just socialising with church friends this week, why not invite some one on the fringe of church along or some mates from work… cross pollinate your social circles. You get to kill two birds with one stone: social activity with church people and bring near some light to the yard of hell.

Not Christian: CHECK THIS OUT!