I received an interesting letter yesterday. One I have never gotten before. It was a letter offering services for the disposal of church items when a church closes. Maybe it is a sign of the times. Annually, 3500 to 4000 churches close their doors each year. Were they wrong to start? Did they serve their purpose and now it was time to die?
If you study churches, there are a few things to look at. I do not think God opens any church in order for it to be an object lessons and close years later. I think churches close because they lost their mission. Churches begin with dreams of serving Christ, being Christ in a world in need. After a while, unless renewal takes place in the hearts of church members, a calcification begins as program and routine overtake mission. Mission comes from God.
Personal spiritual lives can run the same. On fire at first. Then, over the years, a cooling off sets in as routines take the place of a passion for doing the work of God. We become Christian on the outside but not to the core. We visit church rather than celebrate God-with-us. People need renewal as well. People need to renew their mission on a regular basis. Christianity is not something to be mastered but is a way of life that must be followed day after day.
Advent is a time of renewal. Renewal for people and churches. Look at your routines. Do you know why you do them? Are they God-driven? Where has worshiping God fallen on your "To Do" list? How about prayer? Spending time in scripture? Giving up yourself for another in need?
Lord, may I be Christ today and may I be driven by his mission for me. I'm not ready to shut down for business.
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