[Latreia]

Christian Ministry in the modern world must deal
with issues that our Messiah never encountered.

The Gospel seems to apply to our world today
more than ever. A Christian life is the most
joyfilled and positive faith of all and
there is proof for all eyes to see.

It is the clergy's role to bring God's message
in ways that modern minds be drawn to it.
The generosity and benevolence of God lends
relevance of the Holy Bible to the world we live in.

But sometimes I wonder if awe of the sacred,
reverent worship, or spritual humility before
the Lord may, at times, be compromised.

This I ask because, all too often, the response to
the question, "If you met Jesus in person
what would you do?" When the answers run along
the lines of running up to Him, kissing Him
and cuddling in His arms, I am stunned.

Also the trend towards seeing Jesus today as one
who would "hang out" with motorcycle gangs,
prostitues, and participate in radical activist groups,
because He is "just like us", a regular guy,
perhaps even with tattoos and even dressing
Goth, is alarming.

Many who demand that others accept them,
regardless of their lifestyles, attitudes, and
aggressive, anti-social dress, music, and
lack of morals seem to be the most adamant
that Jesus Christ must be changed to suit
their approval.

Ministry that caters to those demands hardly
offers concepts of spiritual holiness, sacred worship,
of the reverance due to God.

Must everything be reduced to popular celebrity
that appeals even to the lowest,
most base natures?

How can such be reached to raise them
to knowledge of their true relationship
with their Creator?

This raises serious concerns,
perhaps.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that
the sun has risen:
not only because I see it,
but because by it I see everything else."
~ C. S. Lewis

[Olsen]

As moderator of the Forum, I am compelled to say, Latreia, that although this website is literally brand new I believe that you have made extremely valuable contributions already. I have enjoyed reading your various posts. There is little doubt that you are an imaginative thinker and this most recent article of yours regarding christian ministry and the role of the clergy is certain to provoke thought--particularly among the clergy. Keep writing!

[rachel]

If I saw Jesus, first thing I'd do is put away my bike. Then I'd put on my best dress. Then I would stand in line with other Christians and wait for my turn. And THEN, when it was my turn, I'd just walk right up to Him....

and faint.......really. God Bless us, Karen

[Rose]

Unfortunately, I am afraid that if most people encountered Jesus today they would not realize it. Hopefully, a true Christian would. We are filled with images and ideas that may not equally up to that experience. By keeping our thoughts pure and our minds open maybe we can recognize Him for what he is and lead others to His path.

Also the trend towards seeing Jesus today as one
who would "hang out" with motorcycle gangs,
prostitues, and participate in radical activist groups,
because He is "just like us", a regular guy,
perhaps even with tattoos and even dressing
Goth, is alarming.

Many who demand that others accept them,
regardless of their lifestyles, attitudes, and
aggressive, anti-social dress, music, and
lack of morals seem to be the most adamant
that Jesus Christ must be changed to suit
their approval.

Ministry that caters to those demands hardly
offers concepts of spiritual holiness, sacred worship,
of the reverance due to God.


Ok well i only been a christian for just alittle over 6 months but id like to put my two cents in and ya all can correct me if im wrong. But when i became a christian i understood that Jesus did exactly all those things. Maybe he didnt have a tattoo, but he definatly "hung out" with prostitutes and people of i guess what you would say less desirable people (of which im sure i could be concidered). I just bought a study guide on the book of John after a minister told me John would be a good place to start, and one of the first things Jesus did was go to a wedding. He hung out with regular people having fun. Not only that but its kind of intresting to me that his first miricle ever would be to make wine (and not no cheap stuff either) so that his friends could continue enjoying themselves and the wedding hosts would not be embarrassed or ashamed cuz they ran out. The next thing i find intresting is in John chapter 4 he met and spoke to a samaritan woman. First i learned that not only was it unusual to speak to a woman but the fact that Jews didnt have much to do with samaritans at all. But heres the best and sweetest part of it, she was living in sin and yet not only did he speak with her but he chose her of all people to be the first person he revealed his identity too.(NLT)Jhn 4:26 Then Jesus told her, "I am the Messiah!".
I love what my study guide says about this.... "Remarkable. Jesus didnt reveal the secret to King Harod.He didnt request an audience with the Sanhedrin and tell them the news.It wasnt within the colongades of a Roman court that he announced His identity.

No it was in the shade of a well in a rejected land to an ostcized woman. His eyes must have danced when he whispered the secret.

"I am the Messiah."
It shows how much Jesus loved ALL people. And to my understanding isnt that what we as christians are supposed to do?? Love all people?
Im thankful to the folks who took there time accepting me just as i was/am and talk to me on just my level, not above me, not down at me but right were i am that Christ has become real to me.

[Davis]

heavenschoir,

your post is right on.

Also, Matthew 9:10-13. Jesus sat at dinner with tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees asked the disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

Jesus responded, "Those who are well have no need of a physician...Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'"

Mercy. Mercy. Mercy.

Don't let the self-righteousness get you down, heavenschoir. Keep your faith pure.

[Olsen]

I agree with the two previous posts that we should not condition our love, acceptance, or even forgiveness upon a persons appearance, social status, credentials or any other manmade criteria. I seem to recall, however, that Jesus response to sinners was to call upon them to repent. The woman caught in adultery was told to "go and sin no more". This command followed Jesus's forgiveness of her sin. The self righteous are often blind to their own faults and hypocrisy is what Jesus, in fact, condemned most harshly. Because Jesus associated with sinners, however, certainly does not mean that He was indifferent to sin. We must all try to help one another to overcome our shortcomings aided by the grace of God.

[Davis]

A very important point of repentance is naming the sin. Jesus changed the definition of sin. Before Jesus came, sin was defined as anything in the Old Testament list of sins. Jesus himself transgressed against the Old Testament law, and the Pharisees questioned him on it. He redefined sin in terms of love. In the case of the adulteress woman, her sin was not the adultery. The adultery was a symptom of her sin of NOT LOVING her husband enough to be faithful to him.

The Pharisees tried to entrap Jesus in the words of the old law, but when He spoke of the law in terms of love, the Pharisees were unable to weave the net.

My prayer is for God's abundant, encompassing love to saturate each of us until we can no longer contain it. We'll drip a little bit of love everywhere we go. And the people shall know us by our love.

[justabob]

You ask what I would do if. The Bible tells I would probably fall face first to the ground in awe. Yes Jesus did walk with the undesirables but he never changed who he was to get their attention. We must go into their world as we are and let the light shine. they will be drawn to the truth. God gives us a perfect example in nature. Go out into your back yard in the summer at night and turn on a light.

[Amadeus]

Originally Posted by justabob

You ask what I would do if. The Bible tells I would probably fall face first to the ground in awe. Yes Jesus did walk with the undesirables but he never changed who he was to get their attention. We must go into their world as we are and let the light shine. they will be drawn to the truth. God gives us a perfect example in nature. Go out into your back yard in the summer at night and turn on a light.

Probably we have all seen Jesus in some measure. Even as Jesus stated to Philip with regard to His Father:

"Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." John 14:9-12

To the extent that each of us has Jesus in us, people have seen Him, but for the most part they do not recognize Him. He was a man as we are when Philip saw Him. If we are not doing the "greater works", whose fault is that?