If you want to get fit, which is the BEST OPTION?
1. Watch Cooking Shows and create a Pinterest pin board with examples of healthy eating, and binge watch workout videos on YouTube.
Or
2. Fill your diet with healthy food and eliminate processed foods and sugars, as well as begin a workout routine combining cardio and strength training.
The obvious answer is number two! To get fit you have to engage in activities that develop a fit body. Watching shows or reading articles on fitness will do nothing for any muscle other than your brain. Yes, a healthy brain is important but really not the point in this discussion.
Most people understand the importance of being active and eating healthy in achieving their fitness goals, and yet that knowledge doesn't translate well when it comes to our spiritual life.
Many Christians utilize church more like a movie theater than a gym. Yet, church is meant to be a gym NOT a movie theater.
Do a google search on the decline of church attendance over the past decade and you will see, while the statistics seem to vary a bit, all agree that church attendance is declining. There is a lot of thought on the reason for this, but I think it is because of a lack of proper focus.
1. Church is not a building. Sure, this can come down to a semantical argument and yes, we do "go to church" referring to a service in a building, but the Bible is clear - the church is Christians collectively. We are often referred to as the body of Christ because God intended for us to be different yet work together just like our physical bodies. We often get distracted by the building and forget we are the church.
2. We have become spectators. Christianity is NOT a spectator sport. It isn't a to-do list that one checks off. Going to a weekly service is not our Christian duty. There are no brownie points for extra weekly Bible studies or service projects. You don't get an award for putting more money in the offering plate than your neighbor and there are no wings to gain if you volunteer in the children's department. Of course, we do need to engage in a local church with some of the above activities but the point is where the problem can be found.
Our Christian duty is knowing Christ and making him known. (Please note: I am not referring to the guy shouting from a public square that you are going to hell). If you want to be a Christian and grow spiritually, that is found in reading your Bible, studying what you have read, spending time with others who are like-minded and spending time in prayer. Spiritual growth comes in putting the needs of other's first and seeking what God might want with your time and money. Remember the greatest commands are loving God and loving OTHERS as ourselves (Matthew 22:34-40). Christianity isn't about being perfect but instead allowing God to work in you. That doesn't happen overnight, it usually takes a good 80 plus years. Trust me! I have been a Christian for 34 years and I still have a list of ways God needs to work in my life. I am as human as anyone else.
I haven't been to the gym in awhile and when I go back I won't be benching 250 lbs. I will start where I am, which is more like 10 lb free weights. Spiritual growth works the same way. We have to offer God ourselves where we are now and not expect to be ready for a spiritual body building competition next week.
In my 34 years walking with God I have seen God work in me and through me and while I still have a way to go, I still desire God's guidance change me as we walk out life and I relish that because of God, I am never alone. I love that I have a hope in something bigger than our country, political system or my career. I love church because of the body of Christ - the people with which I get to share community. I love praying with friends and walking out life together. I love seeing where I can grow and adjusting my life to allow God to do so. I love doing Christianity as one would go to a gym. Obviously, a movie theater is more fun, but a gym is essential to our physical health. Being active in our faith helps promote a better connection with God, others and ultimately, ourselves.
When we shift our focus we will see less fights about the worship songs we sing on a Sunday morning or how we would change the weekly schedule. We would focus more on loving the world and pointing them toward Jesus instead of being so focused on a church staff making us comfortable.
Its time we get out of the spiritual entertainment mode and grow some spiritual muscles!!! Believe me you will be better for it!!!!
Many Christians utilize church more like a movie theater than a gym. Yet, church is meant to be a gym NOT a movie theater.
Do a google search on the decline of church attendance over the past decade and you will see, while the statistics seem to vary a bit, all agree that church attendance is declining. There is a lot of thought on the reason for this, but I think it is because of a lack of proper focus.
1. Church is not a building. Sure, this can come down to a semantical argument and yes, we do "go to church" referring to a service in a building, but the Bible is clear - the church is Christians collectively. We are often referred to as the body of Christ because God intended for us to be different yet work together just like our physical bodies. We often get distracted by the building and forget we are the church.
2. We have become spectators. Christianity is NOT a spectator sport. It isn't a to-do list that one checks off. Going to a weekly service is not our Christian duty. There are no brownie points for extra weekly Bible studies or service projects. You don't get an award for putting more money in the offering plate than your neighbor and there are no wings to gain if you volunteer in the children's department. Of course, we do need to engage in a local church with some of the above activities but the point is where the problem can be found.
Our Christian duty is knowing Christ and making him known. (Please note: I am not referring to the guy shouting from a public square that you are going to hell). If you want to be a Christian and grow spiritually, that is found in reading your Bible, studying what you have read, spending time with others who are like-minded and spending time in prayer. Spiritual growth comes in putting the needs of other's first and seeking what God might want with your time and money. Remember the greatest commands are loving God and loving OTHERS as ourselves (Matthew 22:34-40). Christianity isn't about being perfect but instead allowing God to work in you. That doesn't happen overnight, it usually takes a good 80 plus years. Trust me! I have been a Christian for 34 years and I still have a list of ways God needs to work in my life. I am as human as anyone else.
I haven't been to the gym in awhile and when I go back I won't be benching 250 lbs. I will start where I am, which is more like 10 lb free weights. Spiritual growth works the same way. We have to offer God ourselves where we are now and not expect to be ready for a spiritual body building competition next week.
In my 34 years walking with God I have seen God work in me and through me and while I still have a way to go, I still desire God's guidance change me as we walk out life and I relish that because of God, I am never alone. I love that I have a hope in something bigger than our country, political system or my career. I love church because of the body of Christ - the people with which I get to share community. I love praying with friends and walking out life together. I love seeing where I can grow and adjusting my life to allow God to do so. I love doing Christianity as one would go to a gym. Obviously, a movie theater is more fun, but a gym is essential to our physical health. Being active in our faith helps promote a better connection with God, others and ultimately, ourselves.
When we shift our focus we will see less fights about the worship songs we sing on a Sunday morning or how we would change the weekly schedule. We would focus more on loving the world and pointing them toward Jesus instead of being so focused on a church staff making us comfortable.
Its time we get out of the spiritual entertainment mode and grow some spiritual muscles!!! Believe me you will be better for it!!!!
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