“More people have been brought into the church by the kindness of real Christian love than by all the theological arguments in the world. And more people have been driven from the church by the hardness and ugliness of so-called Christians than by all the doubts in the world.” William Barclay.
William Barclay died in 1978. This man had a deep understanding of the Bible and wrote commentaries on the New Testament that are still highly regarded today. This man who had such knowledge was able to see the hardness and ugliness of church members. It is sad that this hardness and ugliness still exists in many churches today. This quote has had such a profound effect on me. I have read and loved William Barclay’s commentaries for many years and hold him in high regard when it comes to his understanding of God. To know that he could see the things that churches were doing and continue to do wrong is staggering. It also makes me feel sad. I have seen so many people who lived their lives in churches and lived into old age never knowing God personally. As with the story of the man meeting the evangelist (part 2 of this series) so many people live their lives in churches never getting the chance to know God. I can understand God’s urgency in the messages he is sending to so many people, including me: that Christians need to concentrate on their personal relationship with God. We live in a time when so many people are seeking the answer to the hollowness they feel inside and looking for it in other religions and fads. They look anywhere but to the solution, Christianity. When I talk to these people, the response is that Christians are harsh, judgemental, exclusive (not inclusive) and don’t welcome outsiders into their hallowed buildings. How God must sorrow at the bad image so many churches and their members are sending to those in the world who are so lost. It is terribly sad, such a tragedy and something that those Christians will have to answer for.
The story related in Luke 17:11-19 is a sad example of the ungrateful ‘faithful’ and the acknowledging outsider. In this passage, then men are healed of leprosy yet only one, a Samaritan, returns to thank Jesus for healing him. Why was it only a foreigner who thought to thank Jesus? Who had the greater faith? The virtuous chosen ones who attended their worship services regularly and looked complacent and pious or the dirty foreigner who never crossed the threshold of a worship service yet thought to say thank you?
Luke 18:9-14 is the story of the Pharisee and Tax Collector praying in the temple. Jesus highlights the difference between the arrogant Pharisee who looks down on the ‘sinner’ and praises himself with the behaviour of the humble Tax Collector who acknowledges his sinfulness, yet goes home justified before God. A Jesus said “all who exalt themselves will be humbled and all who humble themselves will be exalted” v14. Beware the trap of church membership and pride that causes you to act more like a Pharisee than a tax collector. Do not consider yourself better than the unchurched, because you aren’t.
I will leave you with two thoughts to consider:
Luke 22:40b when Jesus admonishes the disciples in Gethsemane “Pray that you will not fall into temptation”. Do you do this?
And Matthew 28:19-20a which is Jesus’ last instruction to his disciples before ascending to heaven. “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them everything I have commanded you”. Do you follow Jesus’ instruction or do you make the Great Commission the Great Ommission?
In the next blog I will be commencing my examination of the book of Acts.

I receive this devotional every day and really wanted to share something from today's devotional. This comes from www.thewordfortoday.com.au and is dated 8 November 2010.

The devotional is titled Show Kindness. I find the entire devotional to be so inspirational but I have emphasised the passage by William Barclay because I have found it to be very true and think it is the key message of the devotional with every thing else being what we have to do about it!.

'Be kindly affectionate to one another...' Romans 12:10 NKJV

Sometimes we defend our lack of love, kindness, gentleness, patience, and all those other 'fruits of the spirit' in the name of productivity and hard work. But we can't square it with Christ's teachings. He said, '...whatever you want [others] to do to you, do also to them...' (Matthew 7:12 NKJV) When was the last time you went out of your way to help somebody, expecting nothing in return? Mother Teresa said, 'A day lived without doing something good for others is a day not worth living.' Loving people must be a way of life, a fixed attitude, a commitment we make every day. William Barclay said: 'More people have been brought into the church by the kindness of real Christian love than by all the theological arguments in the world. And more people have been driven from the church by the hardness and ugliness of so-called Christians than by all the doubts in the world.'
Have you ever stopped to think that all those little irritations which come your way each day, are just God giving you an opportunity to become more Christ-like? Years ago Chuck Swindoll wrote: 'What does the Lord do to help broaden my horizons and assist me in seeing how selfish I am? Very simple: He gives me four busy kids who step on toes, wrinkle clothes, spill milk, lick car windows and drop sticky candy on the carpet...being unselfish in attitude strikes at the very core of our being. It means we are willing to forego our own comfort, our own preferences, our own schedule, our own desires for another's benefit. And that brings us back to Christ.'

SoulFood: 1 Chron 12:23-15:29, John 9:1-12, Ps 15, Pr 25:21-22

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After a pause to recap last blog, I am continuing with the question about church membership. It is clear that through this blog, God is reminding us that our first priority as a Christian is to seek the Kingdom of God and our relationship with Him. The question of church membership will be addressed once I have completed my examination of the Bible. The foundational question in all this is "Can we worship God as He requires and be members of churches, or have churches ceased to be the ideal Jesus described in the gospels? I believe this is a call for us to be discerning in our church membership and, if you are in a church, to frequently examine whether this church is allowing you to grow in your relationship with God or if it is intruding into that relationship. A pastor once told me we should regularly review the church activities we are involved in. He also believed this applied to the whole church. So many churches carry on activities year after year because they have always done them. They don't review the effectiveness of the activities, making changes where necessary or making that decision to terminate a now unhelpful activity.

On with the examination. I look first at Luke 12: 35-48. Two verses are important to me. v35 admonishes us to be ready, and v48b reminds us that everyone who has been given much will have much demanded of them. So much of what Jesus expects of his disciples is summarised here. He expects us to be ready and to do his will because He says so (Luke 5:5). We will be judged on our use of what He gives us.
Luke 14:12-14 is for those who enjoy the comfort zone of church complacency without feelilng the need to welcome others. Jesus admonishes his host to not invite his friends and family to his banquet because they will return the favour. Instead He admonishes him to invite the poor, disabled and outcast who can never return the favour. “Your reward is in heaven”. I made notes about reaching out to people because they needed help yet I have rarely had Christians do that for me, and I constantly meet people who share my experience. My non Christian friends have taught me about hospitality, forgiveness and love by demonstrating them. My Christian acquaintances have demonstrated backbiting, unfriendliness, judgemental and harsh behaviour.
I am sure there would be many Church attending Christians who are offended by what I am saying. If they are people who, like me, offer hospitality, forgivenss and love I would love to meet you. When I read Luke 14:15-24 I spent time meditating on the message of the people who were too busy with life to attend the great banquet. I read them as being stalwarts of the faith in Jesus’ day. I asked God to search me and reveal any hint of this behaviour in me. I challenge you to do the same. This is one of those searches we need to do periodically to ensure we do not fall into bad habits and miss out on being invited to the great banquet.
I end today’s blog with another challenge. Luke 14:25-35 is the passage that covers taking up our cross and following Jesus as prerequisite to being a disciple. Jesus warns us not to lose our saltiness. This doesn't just refer to faithfulness to God's commands, it also challenges us to maintain the fire and passion of our first love for God. The care of this world and the joys of belonging to a church community can blind us to complacency and slippage. That is why is it so important we spend time with God examining our attitudes and our priorities so that we do not fall into complacent inertia and lose our saltiness.
I leave you with the final verse of this reading: “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

Next entry will cover Luke 17:11-19, Luke 18:1-14, Luke 22:40 and Matthew 28:19-20.

I am running late with this mid week blog. It has been a challenging day with a major spiritual attack that has required reflection and recovery time. It is always sad when fellow Christians allow satan to use them to get at another Christian. However, this has proved opportune, because I was planning to pause in the study and reflect on what I have been speaking about. This event feeds right into that.

I am studying a sociology subject at the moment. It has involved reviewing the classical sociologists Durkheim, Marx, Weber and Simmel. It has been interesting to learn that some of the sociologists devised theories then found the evidence to support them. When they found evidence that disproved their theory they ignored it. Sadly, many Christians, particularly those who are more allied to their church and its doctrine than to God, behave like that. They find the passages in the Bible that match what they believe and ignore the passages that suggest an alternative.

When I set out to ponder the question of church membership, I cleared my mind of my opinions and set out to open mindedly seek the evidence. I sought my heavenly father's advice and read the Bible under His direction. He identified passages for me to consider and I have covered them and will continue to cover them in my blog. I feel sad that many Christians don't do that.

I am also intrigued at the way many church belonging Christians correct me when I pray to God "Father" rather than Jesus. Since I was a little girl, I have had a relationship with and understanding of my heavenly father. It was God who spoke to me when I became a Christian at the age of 15. The Bible says Jesus sits at God's right hand and intercedes for us. (Romans 8:34) so what is wrong with praying to God? So if you find it odd that I refer to God, instead of Jesus, that is my explanation.

In writing this series on church membership, I have touched on a number of Bible passages that could make one or more blog entries. Maybe some other time I will do that with them, but for the time being I move at God's pace. My intention is that you will read the entry and study the Bible verses yourself. You will gain far more meaning if you read the passages and ponder them in God's presence than if I place my interpretation on them (even if it is God led).

I have spoken of Peter obeying Jesus "because you told us to" and of our need to obey God because he tells us.Luke 5:5.

I have spoken of how as Christians we are required to love even the unlovely.Luke 6:32-33.

I have challenged you to consider the command to give generously (which means not just financial giving) and to consider by what measure you will receive. Luke 6:38.

I have also related the story of the woman who bathed and anointed Jesus feet while the established churchgoers did nothing for Him and looked down on the woman. Luke 7:44b-47.

I reminded you of the duty Christians have to mentor the youth and guide them to finding the answers to their questions.

In Luke 10:20 I highlighted our need to rejoice because our names are written in heaven, thus reminding us all of the need to get out priorities right with God.

I relayed the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 which started by reminding us that our number one priority is to love God.

Finally I looked at the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-41, in which Jesus reminds Martha that Mary's priority of putting worship of Him first was the correct one.

In these few blogs God has told us to obey Him because he asks, to love even those who don't deserve our love and to give generously. God has also told us to rejoice because our names are written in heaven and to love God as our top priority which means worshipping at Jesus feet is more important than doing the church housework.

May God bless your richly as you meditate on these verses.