interesting quote about the church from…

Here is an excerpt from a well written letter from a source that might surprise you. Read it and then find out who this is at the end of the blog. The entire letter can be read at:

http://coursesa.matrix.msu.edu/~hst306/documents/letter.html

Addressed to “My Dear Fellow Clergymen:”

“…There was a time when the church was very powerful–in the time when
the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what
they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that
recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat
that transformed the mores of society. Whenever the early Christians
entered a town, the people in power became disturbed and immediately sought
to convict the Christians for being “disturbers of the peace” and “outside
agitators.”‘ But the Christians pressed on, in the conviction that they
were “a colony of heaven,” called to obey God rather than man. Small in
number, they were big in commitment. They were too God-intoxicated to be
“astronomically intimidated.” By their effort and example they brought an
end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contests. Things
are different now. So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual
voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an archdefender of the status
quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power
structure of the average community is consoled by the church’s silent–and
often even vocal–sanction of things as they are….” – This is an excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr’s letter from a Birmingham jail…written April 16, 1963.

Whether you like MLK or not, I think this excerpt from his letter could be applied to many issues today. Where is the church? Why do we allow the status quo without speaking out against what is wrong? Who are we trying to please: God or man? (Gal. 1:10). And more questions could be asked.

My thoughts are that following Jesus leads to an unwavering devotion to God to do what He has called you to do. It will look crazy to the world (I Cor. 1:18) and maybe even to church-going Christians but it is the only logical response to the words of Christ. How committed are you?

-Mark (thinking critically about the American church, of which I am a part)

June theme: Critical Thinking about American Church

In June, I want to challenge us to think about our churches in America versus the church we read about in the book of Acts. Where are they similar and where do they differ?

I couldn’t think of a fancy theme or anything that rhymes with June so this month is simply about the American church.

I love the local church and Jesus’ church will prevail over the gates of hell (Matt. 16:18). There is no stopping the body of Christ! So, let’s be sure that when we think critically to evaluate our American churches in June that we are NOT talking about the true body of Christ which is an unstoppable force!

-Mark (loving the local church and wanting to be honest about who we are and where we need to go)