On any given night if you drive from North Hollywood to Skid row, You will pass approximately 30 churches. ( yes 30)
Most churches are closed 5 to 6 days a week. At night they are locked and boarded closed to keep the " people out".
Surprisingly enough, we have a community of homeless people who have no place to go. We have all of these vacant buildings that are supposed to be for the people, and they are closed.
Churches have become purely a business. In the bible it says that we the people are the church, and we are called to go out and make disciples. If that is the case, then most of us are failing at our job. Every sunday, hundreds of thousands of people hear the word of God from any given pastor . They then leave and operate life as if it never happened. Once I read a post that said 93 percent of "Christians" claim it as their religion, but don't actually go out and pray for or care about the needs of the people.
So, if the people are not doing their job as Christians, neither is the actual church building. Many churches are saving up for bigger buildings. Why???? What is the point of having these huge buildings filled with mediocre Christians, while homeless people are laying outside of the doors? What is the point of having a church with a basketball court, and a cafe if our communities are not changing. What is the point of the bulding that stays closed longer than it is open?
What if we stopped treating the church like a business and started treating it like the house of God.? What if we cared more about the people than the number of tithers in our church. WHAT if we cared about being the change in our community?
How awesome would it be to open the church doors to provide shelter or food, EVERY NIGHT. How awesome would it be to let homless people come trudging in on the carpets of a multi-million dollar church floor and lay there? Finally feeling like the " church" can be similar to a place like home.
Fellowship is important, building relationships are important, but at what point do we open our circles? At what point do we build relationships with people outside the walls of the church? At what point do we actually take what the Pastor is saying and use it to make a difference?
If the church is going to be the same as a mall,concert hall, or another kick it spot, it is just another business ran by man, as a way to collect finances and gain popularity.
The cities with the most churches should be the best cities.
Someone is not doing their job, and it's not God because He is always present, unike us..
Being present in our church, every sunday, and simultaneously being absent in our communities essentially serves no point.
Leaving us powerless.
