Did you know that there are approximately 300,000 Christian Churches/Congregations in America today. There are, conversely, only about 12,000 non Christian congregations in America today. Overwhelmingly, in this nation, the Christians out number all others. Yet, for most of us we realize that something is not right. With the dominance of Christian churches in our country why don't we look more like Christians? Why is our behavior not radically different and seen as such to the larger world? Why are our communities suffering so these days? Why are marriages broken, relationships in disrepair and hope all but gone?
I think our problem, or the key problem, is this: we have lost our love for Jesus. Oh sure, we might show up at church every now and then and we may even like most of what goes on while we are there, but I fear with have actually replaced Christ with those things that we like and have failed to really get Him and how awesome a 'life in love with Christ' can truly be.
In the Gospel of Luke Jesus calls it 'loving God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and loving your neighbor as yourself.' You don't just regain your love for Christ over night. And, really, it is not something you can simply say that you are going to do. Nope, this type of love must be pursued - that's right - you have to decide to pursue Jesus above all else and others. This pursuit, however, is unique - it is one of prayer and crying out to God for help, for hope! It is not doing things better, saying things better, making sure that you look better - it is none of those things. It is taking a humble and broken position before Christ and asking him, no begging him, to forgive your lack of love and to restore to you that fire you once had for him - that love that once marked all you were and everything you did.
I want you to know that your pastoral staff is praying and fasting weekly for revival to take hold at Westside and for God's Spirit to renew, restore and revive us. We believe that God alone is the answer for life's struggles and that we have far too often tried to fix ourselves rather than crying out to Christ and being fully in love with Him. There are others praying as well - not many - but there is a dedicated and committed few that God is massing to call out to Him. I believe the future is about to be rewritten by the finger print of God in unbelievable ways and I am just glad to be able to say that I was a part of something God was doing and I hope to be able to say that I was one who followed Him, who loved Him totally and completely, no matter what!
You know, if revival - real revival, takes root there will not be a need for 300,000 churches - really just one and that is, after all, the way it should be!
Loving Christ, Loving Others!
Biz
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