Organic Living

From observation, institutional churches when there is lack of a certain type of ministry to meet a certain type of person's need, they decide that there needs to be a new program to "reach out" to that demographic.

People, a program, a meeting, another night of the week is not the answer, it never has in the past and it never will in the future. We wear people out with our programs and functions. And it is the same people that end up coming to all the programs? The same group of people that come to every other "ministry" of the church. My question is this: Are we really meeting needs and developing relationships between ourselves and others and God by doing all this? Or are we just creating another service for people to attend?

The "church" philosophy has become - "get them inside the four walls of the church and God will minister to them." You know what - that's not how God designed it. In the early church we see Jesus sending the disciples out to minister to others. He didn't say "build a big ginormous really tricked out building, invite them to come to a special function and they shall be saved." He commissions us to reach out to others. Denominations have developed this "convenience store" attitude. They can drive in and pick up whatever kind of "ministry" they need. Then they drive home with not much to show for it. Just think about it - there's children's church, youth group, young adults ministry, Sunday school, ladies meetings, men's ministries, singles groups, etc, etc.

What people need is not another ministry or another opportunity to go to a building. Their hearts' desire is for relationship. Relationships are not built by sitting in services, shaking hands across the isle, smiling at the person next to you or gathering around the alter after the sermon as good as these things may be. We have to start being intentional in our relationships. We have make time for people if you are a part Relational Christianity. So if we feel like we are not connected to anyone in our congregation, we need to take it upon ourselves to build the types of relationships that will help sustain our walk with God.

When we were kids, we just walked up to another kid and said, "hey, do you want to be my friend?" And that still works most of the time. Oh, you're still going to have the people that will look at you funny and walk away. Far more often you'll find that the person you are reaching out to is reaching right back. We are relational beings. Father created us to be that way. That means that just sitting next to someone in a "service" is not going to satisfy our need for spiritual relationship.

God will give us a living, organic way to minister to those around us if we will avail ourselves of it. Let's be purposeful in our relationships with others and our relationship with God. Quit depending on a "service" to fix what ails you. God is much more personal than that. Congregational settings can be wonderful, but they cannot meet all needs. Sometimes, they aren't the answer at all.

I crave something real and sincere in this day and age of special effects, lies and debauchery. A living thing, an organic being is not birthed from something unliving - inorganic, if you will. When will we wake up and realize that simply offering another time for people to be at church is not the answer? When will we instead, get into people's lives, build relationships with other Jesus-lovers for the purpose of taking this journey together?

Regardless of where God sends you - in or out of a congregational setting - love your Father and serve Him unconditionally.

Be a friend of God, be a friend of people and join in the relational journey that He desires?