Boy! Have we got it wrong!

Posted on: Tuesday, October 26th, 2004 by Marianne Clyde

I have heard of so many people saying that people are just not turning to God.'  Could it be that we are not giving them the right directions???

We are so intent on making doctrine out of Christian bestsellers and organizing churches around the latest book, while, in increasing numbers our children as well as our peers are turning to eastern religions.'  Could it be that they are craving the quiet, the stillness, the power of a living God that they instincitvely know can only be reached through personal connection?' 

While we are busy preaching that you need a personal relationship with Jesus, we are running out to read the latest book, the latest opinion, and forming the latest type of church.'  People just want to know God, and we as the church are insisting that they do this and do that and read this and follow that program because some godly person has said that it worked for him or her!'  This is not to discredit the godly people who write the books, but to make the rest of us think for ourselves and connect with the Spirit for ourselves.

There is certainly nothing wrong with having examples and mentors and people to look up to.'  But we cannot copy their faith.'  We cannot get close to God just because we evoke some new author's name.'  We can only get close to God when we evoke the name of His one and only son and sit in the quiet of His presence and experience the flow of His Spirit.' 

Recently, as I was talking to a japnese friend, she was shocked to hear that I meditate!'  "I didn't think christians meditate," she said.'  I responded by explaining to her that that is part of the problem.'  Most christians would rather be told what to do and what to believe, that to take the time to connect on their own.'  Many of the kids that no longer attend our churches, and the japanese who are not interested in a "westernized christianity" and other nationalities that see christianity through a skewed lens, have no interest in following someone or something that has no power.'  They recongnize that'  the kind of power that only serves as a facade is no power at all.'  Putting the spirit on a copy machine doesnt work, any more than copying a dollar bill has any trading value.' 

I hear of students and others being condemned in religious articles because their faith is to "earthy" or too close to real life.'  Mixing with gays, hanging out in tatoo parlors and bars.'  Jesus' faith was "earthy".'  I dont know if he hung around tatoo parlors, but he certainly hung with the sinners.'  It's not "church" that sets us apart as believers, but the Spirit.'  The spirit is tangible and real and powerful, and unfortunately is not welcome in many churches.'  Jesus said, "Go to the highways and by ways and compel them to come in."'  How can we go if we are afraid they will stain us or contaminate us or teach us wrong doctrine.'  The spirit, once we are truly connected can teach us and strengthen us and well as set us apart as a beacon that will call many home to the One who truly loves them and died for them.'  The light is not afraid of the darkness.'  It dispels darkness.'  But to dispel darkness, sometimes it has to find the dark places where people are hiding and searching for truth.'  We must let the Spirit in us be the light to help them find their way.

Many Christians are too afraid of what it looks like to get too close to the traditions of other countries and therefore have no way of really connecting with the people.'  We are insisting that they do it one way and that way is not working for us--why should it work for them?'  In the mean time, our kids and those who are really hungry are turning to find something real.'  Connecting with the Spirit of God is real!'  We need to remind them that it's really about a relationship with Jesus, and the only way to really know and experience someone in a relationship is to spend alone time with that person where they are,' and LISTEN to them....If you listen long enough He will speak.'  He has been waiting for someone to listen.'  The object and focus of our meditation is what brings power and connection.'  Let's teach them to focus, really focus, on Jesus and His Spirit.

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Articles by Marianne Clyde

Title	Published
How to recognize an eating disorder	02-08-11
Madoff's suicide: The ultimate out?	12-13-10
Uganda....what are you thinking?!	12-11-09
Family time...gasp!	11-22-09
Politics of Fear	09-23-09
The treasures of darkness	08-31-09
East meets west	08-30-09
Lasting Change in Sri Lanka?	06-06-09
Culture Awakening in Malawi	05-13-09
Miss Beautiful Morals	05-07-09
Eye of the Storm	04-05-09
Ripples	03-19-09
Everyone is watching	11-18-08
So...Cindy Sheehan wants to quit....	05-30-07
Real Life Victims of Blood Diamonds	02-01-07
Bringing Hope to Malawi	03-23-06
Boy! Have we got it wrong!	10-26-04
If you think you are neutral, think again...	10-02-03

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