Shacking Up and Marrying for change!

Yesterday's post inspired me to share this today because I am feeling kind of froggy, so buckle up! There are two mindsets that seem to be rather prevalent in churches today that I want to simply expose this morning because to be honest... they are getting on my flipping NERVES!! But, if there is one thing that I know, it is that often times it is our ignorance or obliviousness to a behavior that allows us to continue to perpetuate said behavior. So let's deal with it!

1. The first mindset in the church that really gets my goat is this "Shack Up - Christianity" we have got going on. For those of you who are thinking WHAT? Let me explain - SUC is the belief that I can breeze in to a church get my needs met and maybe even settle in for a little bit without ever actually making a commitment. It is the equivalent of a live in boyfriend who gets all the benefits of being married with the added benefit of being able to walk away at any old time no strings attached. (BTW - Yes that is wrong as well) Anyway, I explained to someone this way once and while it shocked their brains out of their head they got the point and replied "You Should Use that Pastor" So I will - we have TOO MANY people in the church that are treating church just like their last throw away relationship - They are having "Sex" with the church until they are bored and unsatisfied and then they move on to the next one without ever putting on a ring!! The modern church is thriving where people make a commitment to stand alongside of a church and it's leadership instead of moving on every time they feel as though their needs aren't being met. And yes I did say THE CHURCH IS THRIVING in those cases where people make that commitment but we must educate people on that commitment and call them to do so.
   
   
2. This is gettin' lengthy so I am gonna be brief here - "I'll Marry Him AND Change Him" How many times have I heard or seen this from young women who swear they can do this to a man. Ladies if he NEEDS that much changing for you to be happy with him then he IS NOT the man for you. And the same holds true for the church. If you do make a commitment to a local body please don't do it with the mindset that you are going to "change" it. Can you offer something to make it better - OF COURSE. Do you want to see it grow -DEFINITELY. But if your commitment if born out of a belief that that church needs changing so you'll join to see if you can make your way through the ranks and then "FIX IT" then stop now - turn around - read yesterday's post and find somewhere that you can support the leadership!

~PN