Which church is best?

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NIV)

I had such a great time last night with my CMA family. We had a Pizza Party/game night to help us occupy our lives while we await the spring thaw. It is so amazing to me how each of our chapter members are so different. I praise God that he has blessed us all in very unique ways. Our job, our families, our churches, are all different. Yet, we are one when it comes to our love of Jesus.

Churches are the same way. I have learned not to be critical of churches. I know God puts churches in different places because people are in different places. A church that preaches more of "the loving of God" vs "a rathful God" is MEANT to preach that message. A church that is "entertaining" is MEANT to entertain. We are so quick to judge a church that doesn't worship like we do, or doesn't preach the same way. God is working through all situations. He is working through all denominations. He is working on our hearts with all types of pastors, churches, and sermons. Yes, he wants the truth being taught. Yes, the messages better be biblical. I've never been to a church that hasn't taught from the bible. He uses contemporary worship and traditional worship, great worship music and no music. I have "church shopped". I was a Methodist for years. I dedicated my life to Jesus as a Methodist. Yet, now my faith has taken me to a church which has a slightly different view than the modern Methodist church. I don't agree with much the Methodist Church stands for. It doesn't mean I hate them. Every Christian church has a place in the kingdom and development of our faith. I am thankful for my Christian heritage, the churches, and the pastors that helped my faith grow.

We / I need to find a church that meets our/my needs. God will put us in the right spot so we may flourish. Praise the Lord he has all this "stuff" figured out. He wants us to be with him, he doesn't care how that is done. Praise God! Praise God!

The Church under siege!

Psalm 74 (New International Version, ©2011)

³ Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins,
   all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.
 ⁴ Your foes roared in the place where you met with us;
   they set up their standards as signs. ⁵ They behaved like men wielding axes
   to cut through a thicket of trees. ⁶ They smashed all the carved paneling
   with their axes and hatchets. ⁷ They burned your sanctuary to the ground;
   they defiled the dwelling place of your Name. ⁸ They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely!”
   They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land.

The Church is under siege . Just like marriage between a Man and a Woman (what other kind of marriage is there?), it is a real battle. The Bride known as the Church is also under attack. The attack grows stronger every year. The Liberal media, secularism, and down right apathy are all forces behind the reduction of the importance of the church in America. If we look in Europe, the attack has been going on for years and it almost seems hopeless. Here are a few statistics:

American church statistics have reported [via Goodmanson]:

• In America, 3500 – 4000 churches close their doors each year
• Half of all churches last year did not add one new member through conversion growth
• Churches lose an estimated 2,765,000 people each year to nominalism and secularism

The 3,500-4,000 U.S. churches annual closure count is also cited by Ed Stetzer in “Planting New Churches in a Postmodern Age.”

Excerpted from The Condition of the Church in America, complied by Andy McAdams [via #mmi, 2005]:

• 1,400 pastors in America leave the ministry monthly.
• Only 15% of churches in the United States are growing and just 2.2% of those are growing by conversion growth.
• 10,000 churches in America disappeared in a five-year period.

Would it make a difference in your life if your church closed? It sure would for me.

My wife and I have made a strong commitment to the ministry of the Christian Motorcyclist Association,CMA. Because of this we have not attend our church regularly recently. We have made church visits with CMA and attended CMA training events. Over the next several months, we will attend many different churches and organize our own services. I'm not complaining. I feel led to this ministry. But, I love the music, I love the preaching and teaching, I love the fellowship, and I love the worship that takes place at my church. It affects my life by encouraging me, by challenging me, by convicting me, and by supporting me. I need my church.

I can not imagine life without County Line Church of God. I also can't imagine why people don't find a church they feel the same. It pains me to think of America without the strong presence of the Church. The church has been critical in the development of this country and it is the moral compass of our society. It is the driving force behind our bill of rights and the constitution we defend. The Church is the primary force in winning people to Christ and securing eternal life through faith in Christ. We need the Church. 

Dear Lord, Bless the Church. Grant wisdom to church leaders and members to reach those who don't know you. Give us the strength to fulfill your Great Commission. We know that we may falter and we will fail on our own. But, with you we will have victory. Amen!