Spineless?

Invertebrate: an animal lacking a backbone, such as an arthropod, mollusk, annelid, coelenterate, .. and some forms of Christians. ​

But first a bunny trail> 
With all things  COVID-19 related it is easy for everyone including Christians to hyperfocus on this very real health risk.  So hyperfocused that we almost forget to breath.  Almost.

But the world does not truly go on hold.  Life  is still lived and as Christians we should not lose focus on Jesus and living out His truth.  The evening  news does not give you truth.. it gives you what will get you to watch their 'shows'.  Cynical much? you ask. No, I think of it as  being realistic.

So no matter, we all of course need to be careful, stay healthy but this is NOT the Black Plague. Stay informed, but don't swallow the bait cast out every night at 6pm at your favorite news fishing spot.
<End of bunny trail

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Now put down your Purell for  a  moment and  let's talk about the Church.  Not the buildings where we all gather in,  but  those good folk  called  to be the body of Christ.

A strong body will have bones, muscles, a heart pumping, brain thinking, lungs breathing, and we have eyes, ears, nose to enhance our senses to the world around us.  This is why the body analogy works well in describing the Church and how  it should function. All parts of the body are different but important.

So here is my concern of the day.. the church appears to suffer at times from a hardened and/or weak heart.. and our brain perplexed while attempting to blend God's truth into a 'very' secular world view (a true square peg in a round hole dilemma). Of course we should instead share how this very secular world needs to align with God's Truth. 

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AND.. then my cartoon mind smriks.. Maybe the Church is an invertebrate?  Spineless, unable to stand up in this sinful world.

At the very least the church appears to be slouching.. and maybe the slouching is because it has no spine.

Spineless Christianity?  I am 62 years old guy with chronic back issues. Images of my spine a few years back indicated I have several bulging discs, spinal stenosis, and arthritis that give me at times considerable pain. So The Bad News is.. I have pain. The Good News is..  I have a spine!

​But I have grown fond of my spine.. not sure I could live without it.  LITERALLY.

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So goes the same when we talk about the Church Body. The Church must have a spine (stand unflinching with God's Truth with no apology) or I believe will die.  

Jesus said, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. .. John 15:18-19   

​AND THEY DID hate Jesus for sharing God's unflinching loving truth.  Not in rude manner we 'Christians' sometimes are known for, but the kind of love/truth where Jesus spoke more about Hell then He did Heaven.  It matters eternally what we believe, what we say, or DON'T say.

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But, we the Church worry, dare I say is afraid.

People won't like me and/or laugh at me.  They will label me just another judgmental hypocritical bigot. I'm cool, really.. but ..

• Who am I to tell others the wages of sin is death (Ro 6:23)? 
• Who am I to share wide is the road that leads to destruction (Mt 7:13)?
• Who am I to share there is only one way to Heaven (Jo 14:6)? 
• Who am I to say what a woman can do with her own body (abortion),,
• that love is love (gay marriage) is not truth. In fact it is sin. (1 Tim 1:10)? 
• Who am I to tell someone what gender they are or how many genders they are, or that if they are 'gender fluid'.. guy today, girl tomorrow, or who knows what tomorrow? 
• Who am I to say divorce is not a part of God's plan and that it is too too convenient (we just grew apart? really?)
• Who am I to say PORN is a dark evil and not harmless 'naughty' fun.. but instead warps true sexuality, damaging both the body and soul, and warps intimacy in marriage... and fuels sex trafficking.
• Who am I to say sex outside marriage is wrong,
• Who am I to say not all religions are the same?

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Hmmm.. let summarize my concern with these attitudes.. Any Church (or person) without Biblical convictions.. that does not follow Christ teachings,  listen to the Holy Spirit cannot truly worship/obey God and.. is maybe not really a Christian.  And certainly appears to be a 'Christian Invertebrate'

To exist in a luke-warm compromised Oprah Winfrey morning blend of religions that serves self with at best a wink and a thumbs up gesture towards Heaven will not get you to Heaven, and certainly not lead others to God.

So what better time than now to grow a SPINE. In the midst of the pandemic panics, partisan politics, border & homeless crisis, racial tensions, failing marriages, and LGBTQ confusion we (The Church) best grow a spine. I MEAN NOW.

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It has been a long time since I was a student in Biology class but I am pretty sure our physical bodies cannot grow a spine.  And I can't go to a body junk yard and pick up a spine that is used but in pretty good condition (no arthritics, or bulging discs) to replace my aching back.

​But in contrast I believe any church body with a repentant heart desiring revival, and obedient to God's unchanging Truths (His Word) can be restored by God for His glory. 

​A Church Body with a Heart/love for God & others, with hands and feet serving God and others, and our minds renewed (Ro 12:2) and obedient to God's unchanging truths .. God will bless us as we stand tall and straight for God in this crooked world.  

And just like that.  Viola' - The Church has a spine again.

May God bless you and the Church to be seeking Him. May He find us faithful, standing straight for His truth in this twisted secular world. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Mt 5:16

Blessings

Jeff (aching back) Larson
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