What would Jesus think?

What do you think Jesus would say if He attended a church service and witnessed the declining attitudes towards God? Mobile phones being taken out during service and calls being taken is a common occurrence and an example of declining attitudes.

Source: PInterest

A book called ‘The Visit’ written by Adrian Plass, encourages the reader to ask the question in all situations ‘What would Jesus Do’? In summary the book is about Jesus Himself arriving in the flesh to attend a service at a local church and the author asks the reader this question ‘would your church be ready’? The answers to these questions can be no more than a guess however the messages that emerge from the pages of the book are very powerful. At times, it was almost embarrassing to read because in the story there are many different characters and the idea is that the reader will relate to one of those characters. I could see myself as the ‘organiser’, not the best character in the book. The ‘organiser’ is a bit religious and set in their ways, however this unveiling encouraged me to seek God in prayer. Reading this book coupled with a recent study at MCF Life Church on the seven churches (Revelation 2 and 3), led me to ask God for His guidance and direction for our fellowship to ensure that everything we did would bring Glory to God’s Holy name always.

During my time of prayer God led me to look at the church in the wider context and even though there is amazing work being accomplished in many churches there is still some areas of concern. Outside of the regenerated ‘born again’ Spirit there can be confusion where people of the world sometimes feel a ‘lack of love’ within the Christian Churches. I have witnessed on rare occasions seats not been given up because some attendees at the service have wanted a chair to keep their possessions on. Even though this behaviour does not happen often, I pray that it never happens at all.

A further question I asked is what would Jesus think if He attended a church service and witnessed the declining attitudes towards God? Mobile phones being taken out during service and calls being taken is a common occurrence and an example of declining attitudes. Mobile phones are being put before reverence to God Almighty the Creator of all the universe! There was a time when God was feared and worshipped and loved with a sincere heart of honour; Proverb 1:7 ‘The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction’.

Source: Britton Christian Church

What do you think Jesus would say to a Church bearing his name with a large food bank refusing to feed a hungry family with young children because the family had the wrong postcode? When Jesus fed the five thousand He never asked for postcodes!  God’s Holy Word teaches us that everyone has a right to eat and drink in the name of the Lord. This also led me to ask in prayer what Jesus would think of churches charging an admission fee to get into a service? This financial cost may exclude the widows, the orphans, the poor, the needy, the disabled, the marginalised and all those that God loves and that Jesus Christ come on earth to save. (Read; Luke 14:13-14, James 1:27, Deuteronomy 10:18 and Psalm 68:5). Jesus Christ is our number one role model and He never charged for any of His teachings, Jesus welcomed everyone.

Another area of concern is the confusion around all the different denominations within the Christian Church and the ongoing disagreements between them. This can be especially confusing to those who are seeking a relationship with God. My prayer is that as a child of God my response to any questions around the different denominations will be clear and the answer will always be; ‘I love the triune God with all my heart, and when the living reality of the presence of the Holy Ghost sent by Jesus Christ comes upon me and within me I see no denominations but only the true believing soul to be the bride for His Beloved Son Jesus Christ’ Amen. The scripture that comes to mind is Acts 19:2 ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed ……….’.

In conclusion, let us be sure of one thing; Jesus Christ is coming back for one spotless Bride. Our earthly life is to prepare to be at the wedding feast as the Bride of our beloved Jesus Christ, our eyes fixed on the cross and our lamps overflowing with oil; Revelation 19:7 ‘Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready’. Our Prayer is that our life will be an accurate reflection of Jesus to others. Father, help us to die to ourselves (2 Corinthians 4:12 and Philippians 3:8-14). Holy Spirit help us to Glorify God in everything. We pray that our church has Jesus at the very centre of everything and we pray that everyone feels the overflowing love of God in their lives. Amen

‘Here we are Lord’, use us to bear fruit for your Kingdom on earth and to change the world. God have Mercy on us when we get things wrong, we know we are all a work in progress, as is your beloved church.

May God, bless you all in Jesus Christ’s name and through the Holy Spirit Amen.

Also, why not join us in reading three chapters of the bible a day? The chapters are posted on our website every day so that you can keep track of where we are in God’s amazing Word. (MCF Website link)

Author:Christina O’Neill

May God bless and enrich your life

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