Worldly Religion?

In most religious movements, religious and spiritual practices are activities that are done apart from the culture. The church has become a culture of its own with its own language, music, dress code, and lifestyle. In most cases it has created a chasm between “us” (Christians) and “them” (non-Christians) and failed to connect with and engage the culture in a way that brings people to following Jesus.

What’s the church to do? Tear down the walls? Build a bridge? Risk getting dirty?

What did Jesus do? He left the comfort of his home . . . his “culture” (heaven) and entered another culture (earth) and became just like the earthlings. No . . . he wasn’t “just like” us, he became one of us. Born like us, ate like us, sweat like us, slept like us and died a physical death like us. And why did he do it? He did it to save us.

So if the church is to follow the example of Christ should we, too, not leave our own culture and enter another? (It’s sad to have to suggest this . . . but it’s true, the church has created a sub-culture of its own. Those on the outside have a hard time understanding it.) Should we not leave our culture and enter theirs and learn the language and become “like them” in the same sense that Jesus became like us?

Look at the cultural context of your community . . . what would it take for you to become “like them” in an effort to reach them? Jesus left his home and mingled with sinners yet never compromised his integrity, values, or “biblical position.” Can we not do the same?


Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy . . . Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp . . . Praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute (Ps 33:2-3; 149:3; 150:4).

“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” (Ps 24:1)

A “Worldly” Church?

It’s funny how people separate “Christian” and “secular.” In the previous church my wife and I led, a gentleman left the church because we offered dance instruction in our performing arts program. “I won’t be a part of a church that has anything to do with dancing!” he said. And he left.

The truth of the matter is that dancing belongs to God. If anything belongs to Satan it’s only because he stole it or tricked someone into thinking it’s his. I laugh when people suggest that Christians are “copying” secular forms of art. Who are they kidding? Those art forms belong to God and should be given back to Him as an expression of worship and thanksgiving.

So who says you can’t rock-n-roll in church . . . or rap . . . or dance . . . for the glory of God?

Some have suggested that the church is becoming too “worldly” and watered-down. The problem is that they generally make those assumptions based on what they see people wear, what music they enjoy and how much technology they incorporate into the worship gatherings rather than genuinely looking at people’s relationship with Christ and how they live it out.

I believe that the church needs to look like the world. (Wow! A church like that might even be normal!) In doing so, I believe we would help the world see God. We would make the secular sacred. No separation between “secular” and “sacred” . . . it’s all sacred . . . we give it to Him for His glory and honor.

Any thoughts?

How do you define "The Salvation Army?"

Go ahead. Really think about. A church, a mission, a movement? Give me your best definition. Expound on it a bit if you can. To say that The Salvation Army is a “church” or a “mission” is too vague.

I ask this question because I believe we are in need of a definition, maybe even a new definition. Every program and organization has what is called a “life cycle.” It begins with Startup (or Birth) followed by Growth. Growth is sometimes divided into an early growth phase (fast growth) and a maturity phase (slow growth or no growth). However, maturity often leads to Decline. When in decline, an organization will either undergo Renewal or it will suffer Death and bankruptcy.

So . . . give it your best shot. How do you define “The Salvation Army?”

Oh, How I Love Timbrels

For anyone who loves timbrels!

Someone sent this to me some time ago. I forgot about it ‘till I stumbled across it the other day . . . thought I would share it with you.