Crushed By Church "Growth" - MegaChurch Fallout
During the past two decades there has been a rise or even one could more properly say a race of local churches toward the prize of being a MEGA CHURCH. I have been a member of several different churches on the road to reconstruction, so I have an inside view, but also an outside view.
The thinkers,
the sensitive types,
the inquirers,
the stubborn,
the hurting,
the Bible student,
the non-conformist,
the unique,
the odd..... and so the list goes on... these troublesome types of members get sweep aside, told to run along or merely be crushed out of the way. And for the MEGA CHURCH, it is the cost of growth. It is a cost that was counted as worthy to endure for the cause.
They are not needed, wanted or able to keep up with the transformation of what they once were a member of
into
The individuals
plundered for the pride of life, the sin of wanting to be known, to leave a lasting mark on time, to be part of something great... of course all for God... that rubber stamp of kingdom work that approves projects over people.
Oh, don't worry there is a place made for the less becoming folk, a special group for special people that don't fit the look or mold.
And kindly they are given there own day of the week, even a meal is served up to attract them to their proper time and place, the day given to the "hurting church" but they must sign up to the program and follow the "recovery plan."
If they follow along like good little sheep, they may stay under the big top, but if they stray or can not conform, they will be kindly (or not so kindly) swept away.
Deceivers --
Liars to themselves, others and God-- pretending to care about ministry when they look to earthly glory and praise.
Accolades they will have heaped on them, but at what cost?
And where is the cross, the suffering, the sacrifice that is a must... a part of every Christians life.
The celebration of accomplishments are proclaimed but they so willingly forget their past. They deny the humble beginnings of the church and gloss it over to make it look like a rapid growing clean slate, because worldly progress in size is all that can be praised.
Souls - are precious every one.
Only the evil one rushes to collect as many souls as possible for his own glory.
Christ talked to the individual, and did not build a church building, and did not organize one program.
He gave His life, everyday to be among the riffraff - the least of these.
Dear one, if you have been crushed by the church or people of the church do not equate that to being crushed by God.
God loves each of us personally.
He touches lives one at a time, personally, and speaks in the quiet any time of the day.
He walks with us and laughs with us and cries with us.
He enjoys us but while He meets us in worship and teaching and ministry as a group; He knows us one on one.
If you have been crushed by a church or members of a church, know dear one, that this is not God! or of God! You are precious to Him. And precious to me.
Oh, God may the hurting be ministered to and come to know you. This is my life prayer.
Love,
Lindy
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14As the wheels of progress move, members that are not on the top of the ball rolling excitedly toward the goal are crushed (willingly by pastors) to move them along, get them out of the "flock," or to even splatter them underneath as the rolling concrete presses on building a MEGA CHURCH.
The thinkers,
the sensitive types,
the inquirers,
the stubborn,
the hurting,
the Bible student,
the non-conformist,
the unique,
the odd..... and so the list goes on... these troublesome types of members get sweep aside, told to run along or merely be crushed out of the way. And for the MEGA CHURCH, it is the cost of growth. It is a cost that was counted as worthy to endure for the cause.
They are not needed, wanted or able to keep up with the transformation of what they once were a member of
"the living organism of Christians loving and caring for one another, growing personally and together, need meeting ministries that slowly walk alongside the imperfect"
into
a dazzling display of pride in property, personnel, programs and product.
The individuals
plundered for the pride of life, the sin of wanting to be known, to leave a lasting mark on time, to be part of something great... of course all for God... that rubber stamp of kingdom work that approves projects over people.
Oh, don't worry there is a place made for the less becoming folk, a special group for special people that don't fit the look or mold.
And kindly they are given there own day of the week, even a meal is served up to attract them to their proper time and place, the day given to the "hurting church" but they must sign up to the program and follow the "recovery plan."
If they follow along like good little sheep, they may stay under the big top, but if they stray or can not conform, they will be kindly (or not so kindly) swept away.
Deceivers --
Liars to themselves, others and God-- pretending to care about ministry when they look to earthly glory and praise.
Accolades they will have heaped on them, but at what cost?
And where is the cross, the suffering, the sacrifice that is a must... a part of every Christians life.
The celebration of accomplishments are proclaimed but they so willingly forget their past. They deny the humble beginnings of the church and gloss it over to make it look like a rapid growing clean slate, because worldly progress in size is all that can be praised.
Souls - are precious every one.
Only the evil one rushes to collect as many souls as possible for his own glory.
Christ talked to the individual, and did not build a church building, and did not organize one program.
He gave His life, everyday to be among the riffraff - the least of these.
Dear one, if you have been crushed by the church or people of the church do not equate that to being crushed by God.
God loves each of us personally.
He touches lives one at a time, personally, and speaks in the quiet any time of the day.
He walks with us and laughs with us and cries with us.
He enjoys us but while He meets us in worship and teaching and ministry as a group; He knows us one on one.
If you have been crushed by a church or members of a church, know dear one, that this is not God! or of God! You are precious to Him. And precious to me.
Oh, God may the hurting be ministered to and come to know you. This is my life prayer.
Love,
Lindy
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