Believe it or not, depending on what kind of church you’re from, your answer might be different.  I’ve been a part of both sides and wrestled with this basic issue for a long time, and finally I think I’ve got a conclusion worth sharing.

If you think this issue is already cut & dried, contrast these ideas from the Bible below.

The Point

I’d like to get right to what my thoughts are, if that’s alright.  First off, If God’s ultimate desire was for us to live a sad, pathetic existence, He would not have started us out in a paradise. And He would not have provided a way back into it. This is foundational – God’s ideal of life is, well, heaven. In fact, our assignment on earth is to bring back that reality.

And that’s also the conclusion of this article. The end.

“But that doesn’t answer the questions you raised.”  Maybe – but if Jesus didn’t make it black and white, who are we to judge?  What if this isn’t the right question to ask?  Think of it this way: Jesus marveled at the faith of a centurion (Matthew 8:10). Centurions are rich. He also commended the poor widow in Luke 21:3 for her tiny offering. She was, um, poor. Jesus didn’t discriminate, did he?  Let’s explore this further.

A Rich Man Can Enter the Kingdom

So the Bible says that “a rich man cannot enter the Kingdom of God”.  But think of this: Was Jesus poor? You don’t know that. I mean, when Jesus told his disciples to feed five thousand men, the disciples actually implied that they had enough money to go buy food for the whole crowd (Luke 8:13). How are you supposed to throw a banquet and invite the poor and homeless (Luke 14:13) if you don’t have the means to do so? If you’re going to condemn rich people, take a look in the mirror. The fact that you have internet to read this article makes you a likely candidate to be in the wealthiest 20% of the world. Chances are you rank even higher than that.  How well-off do you have to be before it’s ungodly?  Just slightly better than yourself?

After Jesus’ statement about rich men, remember that he then goes on to say that it’s impossible for anyone to get saved – without God, that is.  Perhaps that was what he was driving at in the first place?  Keep in mind that God doesn’t bless you just for you – and He doesn’t have a limited budget.  Moses asks the Lord, “…Unless you go with us, what else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” (Exodus 33:16)  Is it possible that the rich could use their influence to change the world?

But It’s Not Guaranteed

But, to those who think worldly riches and relaxation are our lot as Christians, consider that Jesus said “he who loves his life will lose it.” He basically says we’re supposed to despise money, and NOT to store up treasures on earth (Matthew 6:19, 24). Jesus even refused to even feed himself miraculously because apparently God had not permitted him to (Matthew 4:4). Are you that in touch with the Spirit of God – that you can give it all away at the drop of a hat? Christianity isn’t a picnic as much as a war:

“May a physician in plague-time take any more relaxation or recreation than is necessary for his life, when so many are expecting his help in a case of life and death? Will you stand by and see sinners gasping under the pangs of death, and say: “God doth not require me to make myself a drudge to save them?” Is this the voice of ministerial or Christian compassion or rather of sensual laziness and diabolical cruelty?” -Richard Baxter

Being rich isn’t wrong, it’s just harder. Bill Johnson said, “The greater test is not whether you give something away, but whether you can steward it well.”

What “Persecution” is Not

I must point out that I feel that the church applied the term “suffering for Jesus” to a lot of stuff that God can’t take the credit for.  I do believe that God wants people to live free of sickness and disease.  Check out the differentiation in James 5 between “have patience in suffering” and “prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well”. If this thought is new to you, it’s piggybacking off of some stuff I shared here.

I also don’t believe we are ever to lose our joy or God’s presence in our lives.  Paul and Silas were in prison and still giddy, weren’t they?

Finally, I think there’s a big difference between being hated for the “sake of the Son of Man” and being rejected because we are under the influence of “the spirit of stupid”, as Kris Vallotton says.  Here’s a good way to gauge this: ask yourself if you are actually preaching and demonstrating like the apostles did, or like John G. Lake’s missionaries did in South Africa in the 1900′s (in one year, Lake buried 37 people who died of hunger after they chose to return to their mission work knowing there was no food or money left).   Does your poverty and suffering stem from radically preaching the Gospel, or have you just not taken God at His word to provide everything you need (2 Corinthians 9:8)?

You don’t just get points for suffering – God isn’t sadistic, He’s a good Father.  Remember, soldiers bring glory to their commander by winning glorious victories over the enemy!  Victory takes sacrifice, that’s all.

If you want to hear about some people who I feel are a more accurate representation of suffering for the Gospel nowadays, subscribe for free to Voice of the Martyrs magazine.  Also, study these verses from one of my favorite fiction authors, Randy Alcorn – and read his book Safely Home too!  And if you want to hear more about how God can provide everything you need for every good work, you’ll be encouraged by the stories of George Muller and Rees Howells.

Wrapping Up

Again, our assignment is to bring heaven to earth. So if your wealth helps you fulfill this assignment, fine! If your poverty helps, fine! But don’t judge everyone else who isn’t just like you. J.I. Packer said “A half truth masquerading as the whole truth becomes a complete untruth”. Rich people may be more challenged with worldly distractions (and ponzi schemes), but nowhere does Jesus condemn being wealthy in and of itself, just as he doesn’t condemn the poor.  My concern is that, on one side, the church has reacted to the bad stewardship of many rich people and created a wrong idea of “suffering for Christ”, but on the other side, much of what the church calls “the blessing of the Lord” is simply selfishness and an unwillingness to sacrifice comfort in order to share the Gospel.

Paul had a great conclusion about this whole thing, and I’ll leave it to him to wrap up.

“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:12)

Change the world!

When you truly know who you are, you will never be jealous of anyone else. 

-Eric Johnson

If you love you like God does, you won’t be afraid of others getting to know you. 

-Kris Vallotton

I am not willing to work harder on your problems than you are. 

-Danny Silk

(and, if I may quote another Silk-ism, even though he probably wasn’t the first one to say this – when a situation or a problem occurs and everyone is freaking out, all you have to do is ask, “what are you doing to do?” Thanks, Danny!)

Of all the truth there is to know in the world, how much do you think you know?  10%?  5%?… 

-Brother Yun (from The Heavenly Man)

If you don’t live for the praises of man, you won’t die by their criticism. 

-Bill Johnson

Be the change you want to see. 

-Gandhi

Everyone has dreams, world changers have plans. 

-Unkown

I can get more out of God by believing Him for one minute than by shouting at Him all night. 

-Smith Wigglesworth

A man is as dead at 36 as he is at 80 when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. The cessation of breathing is just a belated announcement of an earlier death of the spirit. 

-Martin Luther King Jr.

Love the one in front of you. 

-Heidi Baker

Most good things have been said far too many times and just need to be lived.

-Shane Claiborne

Have you noticed how much praying for revival has been going on of late & how little revival has resulted? We have been trying to substitute praying for obeying, & it simply will not work. To pray for revival while ignoring the plain precept laid down in Scripture is to waste a lot of words & get nothing for our trouble. Prayer will become effective when we stop using it as a substitute for obedience.

-A.W. Tozer

David was a volunteer…What [David] was after was the fight. Anybody can have Saul’s daughter, and robe, and armor, and money for him; what he wants is to kill the giant, drive the Philistines, and show heaven, earth, and hell that Jehovah is the King of kings. 

-William Booth, Salvation Soldiery p. 9

Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to join ranks with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much, nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.

-Theodore Roosevelt

Original Conception

A lot of guys would be embarrassed to admit that they’ve had a thought or two about sex.  Well look guys, let me be the first to admit it.  I have, you got me.  If that seems weird to you, perhaps you haven’t heard God’s opinion of sex.  He actually thinks it’s a great idea.  So great that, in fact, His VERY FIRST command to our ancestors was to “be fruitful and multiply”.  Ya, seriously.  But hey, this idea was His conception, after all (Get it? Conception? I know, funny..).  And you owe your life to Adam and Eve’s obedience of this command.  Nuff said.

God’s never been afraid to say a thing or two about this stuff.  I mean, there’s some racy stuff in the Song of Solomon.  The Old Testament is pretty frank about the issue; check out Judah and Tamar, Hosea’s dealings with his prostitute wife, Lot and his daughters, and many other such stories.

Let us correct St. Augustine’s thoughts – sex isn’t just a “necessary evil”.  God made it for our pleasure.

Quick Thought on Waiting for the One

Does this mean then that this is something simply at our disposal whenever and wherever we’d like to do it?  I don’t think so.  I believe that once you’re inside a marriage covenant, go nuts.  But till then, it’s best to hold off.

I’m not going to spend a lot of time in this article on why I believe that.  If you  find having sex whenever or with whoever will bring you eternal fulfillment, I have no reason to stop you.  Even if I were to, I’d wait till I get married so I can relate my own experiences  All I will say about this for now is that I want to be able to give a gift to my wife that I’ve never given to another woman, and would be overjoyed that she would do the same for me.  Sure, it can be a struggle to wait – but that’s what makes the victory so great at the end.  Thomas Paine said, “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.  What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.”  There’s generally little satisfaction in getting something that you didn’t have to work for.

Tips for Single Guys Like Me

I’d like to address those of us who want to stick it out till we find the one we want to spend the rest of our lives with.  Just so you know, I’m 22 years old and have not yet had an official girlfriend.  The world may find this kinda pathetic, but I am overjoyed at the prospect of being able to save so much for my one and only.

There’s all sorts of stuff that gets thrown at us to keep us off-track – the media, masturbation, friends getting married (and then suddenly disappearing off the planet.  Kinda uncanny), and such.  I’ve been through it all, so I’d just like to offer some encouragement to keep on the road.  Since I am a dude, some of the following may be more relevant to other guys.  Girls, however, will appreciate this post – about being ferocious and beautiful – by Lindsey Blackmore: Dedicated to women.

So, a key for making it through: you gotta find creative outlets to channel hormonal energy.  The last thing you want to do is make a decision based solely on your sex drive.  Your sex drive isn’t bad, it just needs to be guided.  Go write something, or build something.  Think about what you can do to prepare yourself for meeting the one – get your finances is order!  Travel the world!  Work out so you have the sexiest body on the planet!  Make sure you and God are tight!  You gotta keep busy; sitting around by yourself will not help.  It’s not ignoring, it’s preparing.  Relationships take time.   Biding time is done best with your lover, from what I understand, but sitting around alone will only make you desperate.

Also, don’t be in a hurry.  Talk to married couples and ask them if they miss anything about the single life.  Ask yourself if you are willing to give all those things up now for what they have.  You won’t be sole owner of your life anymore.  This is crucial to understand in finding the one – entrusting your life into someone else’s hands for the rest of your days is kind of a big deal.

Marriage will not be about you, it will be about the other person.  So enjoy the single life when you can.  If you know you can enjoy the single life, you know that marriage can only be better – because you can think rationally about what you will sacrifice.  But if you marry because you’re desperate, you know that marriage will only be worse – because you’re doing it only for you.

Sex and marriage are going to be great, but they won’t be be the destination of life.  Remember, you’re generally still alive after the honeymoon is over.  The end goal is always to know God, and if your lover doesn’t help you do that – contrary to most popular songs lyrics and movies – you will never be fully, completely, continually satisfied.

A Word for the Ladies

One final thing I’d like to say, it doesn’t entirely fit in with the theme here but I felt I should put it in anyways.  This is for the girls, as a brother in the Lord:

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.  So don’t think you have to perform to receive love from guys.  We’re not all just after your bodies.  In fact, the girls I find most attractive are the ones that just open up and share what’s really on their hearts.  We enjoy spending time with you, and it actually builds us up to know that we can be helpful to girls.  You are valuable to us, so don’t sell out to guys who don’t respect you or treat you as royalty.  Thanks!

I’m no marriage counselor, just wanted to put my two cents in on a topic that Christians seem to be terrified of talking about.  And hey, hope no one feels condemned from this article.  If you’ve messed up in the past, trust me – God isn’t holding it against you.  I’d love to hear thoughts from other people who have other thoughts in this area.  Just wanted to let anyone who’s been fighting through these things know they’ve got someone out there doing the same.  Be blessed!

For further thoughts on this topic, check out XXX Church’s website, read Kris Vallotton’s book Sexual Revolution, or check out Dennis Bontrager’s 5-part series on this stuff here.

That thought perfectly captured the true posture of humility – something that I think many of us, in our genuine attempts to do the right thing, have missed.  So let’s explore this further.

Moses vs. God

Y’all know Moses, right?  God gave him the crazy assignment of pulling his nation out of slavery.  So Moses says to God, ”Who am I, that I should go to Pharoah and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

God’s response is kind of funny – He doesn’t say a word about about who Moses is.  He just says, “I will be with you.”  Moses pulls out a list of reasons of why he is incapable of doing the job, and God patiently brings him back to His point – that this isn’t actually about Moses.  And in the same way, I’d like to suggest that your life is not about you or what your capabilities or failures are.  It’s about Jesus – cuz He’s the one who wants to work through you.

Focusing on Failure

Andrew Farley writes this in his book The Naked Gospel: “Sadly, often we get so self-consumed that it’s nearly impossible to get Christians to talk about anything but our sins.  It’s as if our sense of importance stems from the fact that we’re dealing with struggles.  These struggles enable us to think about ourselves, converse with ourselves, and even obsess with ourselves – all with a spiritual label about on it all…Join the club!  We all struggle.  But we’re not here to focus on your issues.  We’re here to focus on Jesus, because he’s worthy of our celebration.”

There are levels of truth, and I feel that a lot of false humility stems from lower-level truths.  You say: “I can’t do anything by myself.”  True.  But you’re not by yourself.  The higher truth is that Jesus says he will never leave you or forsake you, and that he’s given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and overcome all the power of the enemy.  You say: “I’m a rotten sinner.”  You were…but then God made you His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21) and has perfected you forever (Hebrews 10:14)!  See what I mean?

Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself or focusing on your shortcomings.  It’s actually more humble to put God’s thoughts about you before your own ideas.  And when you see yourself the way God does, you won’t need to be constantly scrutinizing yourself, which will free you to value others before yourself (Philippians 2:3).

Deeper Application

Often when we face a struggle, temptation, or a problem in our life, we say that God gave us this situation to teach us something such as patience, joy, and the like.  But let me ask you – what’s the core idea behind that thought?  Again – that it’s all about you!

Now listen, I’m not saying that God doesn’t teach us things through our issues (hopefully that’s a no-brainer).

But let’s think in light of the entire world and eternity.  Think of all the broken, hurt, and dying people in the world who have no one to love them.  Does God want you to spend your entire earthly existence polishing your life till it’s squeaky clean while they go on lost forever?  That doesn’t seem like humble thinking to me.

Bill Johnson said, “False humility will keep you from your destiny.  True humility never will.”  Here’s the key: when problems come up, you’ve got to go to the Good Shepherd and find out whether it’s from Him or the thief (who wants to stop us, remember?) and deal with them accordingly.  Dan Mohler said this in a sermon once – “You’re looking at a man who doesn’t have any problems.  I had one problem – I was separated from almighty God – and then Jesus came and fixed my eternal problem.  Now I see every issue, scenario, family struggle, and church problem through Jesus!”  It’s not arrogant to say you are blessed and problem-free if you recognize that it’s not of your own doing!

Wrapping Up

The reason humility values others first is not because it believes itself to be worthless, but because it realizes its blessing and wants to spread it to the world.  You know who wrote that Moses was the most humble man on earth (Numbers 12:3)?  Apparently Moses!  And what would have happened if he had said, “Oh I shouldn’t write down all this stuff about saving the Israelites, I don’t want to brag.”  I can easily forget every theological point in a sermon, but testimonies will stick with me.  A city on a hill can’t be hidden, and shining is not pride.  Why not?  Because people need to see God at work.  Linda Chamagne got that.  Moses got that (eventually).  So don’t hold out on people.  Remember, it’s not about you or me.  It’s about the Lord, and the simple fact that He says “I will be with you.”

To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, God will give eternal life. (Romans 2:7)

To live in the present

Seeing now from the future

Looking back and saying,

“I was right.  God provided.  I’m so glad I never worried.”

Here I am, the trials start again

Eternal glory hangs in balance

And what we see is so small compared to what will be.

I keep my eyes in the unseen.

Generosity, trusting that He

Will provide.  I will not sin

By believing a lie

That He doesn’t care.

Recall the past!

I could be at the bottom of the ocean.

I could be still lost in Pennsylvania.

I have had a great life so far, and there’s no reason for it to stop.

It’s not wrong

To party on.

Written February 11/10 in a Wal-Mart parking lot

(That same day received an answer to my prayers, read more here)

Level 2 happened when I was about halfway through my school year at Bethel.  I was set to run out of money in about a month and could not land a job anywhere.  I could, potentially, have to pack up and leave California prematurely.  I remember sitting in the Wal-Mart parking lot, frustrated at being rejected everywhere and tired of trying.  So I wrote a poem there in my car which you can read here, in which I told God that I was just going to let Him take care of it.  That evening my parents called, and though I didn’t disclose my financial struggles, they told me that a few years back my grandparents had actually set aside a sum of money for me to use in school, and they wanted to send me some.  Booyeah!

Level 3 was about a year later.  Similar issue – no money – but the situation was slightly different.  I had been invited to go to Africa, but was completely broke 3 months before the trip and needed close to $3500.  What’s more, I felt God tell me to not even worry about getting a job, but rather just minister wherever I could.  Oh yes, and, I wasn’t going to fundraise.  So…I ended up working two minimum-wage jobs where I got to meet people where they were at and share the goodness of God.  This didn’t earn near enough to cover the trip expenses.  About three weeks before my plane was set to leave, I got the bill for my airfare, which came out to $1483.  That same evening, I met with some friends to whom I had ministered at an earlier time, and they said they would like to donate towards my trip.  The cheque they wrote was for – no joke – $1500.

I believe I’m actually in Level 4 right now, if I may be transparent.  You see, the first three levels were all things that I had a vision for, and I could stand on God’s word till they came to pass.  That’s become pretty straightforward.  But now, I’m dealing with not even actually knowing what God’s word is for this time in life.  In a sense this is much more difficult, because it means constantly fighting feelings of inadequacy, of missing purpose in life, being lazy, and not being able to hear God’s voice.  I have a vision for doing many different things in life, but as of now none of these seem to be working out.  Since I know God grants the desires of the heart to those who delight in Him (Psalm 37:4), I am being patient and not selling out to something less.

For example, I had three interviews this week for a job I had been hoping to get, but I just found out I didn’t land it.  From an earthly perspective this would be quite difficult.  But when I look at it with the mind of Christ, I find myself completely unconcerned!  It’s an incredible thing to live from the reality of being seated in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6) knowing that there can only be something better in store.  This was simply a test, an upping of the ante, and it will pay off in the end.

With the grace given me for this time, I want to encourage anyone who feels as though they are in a valley with some practical tips I’ve used to make it to the next level.

First off, don’t romanticize the past.  Remember, Israel in the desert continually talked about their “great” experience in Egypt, when God had something just around the corner for them better than they could have ever imagined.

Second, don’t feed yourself on what God hasn’t done.  Be honest with God (you can’t fool Him anyway), but don’t become bitter.  Jesus took three days to get to the sick Lazarus, and by the time he got there, Lazarus had died.  Just think – if Lazarus’ family had gotten offended at Jesus when He didn’t arrive on their schedule, they would have missed one of the most ridiculous miracles in Jesus’ ministry!

Third – “There are no problems, only opportunities.”  Get it.

Finally, find some promises in the Bible, and get some specific things to pray towards.  Psalm 32:8, Matthew 7:7, Matthew 6:33 are a few I’ve drawn from lately.  Don’t be afraid to ask for specific things if they are to help you love the world!  I’ve been praying for a Macbook Pro, and I believe this is not with selfish motives (John 15:7).

Our future selves will thank us for not selling out for less than what God has for us.  So if any of y’all are going through what I currently am, just know you’re not alone.  So be encouraged and prepare to change the world!

“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to join ranks with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much, nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”
-Theodore Roosevelt, Chicago, 1905. “The Strenuous Life.”

I am at that very stage of life where many of my peers choose to leave church.  And for that reason I’d like to share my two cents on a few reasons why I think that is, drawing from the experiences on my journey so far.  So let’s begin!

Not With Wise Words

Those who have been following this site for awhile may recall I talk often of miracles.  That is partly because one brought itself right smack into my family a few years ago.  If you haven’t read the story of my mom getting healed of a decade of chronic fatigue syndrome, I’d recommend you check it out before continuing.  Since the time of that healing I have seen many miracles – things like people being healed of heart conditions; babies that are paralyzed suddenly kicking their legs; and people who use canes throwing the cane aside and walk freely!

Why do I talk about them so much?  Because seeing God move in power is one of the main reasons I am where I am today.  It was not just nice sermons, Bible studies, or coffee and donuts after a church service that kept me seeking God.  When God unmistakably makes a change in someone’s life, no one can argue with that.  I think this is why Paul said, “My message and preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but the demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on man’s wisdom, but on God’s power.” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)  This combination of speaking and healing was evident in Jesus’ life as well – “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the Kingdom, and healing every sickness and disease” (Matthew 4:23).

I believe that God intends for the supernatural to be natural in the church, and not just healings of the physical body.  The book of Acts describes a range of supernatural things that are also meant to be normal: angelic visitations (when Peter was released from prison by an angel in the book of Acts, the people praying for his release expected his angel to show up at the door rather than Peter himself!), prophecy, speaking in tongues, and many other things.  Mark 16:17-18 sums this up well.  Amazing!

This is missing in so many churches, and this lack of power causes people to look elsewhere (ie the occult, reiki), and can end up giving up hope altogether.  But that’s not my main focus for today, so let’s lay this supernatural stuff aside for now.  I’d like to take a look at something more important.

Principles vs. Relationship

It’s like this: have you noticed how much information there is out there?  Really, we are pretty darn equipped in the church.  We could tell you all about how creation works and why the Bible is historically accurate.  We can tell you exactly what the Bible says about King David, homosexuality, and peacemaking, because we’ve got the whole book memorized.  We’ve got principles in financing, principles in church-planting, principles coming out the wazoo.  So shoudn’t the entire world be converted by now?  What’s missing?

Well…you see, all the above is based on facts, knowledge, principles, and the like; none of which can ever replace the entire point of God – a relationship with Him.  As my friend Ben Fitzgerald reminded me once, “All you need is 10 good principles without a relationship to destroy your Christian life.  The greatest endeavor in life is to be a friend of God, and you don’t get there by following principles.”

When a church makes its main goal to try to get people to understand facts and complete tasks, it teaches people to rely solely on their intellect.  And the smart ones, who perhaps could be most effective in the Kingdom of God, fall away – because they realize something doesn’t add up.  It’s not that the principals and knowledge we have are wrong necessarily – it’s just that they were never meant to be the driving force behind the church.  We don’t live just to follow a bunch of rules.

The point of it all is simply to know God!  And that’s something there is no formula for.  God is a person, He loves you uniquely, and He encounters us all differently.  Knowing God means learning to pray, learning to hear His voice, to experience Him and trust His promises, and to love Him in your own way.  The point isn’t to understand everything all the time (hope that releases you from that burden!).  God’s #1 priority is to simply have you love Him as He loves you!

Charles Finney said, “Unless [one] can preach the Gospel as an experience, present Christ to mankind as a matter of personal encounter, his speculations and theories will come far short of preaching the Gospel.”  Church must be conducive to this end – otherwise it’s all in vain.

Of course, if the lack of supernatural and the lack of emphasis on relationship weren’t enough, we could always talk about the hypocrisy, the power-struggles and scams and such that we’ve heard of in churches.  But there’s no sense in focusing on that, because we don’t need to glorify the schemes of the devil, the true enemy of all children of God.

Look Up

I think we’ve established that the church has problems.  But that’s them, and they can’t control you.  Can I ask where you’re at, personally?

Maybe you left church already.  Maybe you’re inside but you feel like you’re getting nowhere.  Maybe you were hurt – there was hypocrisy, you got dumped, or you just got bored of people who didn’t live in the “real world”.  So church messed you up.  You think there’s no life where you came from, and maybe you’re right.  I want to say I’m sorry, and I’m not trying to tell you to go back.  I’m just saying that I know that everyone has a need for God.  And I want you to know Him.  Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.  Even if no one around you is following the Truth (and I know there is), in eternity we all will face God alone.  So let God be true, and every man a liar (Romans 3:4).  His arms are wide open to receive you, perhaps in a way no one has experienced Him yet!  Who knows?  Perhaps you could be the next Martin Luther, who overturns the wrong religious establishments of the day just like Jesus overturning tables in the Temple, and establishing his Father’s Kingdom.  There are others like you out there; keep at it and you’ll find a home with His people.

Further Resources and Wrapping Up

For more on this stuff, there’s an interesting song by Brian “Head” Welch’s called “Die Religion Die” regarding the contrast between God and man-made religious establishments (check out his testimony too – he used to be a member of KoRn!).  Readers may also appreciate Darin Hufford’s article “Why I don’t Go to Church Anymore” and the book The Misunderstood God.  Jake Colson’s So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore (free on pdf) is along those lines too, and finally, for those who linked to this article through my Facebook and read the quote by Curry Blake, it’s from a pretty intense teaching of his on this topic called Somebody’s Right, Somebody’s Wrong, which you can download here.

My intention in this article is not to promote unnecessary anger towards people who just haven’t heard this stuff yet.  I don’t like it when people who make a career of slamming the church (not helpful, and just as hypocritical!)  Some in the church are doing the best they can with what they know; I’m in that boat too, so I don’t want to imply I know it all.  I just want to share the journey with you, and pray you’ll join me in this amazing adventure of learning to be a friend of God.  Be blessed!

(Understand this guy’s definition of “religion” though – a video response that I found interesting can be found here)

I would love to get more footage of people doing things that are actually meaningful – however, as it goes I think that the majority of people who are actually doing things that mean something don’t get caught on video.  At least I wish I could find more footage of people doing stuff that you don’t have to be rich to do.  Closest I could think of is a movie called Into the Wild, which I highly recommend as a starting point to get one thinking about going beyond the box.

There are 2 other Britain’s Got Talent clips I could have put on. If this got you excited at all, check out Susan Boyle and Janey Cutler‘s first auditions as well, they’re just as epic.

An honorable mention that many may have seen in church is That’s My King.

And for those of you who still aren’t feeling pumped, well…you could always give this product a shot