“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie                                  

“Homily Grits Devotional”   http://www.homilygrits.com/

Written by the wise 84 yr old Robert VanHoose who writes “Homily Grits above…

Read Revelation 3:1-6,

Psalm 84                                             

August 22

                  “The Ingrown Church”

“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”   Peter 2:5   NIV

The body of Christ is a vital, living organism.  If it is not growing, it is not healthy. The fact that thousands of churches are closing every year, and thousands of others are losing members in droves begs the question: “why”?

One of the big reasons that I have seen is that many churches and seemingly many denominations have become ingrown.  Focus is too often on worshipping tradition and defending the faith rather than on obeying the great commandment and great commission.

Many ingrown churches seem to be operating more as sanctuaries for saints rather than hospitals for sinners.  They “major in minors” and let visitors come and go unnoticed and unwelcome while they congregate in cliques and are oblivious to the fact that people who need the Lord are coming in and out of their doors without having their need met.

There are many vital, doctrinally sound, bible-believing churches growing by leaps and bounds throughout the country. These contradict the rationalization of the dying churches that hide behind the excuse that their “purity of doctrine” is weeding out the unbelievers, and that numbers do not mean anything.

We are called to be “contagious Christians” in churches where God is at work through ministry within and without.  Church should be a place that we can’t wait to get to celebrate the love, peace, and joy of our salvation in Christ through authentic worship that encourages us–other believers and any seekers who might show up on any given Sunday.

We need to be conservative in doctrine, and liberal in love.  Growing within doesn’t mean being ingrown.  We cannot grow within without growing out in ministry.

Father, keep me ever mindful that you are alive and relevant, and let your church be true to its calling.  In Jesus’ name, amen