Thursday, October 11, 2012

The contagiously happy church.

‘Do everything without grumbling so that you will become happy children of God dancing around drawing smiles in a dark, grumpy world.’ Philippians 2: 14-16 (My paraphrase)

Is it too trivial to want a happy church?  Is it too much to expect? Perhaps the greatest criticism of the church is that it is a tired, grumpy place in a tired grumpy world.  If we are sitting on the light, under a bushel, proving to the world that Jesus is not relevant or worse, not good - how bad is that?  But even in the church we need super heroes. Not a grumbling pretense of spirituality that steals our joy while promoting our self-righteousness. But believers in Jesus Christ that show their faith by refusing to grumble, ever.  If enough of us get together our church can’t help but reflect the life Jesus planted inside us.  Our torches will blaze as one. Transformation comes from the inside out but what if grumbling transmogrifies ('Calvin':) it back again! Satan loves to take believers, redeemed by the blood of Jesus, and use them to reinforce the opinion of many that we don’t have a clue about real living! Don't let Satan win!
Reject that pity party.  Point out God’s blessings to a discouraged brother - or just give him a shoulder to cry on. Forgive, don't harbor a grudge. But don't go to the throne to complain!  Bees buzz. Grumblers Grumble. Children giggle.  Grumblers turn the church into a mirror of an already grumpy world.  Everyone ends up in a dark place. Don’t be a grumbler.

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