I Have a Dream
Saturday, May 17th, 2008I Have a Dream!
I have a dream, radical like Martin Luther King’s dream. I have a message as reforming as the Theses nailed to the wall by Martin Luther. I have a passion to make a change. I have a dream, a vision, a great desire for . . . (searching for words) a new church—no, a new work, that’s better. The work in one sense is the church because it is a gathering of believers to build each other up, and reach the lost. Yes, it is a new church.
In case it has passed observation, the church is losing young adults. We can point fingers to all kinds of reasons, but I propose the main one is we members of the churches don’t live authentic relationships with Jesus. I’m not saying we don’t have relationships with Christ, but we don’t live them with open integrity causing a thirst, and desire in young adults to have anything we have. We are the problem.
I’ve heard some say the young adults are self-centered and full of ‘me,’ but my experience is they are no more selfish than previous generations, me included. They are searching for something worthy of living for and dying for. They want to be committed to something, but they won’t be duped with in-authenticity. They won’t give themselves for causes which they deem less than worthy.
How does this fit into my dream? There are great numbers of strong believers in this group of 20’s and 30’s that want to make a difference for Christ in their generation. The new work will be fresh, relevant, and biblically sound. My dream will not look like modern day traditions of churchianity. Here are some pictures of some of these kinds of believers taken during intermission at a Christian concert.
Does a girl have to ’Christianize’ herself by letting down her hair to cover the tatoo? The guy, how about a part down the middle? Many pew-sitters would not believe the respect and honor given God and His Word. They are different, but they are not unlike those who have hearts like King David. (A gathering of God’s mighty misfit army)
.Most churches want these believers to clean themselves up, dress right, and for goodness sakes cover that tat in order to play church with us. The message is they don’t belong. I dream of a new work where looking upon the heart matters, not what man sees, but what God sees (1 Samuel 16:7). Chuck Swindoll wrote a great book many years ago on this topic called The Grace Awakening. Dusting off that old book, or better yet the even older one about grace, forgiveness, and un-pharisaical ministry (The Bible), might help us embrace, mentor, and aid these young adults as they become the future church evangelizing the world.
Yes, I have a dream, a re-formation of how we ‘do church’ remaining steadfast in evangelization with truth of Jesus about sin, love, and hope.
My re-forming thoughts.
Robin ‘Luther Queen”
Confessions of a Preacher’s Wife