What’s going on with the Church?

Many years ago I met a young man. This young man had reluctantly followed in his grandfathers footsteps as a great soldier for Christ. His name was Micheal Boldea. If you have never heard of him, I recommend you do some research. His grandfather wrote a terrific book called “Through the Fire”. It is an amazing story of faith and obedience to the Lord.

Recently I came across Micheals blog. His words are strong and true. Here is a sample.

Imagine if you will, feeling unwell and going to your doctor who promptly offers you a haircut. Imagine if you will, being hungry and walking into a restaurant only to find that they served no food, but rather only sold doorknobs. Would you ever go back to that doctor or that restaurant?
How is it that the church today is advertising Christ by its very existence, but only offering entertainment, workshops on financial planning, or lessons on self-esteem? Can the church, as we know it today survive? Should it survive?
One can only go to a certain place for a certain thing so many times and leave empty handed before he or she is disillusioned, distraught, and in frustration throws their hands up in defeat. When will we realize that what has become of the modern day church is a mockery, not even a shadow of what it ought to be? When will we realize that God will call us to account for our wasted potential, for our skirting of responsibility, for the absence of accountability, and our callous willingness to merely watch countless souls marching toward eternal perdition?
Last week my wife sent me to the store to get some chicken breast. I decided to drive the extra couple miles and shop at the local super bulk warehouse where you can get a twenty-pound can of corn, or a thirty-pound bag of pinto beans. I began walking down the endless isles, pushing a squeaky cart, and started seeing a lot of items I never knew I needed. The first thing to draw my attention was an oddly inviting pair of mustard colored overalls, quickly followed by an industrial paper shredder, something called a Magic Bullet, and the list goes on. I didn’t buy everything I listed above, but I am embarrassed to admit I am now the not so proud owner of a brand spanking new pair of mustard colored overalls.
It took me a little longer than I anticipated to finish my shopping, and as I arrived home with two bags of stuff I didn’t know I needed, and quite honestly didn’t really need, at least in hindsight, my wife simply asks, ‘where’s my chicken?’
You guessed it; looking through the warehouse full of stuff I forgot the reason I was there in the first place. I forgot to buy the chicken.
I relay the preceding story to make a point. Many people today go to church, they sit through the service, the hear the choir sing and the pastor preach, and only when they are alone, away from the excitement of it all do they begin to realize that they are missing something. More and more people today are beginning to ask the question, ‘where’s Jesus?’ It was Jesus I was going to church for, it was Jesus I wanted to meet, to know, to fellowship with and to build a relationship with, but here I am two hours later, with a head full of stuff I didn’t really need, and lacking the one thing that I can’t do without.
I say the following as frankly and forthrightly as I am able, already knowing that some will perceive it wrongfully, and accuse me of being unloving, unmerciful, unkind and ungracious. If the church does not get back on message, if the church does not return to it’s foundation which is Christ and Christ alone, it will not only fall apart from within, but will have no one to blame but itself for not having the strength and boldness to stand for truth when it will count. We are not merely asleep, we are dying, every strength every spark of life leeching out of us with every compromise, with every deviance from the truth, and with every omission of the name Jesus for fear of offending those hearing. Not only will we suffer the fury of the godless in this nation, but we will suffer the wrath and judgment of God, for judgment begins in His house, and with His children first and foremost.

With love in Christ,

Michael Boldea Jr.

Posted by Michael Boldea Jr. at 2:06 PM

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At Midnight

At Midnight

This past weekend a bunch of us from church went camping. We loaded up tents, trailers and cook stoves to head out into the great wilderness (actually it was a close by state park, complete with showers and manicured lawns). Nevertheless we were camping.
The camp was filled with sounds of laughter and the smell of barbecue. We got to know one another better. We got to read God’s Word together. Sunday was somewhat soggy, but Steve’s guitar playing and Nate’s homemade chili kept us all warm. Overall it was a  great weekend.
At one point, during song worship, I left the gathering to visit the ladies room. The group continued to sing. As I walked further away the melody seemed to follow me. I thought about the others in the campground who may be listening. Listening not just to the song, but to all of our activities we had partaken in during the weekend. “ I wonder what they think.” Then I remembered a verse I had read just a few days ago.

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God:
and the prisoners heard them.
Acts 16:25

These prisoners had no hope. Look around you today. How many do you see hopeless? They are prisoners of this lost and dying world today. Are they hearing you sing his praises? Or are they hearing you grumble and mumble?

God brought me to another verse:
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me;
Because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek;
He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to them that are bound
Isaiah 61:1

I hope some of our laughter overflowed into other camps. I hope we made someone smile. I hope we helped heal a broken heart. I hope someone heard God’s Word of liberty being proclaimed. I hope some that were in bondage are now free.

Each day is a new opportunity for us to sing his praises for the prisoners to hear.
The midnight hours is upon us. Sing loudly!!
God bless.

A Storm’s Brewing

I write little blurbs in our church bulletin. I think I’m going to start including them in my blog. This one was for Feb 15th, 2009.