Comments on: The Four Emotional Reactions to Church–Church is Pointless

By: Jim Sexton

Jim Sexton — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:34:55 +0000

Matthew (the blogger) wrote: “There are tons of churches that are super healthy and loving, but there are some that have the name but not the love.”

Having the name without the love is the same as not having the name. If we cannot live up to the name, then we are not worthy to wear it. A church of Christ is only such if it is living as the body of Christ… otherwise it is acting as an imposter.

A simple overview of 1 Corinthians 13 tells the tale… the name means nothing without the love.

As our language and it’s associated slang de-evolves, it makes me wonder if anyone actually knows the root of many of our common (double entendre intended) expressions anymore. It is possible that I have said things that offended others because I don’t know the original meaning of the word/expression.

Back to the topic, where do we come off calling ourselves a church of/for Christ if we cannot love as He did? Makes me think of John telling a brood of vipers that they had no business calling themselves children of Abraham. We have got to say it as it is, and when churches have lost the love, they have lost the Lover… our Savior, the man of God.

Jesus loved and instructs us to love one another as he has loved us… without love we are nothing.

Jimbo

By: Sonny Owens

Sonny Owens — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:35:32 +0000

I agree completely. I don’t know you and sorry for prying into your business. No apology needed to me I was just saying that this word should not be used as we use it. As ministers, preachers, paid employees of the church it gets really hard. Been there and done that. Our brethren who are the most wonderful people on the earth can become a nightmare. God bless and may He surround you with a spirit of peace.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:33:16 +0000

Sonny,

First, I understand where you are coming from and apologize for using the word.

Secondly, you don’t know me or what has taken place, so you are in no position to tell me I need to have thicker skin.

By: Sonny Owens

Sonny Owens — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:20:33 +0000

Maybe we are from different worlds. Maybe when I was young and foolish and used that word to describe an extremely vulgar act that is definitely wrapped within the homosexual life. Maybe what was vulgar is no longer vulgar. Maybe you never used that word to mean what it means to me. Anytime I hear or read that word I think it is slang for a homosexual act. Like the word that many use “freaking”. I think of slang for another word. Look at websters again and think how many use the word and the act as sinful (with the mouth).
If you yell the ref s_ Ks maybe you ought to get on your knees and ask God to forgive you. Or maybe you don’t need to go to sporting games if you can’t act like a Christian. Hateful absolutely not. Made up, not in the world I live in. If you have never used that word or never thought of that like I have then praise God for you. As a teen (before I was saved) we used it daily as vulgar acts.
Anony, it is a word that should not be used by Christians especially preachers. I say again, I was not hitting you from a blind-side nor was I in you face rebuking you. Too often in blogs preachers use this word. I realize that as a teen I was corrupt especially my mouth. I know that I can be wrong here but that is how that word was used in my youth and I have trouble with it today as an everyday word. Just like the word freaking I can’t see that its usage is good.
Brent, I appreciate your opinion but that is all it is… your opinion. It sounds like your opinion is as big as your mouth at a hockey game:-)
those that know me well know I to like too rage the refs and umps especially umps. but I am careful how and what I say. I am a Christian and everyone knows that I am a preacher.
Anony, you need to have thicker skin and thinner tongue. Bring on the rain!

By: Brent

Brent — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:02:08 +0000

“It is vulgar and wrapped in a homosexual context.”

Where is your proof that the word “sucks” is wrapped in a homosexual context? I checked Websters and there is no mention of “sucks” having anything do to with being homosexual. I have yelled the “Ref Sucks” at hockey games many times and never once was I thinking I was implying that he was homosexual. Sounds like a very hateful made up comment in my opinion.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suck

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:44:59 +0000

I never thought of the word “sucks” as vulgar nor as in a homosexual context. It simply was a strong word to describe the feeling when you discover that some one is angry with you but instead of discussing that problem, they set out to completely smere your character. It was the word used to describe how I feel since I have found out that one person thinks I should not be in this congregation and has just enough clout to possibly influence the congregation toward that goal. It was the word used to describe how I feel when someone totally ignores the time I have spent in preparing and delivering sermons, reading the Bible with non-Christians (that has resulted in one recent baptism), and the time spent building relationships with the members of the church, just to instead find nitpicking stuff to suggest that I am not a good mnister.

I am sorry if the word was offensive to some. That was not my intent. I know that ministry is difficult at times and at times, some will mistreat the minister. I accept that and that is why my faith is not shaken but is even stronger. I was just trying to verbalize the strong feelings I have at the moment for something that was done to me which I did not deserve.

By: Sonny Owens

Sonny Owens — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:27:41 +0000

Anony, You said, “praying for what to do next.” Allow me to help you a bit. begin with the words you use to describe your local ministry. You used the word, “s_ _ ks.” If I had to use that word to describe my ministry I would get out of ministry. Think about what that words means. Think about what that word entails. It is vulgar and wrapped in a homosexual context. It is a word that ministers (or any Christian) should not use. Now, you may think I am being aggressive and hitting you on the blind-side but I am not. Neither is this a “in your face rebuke.” Ministry at its best becomes difficult. I certainly believe the Lord warned us of this. Clean your language up and you might see another side of local church ministry. As to the church being pointless, until one reads and believes the gospel message it will be pointless. When Christ enters ones heart and blossoms salvation into the living soul church will become “The Point” Jesus is the Savior of the body/church. The saved have a point in life, “Live For Jesus In the Body/Church.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:51:09 +0000

Dear Anony, as I was thinking about your post, I was thinking about the church. Everyone who has been in ministry has been mistreated at some point. This might not be totally true, but they have only been in ministry for a year perhaps. Mistreatment is part of the job. But I see this as a opportunity for love, God did not give us a perfect church because we needed to learn love, forgiveness, and patience, so to help us he created the church to help us grow in these virtues.

By: Joe Baggett

Joe Baggett — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:09:00 +0000

For the best published work on what non-Christians really think about church and why it really matters please read “unChristian” by David Kinnamon and George Barna.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:02:37 +0000

Friend, as for me, I have kind of accepted this behavior as part of ministry. At one time, it seriously hurt me and caused me to question my desire to be a minister. Today, it is just part of the job. And sometimes it is being in a unhealthy church. There are tons of churches that are super healthy and loving, but there are some that have the name but not the love.