Examine your motives

I ran across a really interesting concept while reading on one of the text books assigned. This one passage had a tremendous amount of interpretation. “Christians require pastors or ministers to instruct and guide them but not as a priestly class set apart.” (Russell Kirk, “The Roots of American Order”, Pg 235) The first thing that came to mind is why? 

Believe it or not I have always been anti-establishment when it comes to modern ecclesiastical doctrines. I am of the opinion that religion is not treated with the same original spiritual purpose as it was originally intended. It has transformed into something that I just cannot understand--sometimes. The religious communities are full of intrigue, drama, hatefulness, and the imperfections as standard society. So why go to church? Therefore, I stopped.

I never expect anyone to be like me and my habits; I question my intentions (often) if they are right or wrong. However, people do need that Christian interaction on their own given terms—which in most cases meaning going to church as scheduled. I personally worship God and Jesus and attempt to spread that word every waking minute.

Why do Christians require pastors or minister? (a) Could it be Christians need to be with others in a community—to fit in and be needed or (b) could it be Christian laziness and narrow mindedness? People need to be with others in a Christian community to fit in for their purpose of their continuation in spiritual traditionalism. There is nothing wrong with that.  

Here is my reasoning. The minister or pastor is like a parent. They guide and help us mold our spirituality. Their position is much like a parent with many children.  A lot of times, people get a really good feeling when they hold hands and pray together; or, sit at a table and share food with good like minded company. This doesn’t mean that you like everyone there. Not every single person in the room is going to like each other, but they are tolerant of each other’s “spiritual sibling.” Sometimes the spiritual siblings do not like the parent. Not all spiritual parents are fitted to a specific religious community. Then you really have a lot of drama! The only difference is that we cannot fire our biological parents; though, we can learn from them.

Next part of the answer: are you a lazy Christian? What do you do to learn or do you just leave it all up to the minister or pastor to instruct you? “Sit in the pew and open your Bible to the page instructed? Today we are going to speak about ‘blah, blah, blah’…” and then you doze off just a little bit but you are listening to the whole thing. How? Your Bible sits on the chair or table until Wednesday. You eventually read the program to find out the events of next Sunday. Oh goody! Been there and done that. In my lifetime I can name a lot of people who have done this too.

Are you attending church because that is what your neighbor/friend does? Is it because of socialization? Is it to get more business contacts or to become a better known person in your society? A person needs to know why they attend church and what are they getting out of going? If you can’t figure it out then you really need to examine: (1) your soul or (2) maybe you aren’t comfortable with your spiritual community. Either way-- question your motive. Be honest with yourself.

The true reason to worship God and Jesus is for our soul: with faith and grace comes hope: with hope comes a will: with a will comes the opportunity to spread through physical actions: with physical actions come charitable work and suffering. Being a Christian is easy: sustaining one’s Christianity is the most difficult task in your life—emotionally and physically. Christianity isn’t just a way of thought; actions have to be included.

Michael Miller shared with me “Last man standing.” “Walter D Ehlers, the last living Medal of Honor recipient from the Allied invasion of Normandy during ‘Operation Overload’ in 1944, passed away in Buena Park, CA on Thursday of natural causes at the age of 92; please, keep his friends, family, and fellows in arms in prayer.” I mentioned this young man on February 9^th, and this is a follow up after contacting a family friend Wendy Ladner-- with a very heavy heart on this subject, God called home a very special young man in the community of Jones Co., Mississippi—Austin Blake Savell. His father works at Jones Co. Jr. College in Ellisville, MS. Blake had surgery and he never woke up. God needed him more on February 19th. No matter what the situation, when a child passes through the arms of his parents, it is the hardest loss of all. Keep his friends and family in prayer.  Remember to pray for Ashley Larson who is still recovering but appears to be much better. Keep in prayer each other.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7) Examine what you are fighting for? Is it life everlasting?

Remember this is just my thoughts and no one has to agree, but I request everyone be respectful of each other if not yourself.

God bless you all and keep you safely in His arms.