Let It Grow

Last night at our small group R. stated that our congregation need to get more members. Agreeing, I turned to one of our elders in attendance an suggested that he order some new members from the Church Supply Catalog. Yes, I was being facetious but its like we have gone over this so many times before. Just what can we do to attract more members?

In one sense, I am not sure we can. You can do thing to provide favorable conditions for the growth of a plant, but the actual growth is a function of the life-force within it. You cannot make a church grow. It grows by being infused with God's Spirit. Did we forget that its God who gives the increase?

So what's the problem? Regrettably I am not in a position to answer specifically. All I can say for myself is that my early days were a joyous time of discovery. Now things seem more routine and bland. Everything gets old I guess, but without the urging of Holy Spirit to move us on to new challenges, things get old really fast.

I am convinced that some of the things that hinder us in the United States are the very things we take for granted. Contrary to what you may have heard from some conservatives, there is no movement of any kind to deny Christians their freedom to worship. There is no "war on Christmas".

 The Church and the prevailing culture get along quite well, and that is the problem. Just what are we offering the world that it doesn't already have? Where is the urgency to come together that the First Century Christians felt? The burning desire to follow Jesus? I love Bill Maher's remarks about the number of Christians who approve of government sponsored torture. He's right, we aren't following Christ, we're just auditing the course.

For Leelah

Dear Leelah:

I cannot begin to express the sadness the news of your death has brought me. Not only do I live only a short distance from where you lived,  it has not been too long ago since I heard the story of a "christian" couple who drove their son away because he was gay. He died from the drugs he used to dull the emotional pain he felt.

I am a Transwoman and a Christian. I have to say that all things considered I have been blessed. The Christian Psychologist I saw was a friend who was accepting and seem to know there was something feminine about me before I came out.

The friends I had "back then" are still my friends today. The church I attend accepts me as I am, even though some of the people there knew my "other self". I was even recently invited to talk to the congregation about my situation.

I want you to know that were it possible, I would have traded you my advantages if it would have saved your life. You are worth it. Jesus made it plain how much you were worth to Him.

I am sorry for the pain you experienced in your short life. At least I am in a position to understand.


Janet