Doctrine

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! Matthew 23:23-24

I find it amusing that Jesus is constantly slapping around the Pharisees and challenging there life long passion and culture. These guys were bullies by every definition. They used the word of God as there very own justification to put undue stress and judgement onto people. All done in the name of God of course. 

We see this kind of doctrinal abuse at times in the church today. People become critical and judgementall of those that are not as strong as they are in the Lord. Within the church it can be very tempting to focus your attention on others and not within. Scripture gets twisted to meet the beliefs and agenda of the individual instead of the individual conforming to the truth of scripture. We must be on guard in this matter and never give in to the temptation to put doctrine over people. 

Gods priority is people and has given us his word to help us draw closer to God and his plan of salvation, justification and sanctification among many other important doctrines that are important to a life in Christ. The doctrine of Christ is the missing link in the church. We must embrace the centrality of Christ and His motives in everything. 

Pastor Patrick

Works

Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Romans 3:27-28.

The biggest problem with the church is Jesus. Or lack of the centrality of the gospel, so lack of Jesus. To many things get in the way and cloud our hearts. I see it all the time right in my own backyard. We determine that someone must be a great person of God because of all the stuff they do in the community or at church. We lift up the person onto a pedestal that works hard at serving others. We honor the person that we see as being obedient to the Lord and his commandments according to our skewed religious perspective. The one that does the most gets the place of honor. 

Get out of debt, stop smoking, serve more in the church, feed the homeless and on and on it goes with the list of things you and I shouldn't be doing if we are to be a good Christian. We even have classes and meetings to make sure you can do it "GODS WAY". The reality is all these things are fine when Jesus is the central reason why! Nothing you do will make a difference in eternity unless it is done in Christ. It saddens me to think that most of the people we think highly of and throw up onto the pedestal of honor really do a great job at the works of the church, life and religion but have no relationship with Jesus, they rarely spend time with Jesus in his word or prayer unless someone goes to the emergency room then all of a sudden they are calling on the name of the lord. 

Do not let the work of the mission get in the way of the relationship with the mission giver.

Pastor Patrick

Consumerism

Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty.  Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don’t mean that your help didn’t mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles. Phillipians 4:11-13

We live In a fast paced, get it now society. If we want something we are not encouraged to save our money and then purchase it. No, we are told to go get it now. Put it on a credit card and just make payments. This is just a small aspect of consumerism but it tells the story. We have brought this same mindset into the church, the body of Christ, and it is destroying the church from within. 

Learning to be content with thanksgiving is a rare trait today; however, being happy with what we have been given and looking at our circumstances as a gift from God brings about something that I see very little of today in the church and outside the church. That is Joy! Being happy no matter the circumstance or situation. Joy brings peace. 

Pastor Patrick

Individualism

Romans 12:5

so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 

Hebrews 10:25

not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 

There are hundreds of scriptures that encourages us to live in community. Why is this so important to us today in a society that promotes a culture of "every man for himself" mentality. Individualism takes our focus off of God, His promises, His giftings, His provision and forces us to relying on ourselves. You ever wonder why in a civilized nation that depression is so prevalent when we have more things and opportunities available to us then anywhere else in the world? I say "individualism". 

Community offers love, support, companionship. We are not designed to be alone, nor are we to carry the load that life can weigh us down with. Life is not easy to live out and especially without God and the community of believers. God has made it possible to live with a passion and freedom from the burdens of our society. It's called the church. I challenge you to embrace the support God has provided for you. Get connected!! WHERE ARE YOU PLUGGED IN?

Pastor Patrick

Materialism

Ec 5:10

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. 

Heb 13:5

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Do you have a tendency to lean on the hope of your retirement fund and equity in your home for your future well being? We have been conditioned here in America to trust in these things. We look at how much money we have in the bank and this help us feel secure if there is money there, or we get stressed out or depressed when there is a lack of money. These feelings may be real and it really can show you where your putting your trust. 

God has asked us to trust Him and Him alone for our material security. Does this mean we are not to have a 401k or buy a home? No, of course not! If these things are available to us then we should be smart with what God has provided. It's not having these things that is the issue but trusting in them and basing your success with God on these things. God looks at the heart and knows that you trust him or the things of the world for your security and future. 

Pastor Patrick