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Why Is The Church on Life Support ?
By Adam Bartlett - Page 1
Preface
I grew up in a Christian home and went to church every time the doors were opened whether I wanted to or not. I am extremely thankful for the upbringing I had and also for having two Christian parents. That alone is not something that everyone has the luxury of having in this country.
I was brought up in a conservative Missionary Baptist Church, and went to a Southern Baptist Church later in my youth. I met my wife in a youth group at this church and I could not be more thankful for that. I was also in a General Baptist Church, Pentecostal, Assembly of God, and others over the past 30 years.
Growing up in church there are some things that stayed in my memory and one of them being the tradition and rituals. There were things that were evident even then that stayed in my memory. I am well aware that there are certain structures that are needed in the church but what they have become and how they have been transformed is what concerns me. I am not advocating that we get rid of all the church structures but I am advocating major reform in them.
I remember in the years after high school and getting married and joining the military. We moved over 2,000 miles away from home and started a journey along the lines of the Prodigal Son. In this process I remember working alongside a Christian man that read his little New Testament from time to time on breaks. I remember that this man never once asked me about my spiritual condition. He did invite me to his church's gym to play basketball one time. All the time that we spent together in the work place and he never gave me what I needed at that time. I was in the hog's pen as was the Prodigal Son and he never offered to help me out.
Several years later when we moved back home and things changed in my life radically, I recalled that situation in my life. I called this man up and reminded him of the situation and let him know that I was now on the right track but that he should not let another like me get away from him. He was very apologetic and realized that what I said was true and I only pray that it helped him to realize how important it is to share what we have.
What made the most impact in my life have not been great spiritual experiences in the church, but rather personal experiences in the world with real people. I remember after I had a great experience with God in my living room that my life was forever changed at that time. I realized that I could not play games with this thing called Salvation. I realized that I could not play on both sides of the fence and expect that God would be happy with that. Once that change happened I was out to save the world.
Continued on... Page 2
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