The church

I am in the process of writing a paper right (actually I am taking a break to update this blog) and I have come to realize some interesting things. The paper is actually a book report for a class I am taking. The book is called "Ancient Future Faith" by Robert Webber. It is a little heady but really good in many ways.

His goal in this book is to help the reader realize how much ones culture affects their faith in Christ...very interesting topic. And so I am realizing something about my faith that I like and honestly some things that I am having to struggle through.

The bulk of my paper is going to be written about the church and how modernity has affected the church. If we are honest many Western churches have become very individualistic and materialistic. And much of the time we don't even realize it because the culture and the world around us is individualistic and materialistic. The Western church has many consumers who just church shop. "This church is not meeting MY needs" "I like the worship here, but the teachings here, which church can serve ME best?" And honestly that is sad because church is a community of people, not a program or a building.

But, with all that said I am realizing something. I love the church. Not a church, not a denomination, but the church. Sure she has some imperfections, some blemishes, and in some cases some major issues. But, God has chosen to use her to reach the world! The church is the hope of the world and I pray that she listens to the callings and to the words of Christ in all that she does.