What Concerns You the Most About the Church Right Now?

Ok, so I haven't blogged in 2 1/2 months. So many life-changing things have happened. I sit here, at 12:24am, blogging because I'm reading a book and I don't want to forget what I'm reading. I don't want to read this book because it seemed rather boring. I like to read mindless things like historical romance books. It's a way I unwind and relax before going to sleep each night. But, I'm more or less forced to read some books I would not normally choose (they're not fiction) so that Lauren can earn scholarship for next year's camp. I'm not complaining. Really, I'm not. As I found with last year's books (We have to read three each year.), I'm learning sometimes profound things I need in my Spiritual walk.

This particular book is one that is required (We get to choose one each year, if we want to or read the ones on "the list".) this year. It's called "The Call". I have to admit, it was just ok for the first 10 chapters. Then, the rest of the 29 chapters are interviews of different people. I suppose I should probably know who they all are but I only recognize the names of a handful of them. I'm finding them interesting.

The person/interviewee (Is that a word?) I'm reading about tonight is Mark Hall from Casting Crowns, a well known Christian music group. I think I would really like this guy in person. His answers are spot on in what I believe. He talks all through the interview about relationships with people and discipleship through those relationships. When the interviewer asks him what advice he'd give his son at his high school graduation, he answers (Paraphrased) that he's working with him now, as he grows, so when graduation day comes he can just say "Live up to what you've already attained." Wow. That's a great goal!

So, the question and answer that struck me most tonight, in the middle of the night when I should be sleeping, is this...

"What concerns you the most about the church right now?"

Mark answers: "What concerns me most is that we have this Christianity culture where believers are learning more on other people's walk with Jesus instead of growing their own. So, when the go to church, they've the got "worship service Jesus", and the students have the "youth group Jesus" and here's the "Casting Crowns' concert Jesus" and the "conference Jesus," and as long as you are with those people in those places then everything is great. But then you go home and you don't have those people around, it seems like whatever you had has been lost. And if there is no personal growth as a result of a personal relationship with Jesus, then I am just trying to grow off of someone else's relationship and faith. You must have your own relationship with Jesus, because when the storms of life hit me, and they will, I can't lean on someone else's Jesus."

(I hope I don't get in trouble for quoting the book word for word....)

Amen and Amen. That's it right there. He IS my Jesus. But, I've fallen into that trap before. I desire for my own children to have their own Jesus and not have "my" Jesus or anyone else's.