4%

Ever been inside, looked at the conditions outside, and thought, No way I'm going out there; I'm staying right here where I'm comfortable?

Sure you have. Who hasn't?

I'm looking out the window right now, looking across San Francisco. I think, the greater the difference between "inside" and "outside," the easier it is to decide whether you'll stay "in" or go "out."  

As I look over a city where only 4% of the population is churched, I'm concerned. No one should have to live without knowing Jesus, but if the Church in America doesn't dramatically change, I'm looking at the future of America. We've got to stop glaring out over our communities, thinking we're "inside" and others are "outside." Want the truth?  We're all in community together - all of us - and no one is outside the reach of God.

"Who's in?" and "Who's out?" asks the wrong question. 

"Who's here?" is better.

"Who cares about who's here?" is better yet...because we're all in this together. 

So, if you look "outside" and see people sinking, it's suicidal madness to say, "I'm not going to bail. The hole is in their end of the boat."  

Galatians 5:14-15  -  The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

Comments

[Kathy Gentry]

Amen.

[Mark Simpson]

If you are really want to be authentic and look inside then do so and talk to gay people during the Pride Celebration in San Francisco. Don’t preach to them…. go and talk to them actually see them.

I work at local hospital and probably 10% of the employees are gay. I watch everyday while these outcasts lovingly care for Christians. Some are Christians who attend Granger.

I see what happens on the inside.

My gay co-workers wipe the Christians behinds when it is soiled with stool or urine, they put breathing tubes in to save their lives, they respond to the emergency and stop the bleeding, they skip lunch and go unpaid because they are needed, etc. I could go on and on.

They know that the people they care for believe they are heathen and don’t believe that they should have pride in themselves or serve in the military. BUT, these SAME Christians want them to care for their family members and request them.

Funny, I read your blog because I am a Christian.

Because of your blog I don’t think I want to be a Christian anymore. It has pretty much turned me off to God.