WWYDWYOWWJDB?

Dilemma: What will you do with your old WWJD bracelet[s]?

Possible Solution[s]:

• They make wonderful collars for small dogs and cats--even your ferret can get a lil' Jesus love on.
• Turn your lust-a-lot Barbie into a bona fide believer with a WWJD "bracelet" headband or belt.
• At the next wedding you attend, forget about throwing rice and birdseed or blowing bubbles--toss your WWJD bracelet at the newly christened husband and wife.
• Hang your old bracelets on any doorknob. It's a great conversation piece.
• If you have more than six bracelets, put them all on your next bottle of Dr. Pepper--they'll keep your hand from getting wet! WWJD bracelets make the coolest coozies.
  
• Cut them up and use them as bookmarks. This way you are guaranteed to finish all your assigned reading--c'mon, Jesus wouldn't sluff off on his studies would he?

There is a reason why postmodern heretics, from feminist theologians to ecumenical pluralists, would rather talk about “God” than Jesus. And there is a reason why so many of the most heated controversies in church history have been Christological. “God” is an abstract enough concept that it can be defined impersonally, as “the divine” or the “Ground of Being.” So the liberal divinity school theologian can speak in terms of “God covenanting with Godself to redeem God's people and to bring them into God's land.” The pluralist dialogue partner can speak of “God” at work as Allah, Vishnu, and whatever Marianne Williamson is calling divine these days.

The gritty flesh and blood reality of Jesus of Nazareth, however, is much more particular and much more exclusive. I think the fatal flaw of contemporary Christianity, on both the right and the left, is what Adrio Koenig called "the eclipse of Christ." We speak of the glory of God, and we aim for “God-centered worship,” but we forget that God's glory is tied up in what Maximus the Confessor called “the Christic mystery,” namely that God's purpose is “to sum up all things in Christ” (Eph. 1:10). Contemporary Christians may have “WWJD” bracelets and other sorts of “Jesus junk” in our closets, but too rarely do we hear the big picture of how our God is no generic God, but the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jesus of Nazareth.

--Russell Moore

Churchianity

You know you've survived Churchianity if...

• You've ever thrown out all your "secular" cds...only to replace them a year later.
• You've ever sung Amazing Grace to the tune of Gilligan's Island.
  
• Your vocabulary has ever been peppered with words like "burden" or "fellowship."
• For graduation, you were given a Thomas Kinkade painting, Max Lucado book, or a leather-bound copy of The Message.
• You've actually tried a pack of Testamints.
• You wash your car with a T-shirt that says "GAP--God Answers Prayer."
• Your ears perk up when you hear words like The Donut Man, McGee & Me, or Psalty the Singing Song-Book.
• You've ever taken communion with Doritos and Mountain Dew.
• You wore more than one WWJD bracelet at the same time...on the same wrist.

If You Love Me, You Will Love the Church

Love him or hate him, Derek Webb’s songs “The Church” and “Wedding Dress” are some of the finest songs I have heard this millenia. He does such great job of painting a biblical picture of the Chruch that reminds me time and time again what is truly important in this life.

When I am frustrated with the collection of sinful people that makes up the church, “The Church” reminds me that the Church is the bride of Christ:

And you cannot care for Me with no regard for her
If you love Me you will love the church

When I’m either self-righteous and need to be reminded that I’m a sinner or wallowing in my sinfulness and need to be reminded of Christ’s redemption, “Wedding Dress” helps out:

I am a whore I do confess
I put you on just like a wedding dress
and I run down the aisle

5 Reasons Why I Love The Church

1. Announcements in the middle of the worship service. There is nothing more annoying than to be worshipping God in song one second and then hearing about the all-chuch potluck dinner the next. Either put all of the announcements in the church bulletin or don't announce them until the service is over. I can't imagine Jesus stopping in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount to mention the fish fry to be happening later in the evening at Peter's place.
2. Flags. I'm not talking about American or Canadian or Mexican or Russian or any other sort of national flag. I don't have a problem with those. I'm talking about the giant purple, pink, and yellow "Hosanna" flags that either hang on the wall or get paraded around during the singing time. The church can praise God herself; we don't need any loud colored flags to do that for us.
3. "Visitor" time. Attention church: the last thing a first time visitor wants to do is to raise their hand and have every other person in the room stare at them because they are a "newbie." And don't do nametags either, this isn't a 12-step program.
4. Praise and worship guitar solos. Now this cuts close to home, because I love me a mean guitar solo, but there comes a point when you have to ask yourself, "Does Lord I Lift Your Name on High really need another guitar solo?" And I believe if you have to ask yourself that question, you may have more serious questions to consider.
5. Interpretive dancing. I know David got indignant before the Lord and got down with his bad self. And I'm sure he was great. But it is always awkward when the lady holding the microphone starts gyrating on stage to songs like I Can Only Imagine or anything by Casting Crowns.

All kidding aside, I love the Church. I love the body of Christ. I love Sojourn.

I'm not speaking of a specific place or structure or gathering. I'm talking about the Church--those for whom Christ died. Not brick and mortar. Real people. The communion of the saints.

The Church isn't perfect, but Jesus promised to grow his Church; therefore, I'm totally committed to it (Mt. 16.18; Acts 2.39-47).

The Church is precious. Christ purchased the Church with his own precious blood; therefore, I am going to love those for whom he died as best as I know how (1 Pet. 1.19; 1 Jn. 3.14-16).

The Church is called to lift up the truth and hold it high; therefore, it is the community with whom I will labor (Eph. 1.9-10; Col. 1.28-29; 1 Tim. 3.15).

The Church is the body of Christ; therefore, I must daily grow together in conformity to the fullness of Christ (2 Pet. 3.10-14; Rev. 4.4-11; Eph. 4.12-13).

The Church will prevail over the gates of Hell; therefore, in light of that triumph, I am assured that my worship and toil is not in vain (Mt. 16.18; 1 Cor. 15.54-58).

As long as the Lord gives me breath, I hope to invest my life and energies in the ministry and advancement of the Church’s mission. Even with all the announcements and flags and strange interpretive dancing, the Church is the closest we can get to heaven on earth.

And that's why I love the church.