The Four CHs of Christianity
There is a definite theme today in a number of today’s blogs. The same words keep popping up. Then Stumble Upon presented a quote in big bold letters. Here it is — tailored a bit for our purpose.
The four CH’s of Christianity:
Choices, Chances, Changes, Church
You must make a Choice to take a Chance or your Church will never Change.
The obvious biblical reference is to the Choices and Chances taken by the disciples and the Changes that resulted in the Church.
But what about today’s Christians? Our choices and chances are not likely to be recorded for posterity and referenced a thousand years from now by book, chapter and verse.
The choices in our lives are frequently taken from us. Signing on for Christianity can be a prescription for life in a religious rut, go to worship, do some church things — (teach children, sing, brew coffee, mow the yard), put money in the offering, and talk about taking stands and sacrificing. The mechanisms for serving become standardized — sign up for a charity run or volunteer in a soup kitchen. Others will likely join you and there is satisfaction in numbers. You can report numbers. “Ten members of St. John helped build a home for Habitat for Humanity.”
We never report or measure what we fail to do!
When the need for change becomes overwhelming, we often are ill-equipped to do more than talk about it. Leaders can find this comforting; more than talk might create friction. Friction is work.
Change does not happen without making some conscious choices and taking chances — some of which will not look prudent when the costs are projected. The choices that need to be made in the church today will not be popular. They will pull members and leaders out of their comfort zones. They will require new training and ways of thinking.
The chances that need to be taken may look foolish. They will seem daring . . . but that’s entirely biblical. You might have to spend some of that endowment money! You might have to look for new leadership.
Choices, Chances, Changes, and Church
Work at them with prayer. But don’t stop there. Take action.