| The Next Thing You Know |
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Content from Out of the Box
If I have heard it once, I have heard it a thousand times. It seems to be most appropriate when applied religously, and always is used in a negative way. "The next thing you know", and the words that follow go something like this.
"The next thing you know", they'll be clapping after baptisms.
"The next thing you know" they'll be applauding the preacher.
"The next thing you know", they'll be clapping during songs.
"The next thing you know", they'll be raising their hands.
"The next thing you know", people will be testifying.
I think you get the point.
Martin Luther would write in the sixth century that he felt the downfall of modern religion was the invention of the church pew.
Imagine the rhetoric of the day.
"The next thing thou knowest" each member will sit in the same place every Sunday.
"The next thing thou knowest" thine pew must be padded.
"The next thing thou knowest", if someone is sitting in my pew, I will ask them to movest lest there be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Perhaps Martin Luther was right.
Alexander Campbell would write too, about the pew. He believed there was no more disrespectful way to address God than by sitting on one's behind. His point being, anytime a dignitary enters a room, we stand to address them. Isn't God deserving of that much respect, and then some?
It's food for thought isn't it?
Because:
"The next thing you know" is the church will stop being the dynamic, loving, growing body that it is called to be.
"The next thing you know" we will flush out everyone that isn't as "faithful" as we are, and get rid of them.
"The next thing you know" we will begin labeling brothers as "false teachers" and "liberals".
"The next thing you know" we will demand everyone see things our way, and do just like we do, in order to get to heaven.
"The next thing you know" people will stop dedicating their lives to Christ.
"The next thing you know" our worship will resemble a funeral service.
"The next thing you know" we will wonder why we have so few young people and so many old ones.
"The next thing you know" we will begin to live in the past.(when we were the fastest growing religious body)
"The next thing you know" you'll sing the "real" church songs and be quiet during those "new" ones.
"The next thing you know" people come and go and we don't even miss them.
"The next thing you know" we have to go to church.
"The next thing you know" is our children will leave the church.
"The next thing you know" Satan has accomplished his goal.
Jesus calls us to be changed.
He wants a relationship with us.
He asks us to be salt, light, vessels, and to shine like stars.
He wants us to pour our hearts out to our heavenly father.
He desires that we love, serve, and share with our fellow christians.
He looks to us, to bring the lost to him, so that he can change their lives too.
If we will exercise more love and tolerence,(who cares if you raise your hands or clap)
if we testify as to the mighty works of our God, if we approve of our minister's message whether it be by saying "Amen", "that's right", or applauding isn't God glorified?
If the tide turns and those things happen, "the next thing you know", we will be just like the first century church.
"Everyday they continued to meet together
in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
Acts 2:46,47
Out of the Box...I'm Robin Guidicy
email: tsfg@bellsouth.net
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Rodger Bingham
P.O. Box 461
Crittenden, KY 41030
Fax# 859-428-0568
"Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."
Proverbs 3:5-6
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