Ask for the Ancient Paths
I think one of the saddest things I see today in Christianity is that we, as individual Christians, have simply become a product of our Christian Environment. Our values, our goals and our dreams have only risen to the level of our Christian Culture and it is in our Christian culture where the problem lies.
We have not exceeded what our culture tells us is normal Christian living. By not exceeding, we have developed “cookie cutter” Christians who have no authenticity.
Our Christian culture has produced leaders who all sound alike, look alike and have the same message. Those who make it to the magazine covers, book stores and/or Christian TV are chosen based upon what is acceptable by the world’s standard of message and appearance. Our Christian leaders have been chosen by image makers and business advertisers. Those who did have an authentic call on their lives were encouraged to water down the message and to prostitute the gifts for the sake of the image, for the sake of money.
Thousands sit in the pews on Sunday morning and are bored to tears with no sense of adventure in their lives and they ask, “is this all there is?”
Still others, in search of significance, have begun to seek after the new thing, the new pop/fade gospel. They seek after spiritual experiences or look for something that separates them out from others in order to feel authentic and special.
Some have turned from the ancient path and instead have turned to spiritual experiences such as gold dust, gem stones and soaking/contemplated prayer. Some, longing to feel special have given up their identity with the cross to go looking for their Jewish roots.
In wanting to feel authentic and special we have sought after titles, giftings, anointings and positions. We have neglected the very thing that gives us authenticity and specialty which is, the Cross and the Sacrifice that hung there. We have lost the sense of “being special” because of His blood alone. It is Christ in you the hope of glory!
Jeremiah 6:16 says: Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls.
Yeah, people long for the real thing. However, will we recogonize the real, when it is in front of us? Many Christians are preacticed in merely looking at the outside trappings of others. We are easily impressed!
It takes more to check with the inward witness of the Holy Spirit and discern what is below the surface. Also, one must look for good fruit in the lives of ourselves and others. I want to be an authentic person walking the Ancient Paths along with real leaders who have a true heart toward God and have genuine love for His people. And yes, it is an adventure!
yes i see, we like to put a label ,title, and initials after our names that represent a position so we can feel important and validated. I visited a church where a girl told me she held the office of prayer team warrior,intercessor, prophetess, decorator for the pastor’s wife, AND she always stands in the back praying in tongues and waving the annointing back up to the front so the holy spirit would be MORE effective. AND she hated how people would come in and interupt her to say good morning , becasue it interupted the ‘flow’ and made the holy spirit less effective.I felt I didnt have anything to give, so I quit going.But she told me the H.S. showed her I was a “giver” , and they needed that in the church . then she gave me a membership folder to sign out and return.
I didnt. Figured I didnt need a title.
Give me the Ancient Paths!!!! Pop culture is a scarey spiritual guide. Yeah, I agree with what you are saying Pastor Connie. I bet there are a lot of people in big ministry roles because of how they look in front of a camera. Marketable. Yikes! I once heard that most of the presidents elected before television probably wouldn’t have been elected in a post-television era. They had the leadership it took…but not the charisma a camera requires.