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Caught Up In Circumcision
What is more important to you: The color of carpet, having pews, singing hymns or the danger of having a guitar on stage instead of an organ? These are all "vital" points of anger & bitter debate for many churches & their members around America who cannot come to the realization that the church really isn't about them. I'm still in my 20's though, I can handle sitting in a different seat every Sunday... Check back with me in 20 years.
My name is Nick Schultz. I currently work for a church as a Children's Pastor & have been attending church regularly ever since I decided to give me life over to Jesus 10 years ago. There are 2 very basic things that I have picked up over these 10 years: It is not about me & the church's (& individuals) that are growing are the one's that get this.
In Acts 15, Paul & Barnabas are called back to Jerusalem to answer & debate the "important" issue in the church at the time, "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." (Verse 1) So what right? Who doesn't want to stop helping the poor & spreading God's love to talk about circumcision? Paul & Barnabas had to stop everything they were doing to go debate this issue because it got so out of hand with the church leaders. They were all over the place starting churches, building up leaders & helping people turn their lives over to Jesus. The church back in Jerusalem was becoming something other than Jesus & the global church as a whole had to take a time out because of it. Paul & Barnabas' homeboy Peter was upset & laid it down for everyone, "No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." (Verse 11) Basically, he's telling them the same thing we have to constantly tell ourselves- It is not about me. Circumcision, baptism, pews, hymns, carpet, communion, King James Version, untucked Pastor's shirt? Pick your church's poison. Pick your personal poison. Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating church hopping every year because you found something wrong with the 15th church you are now a member of. Church is like a marriage, the commitment & work happen after the honeymoon.
Paul says it best in Galatians 6:13-15 , "Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation."
It isn't about me, it is about a new creation. A new creation is someone deciding to live a life for Jesus & not themselves. You make an impact when you get out of the way.
If your church leaders talk more about who & what is already in the building instead of who isn't in the building yet, you might want to get out of there before you get stuck in a circumcision debate.If you are the one starting or getting Caught Up In Circumcision debates... Get over yourself & get out of the way!
Nick Schultz
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