We like robots....

In the American Church I have discovered that believers like robots live to be instructed how to live. We look forward to the sermon that tells us what we need to do next. Instead of learning to read the word ourselves and instead of learning to listen to the Holy Spirit we have opted for the easy way out. The pastor will tell me what to do next.

read Matthew 6:33 this week in preparation for next weeks sermon
bring canned goods for our pantry
next Saturday is road cleanup
our budget is short we need more giving
be sure to invite a neighbor for our new series
next month is our annual outreach
we need more sign ups for Vacation Bible School
this week you need to fast on Wednesday and pray for
the sermon: How's your attitude -Your attitude determines your altitude?"

Describe your life outside of what the pastor tells you to do? We have institutionalized what it means to live for Jesus. Our walk with Christ is becoming increasingly corporate and less personally & Holy Spirit driven. Instead of focusing on what the believer personally does for Jesus it's all about what the church corporately does for Jesus. We are fulfilling the Great Commission - no longer means the believer himself/herself is fulfilling the Great Commission or personally investing themselves in the lives of their neighbors, the homeless, the poor, widows and orphans. The corporate work is rapidly replacing the mandate to do it personally.