“You’ve got to change your stinking thinking”! So often in our lives we think we have it all figured out. No one is going to tell us we’re wrong! It seems like every subject or topic, especially lately, has opposing viewpoints. I am aware (hopefully) that these blogs you read are meant to be uplifting, not polarizing, political, or controversial. You come to the blog not wanting anything that’s going to start yet another argument about x. “Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” That’s always a good place to start. Deciding what is good and honorable and all the other fruits of the spirit that St. Paul describes in Galatians 5. Think on those things; adjust or even scrapheap your “stinkin’ thinkin’’. Not being conformed. Being prepared for whatever unpopular road that takes you on. And that road can get awful lonely. (Now I seem to be channeling some forlorn country music songs).

My “stinkin’ thinkin’” oftentimes gets challenged. How about yours? Will we ever grow if we are unwilling to change? There has been much distress for too long over the decline of church. Or worse, jealous envy over those who pack the house with enthusiastic arm-wavers (I am betraying my bias, aren’t I?). “What have they got that we don’t got?” The answer is usually “young people”. Church leaders who DON’T have that kind of church do admittedly get a little envious. “How do we get that?” We are citizens of a kingdom more than members of a church. We can, with a little effort, penetrate our culture. That means stepping beyond safety and comfort, gated communities. Why should seekers have to come to us? Didn’t Jesus go to them? I confess that I seldom summon up the courage to get out there and take some risks. Wouldn’t it be great to have a church in every mall, Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble (despite the overpriced Starbucks coffee)? Reading clubs in these places. With conversation just loud enough to attract curious attention. Proclaiming the kingdom of God, not a country club. Pronouncing grace, not wrathful judgment on us poor, wretched souls.

When we begin to think and act like kingdom people, we will not only acknowledge God’s absolute authority, but his unconditional love. It is both-and; already not yet. Entirely up to God and yet co-dependent on us. We have been called, invited into this relationship with our Creator. We don’t have it all figured out. Nor are we meant to. But God knows the plans He has for us – plans for us to prosper, not in the strictly material sense. He has plans to redeem and restore us and our “stinkin’ thinkin.”

Pastor Art