Friday, March 24, 2006
Vintage Faith Church of Decatur
Mission Statement
"What is a Church?"
The Church is a body of believers who witness to the "hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:7). It's an emerging church proclaiming the heart of Jesus as He reached out to a shady prostitute who washed His feet with her tears (Luke 7:44). He did not yell, "Away from Me, you worker on the corner!" He did not see a label. He saw a human heart reaching out. And He gently and lovingly allowed her to honor Him. And in honoring Him, she poured out all of her sin—every trick she ever turned.
Forgiveness is in the heart of Christ. And this encounter with Jesus may very well be the greatest example of the church ever portrayed—sins forgiven and washed away. Heart mended, instead of judged. Tears genuine, not contrived. No dry singing. No dull sermon. It was truth and honesty in weakness and devotion at the feet of Christ.
Religion is what's leftover when love and honesty walk out the door. It makes the church a religious center where fake people assemble to worship a plastic god. This type of church exists to meet the needs of the church consumer by providing services of excellence, for excellence sake. And the church becomes the last place to fall on your knees in weakness before Him. But the church is not a "place to have your needs met." Rather, it is a growing organism where people learn how to share in God's grace and witness to the hope of eternal life.
It's a group of believers showing fallen humans where to encounter the living Christ. Because He is the Lamb that was slain. May we never stop falling at His feet because the world tells us we should. . . . May we all find our rest here.
"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:3-7).
Mission Statement
"What is a Church?"
The Church is a body of believers who witness to the "hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:7). It's an emerging church proclaiming the heart of Jesus as He reached out to a shady prostitute who washed His feet with her tears (Luke 7:44). He did not yell, "Away from Me, you worker on the corner!" He did not see a label. He saw a human heart reaching out. And He gently and lovingly allowed her to honor Him. And in honoring Him, she poured out all of her sin—every trick she ever turned.
Forgiveness is in the heart of Christ. And this encounter with Jesus may very well be the greatest example of the church ever portrayed—sins forgiven and washed away. Heart mended, instead of judged. Tears genuine, not contrived. No dry singing. No dull sermon. It was truth and honesty in weakness and devotion at the feet of Christ.
Religion is what's leftover when love and honesty walk out the door. It makes the church a religious center where fake people assemble to worship a plastic god. This type of church exists to meet the needs of the church consumer by providing services of excellence, for excellence sake. And the church becomes the last place to fall on your knees in weakness before Him. But the church is not a "place to have your needs met." Rather, it is a growing organism where people learn how to share in God's grace and witness to the hope of eternal life.
It's a group of believers showing fallen humans where to encounter the living Christ. Because He is the Lamb that was slain. May we never stop falling at His feet because the world tells us we should. . . . May we all find our rest here.
"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:3-7).