Kirk Gilchrist

I find it alarming at the short sightedness or the narrowness of some thinking today in Christian circles.

I don’t mean to imply or even suggest Christians are “little” thinkers or that somehow we aren’t deep enough. In fact, I find most Christians that I know to be of sound mind and of sound character. Perhaps they just haven’t thought this one through.

That is the subject of Morality. And specifically, the Morality of our day.

I know, I know. Some of the “older” crowd will begin to talk about how far we have strayed and how much we are really missing the mark – as though somehow their generation had it. Can I remind readers of this Blog that it was their generation that allowed Abortion; free sex; free falling television; hippies; drugs and I could go on and on. So, can we just cut out the accusations and simply look at an issue today?

An election is soon upon us. Most (and I don’t disagree completely) Christians will vote for the Pro-Life, Pro-Family candidate. Great. Bravo! But can we add something to the list? Can we possibly think a little deeper?

What about the economy? Often times we relegate that to “carnal” thinking and not as critical as “life” issues. I couldn’t agree and disagree more. Isn’t it a matter of quality of life when we leave future generations in great debt? How can we possibly, with a straight face, say money and debt are not moral issues? The truth is we are close to 15 Trillion dollars in debt! That’s astounding to me. 15 Trillion dollars. That looks like this – 15,000,000,000,000.00. Get it? And yet our Government and our leaders continue to add more and take out more debt as thought it has little effect nor difference. Yet, generations will be affected by this uncontrolled spending. Generations!

Can I suggest to you a different approach? How about we take on all parties (Yes, it was George W. that took out the first stimulus – and Obama in his wake continuing and advancing the “cause”) and actually do something about it?

Can we “morally” vote for candidates that solely call for a Balanced Budget and for a cut in all spending?

If not, how do we look at our grandchildren and tell them what great moral people we have been. It’s time to wake up America. It’s time Church to stop supporting “Republican” candidates that further our debt. And, of course, Democrats as well. It simply is.

My two cents worth………

The New Year.

The Past year.

Years ahead and years gone by. Time travels. Time travels too fast if you ask me or anyone older than 30 in most cases. I’m stunned that my life is well past half over. Stunned!

I’ve been thinking a lot about my life and the short time I have ahead of me. I realize what Solomon must have been thinking in Ecclesiastes. Our life is but for a moment. The sobering truth is that 150 years from now (or even 100) no one will even know nor remember who I was. I’m not saying what we do can’t change culture and generations long after we are gone. I’m simply saying they won’t even know it was because of us. That can seem very depressing without vision and clarity. Very depressing.

It carries with it, though, some very defining moments and thoughts. What are we living for? Will it endure? What’s the purpose?

As a Christian, we have settled the question of Eternity. That certainly helps and I can’t imagine living without that in mind. I’d feel empty and without purpose. However, the questions still seem real to me. What am I living for and will it endure?

That being in mind – I wrote this about the Christmas season as my status on Facebook one day. Think about it.

Just greatly in love with my Savior today. I am far from a perfect man. I’ve made too many mistakes to count; did the wrong thing when I knew the right thing to do; trusted those I should not have trusted and did not give enough to those that trusted me. Yet, in the midst of that stands a Savior, Christ the Lord. Tis the season…..

You see this gives me clarity.

Mercy, Kindness, Care and Compassion……think on it. Wait, stop, and think about it again. It’s alarming and overwhelming the clarity it brings. And why? Because that’s what I’ve received – if I’m honest!

Now, let’s add to it. James, Chapter Three, tells us the Wisdom from above (in other words – God’s only wisdom) is pure, peaceable, gentle, easily talked to, full of mercy and good fruit and without hypocrisy.

Wow! Ok, stop again, think again. Read it again. If you do not have that going on with your thinking and attitude it’s clearly (and I mean this word!) not God’s or Heaven’s wisdom. Get it?

That’s why Matthew 18 screams out to me. When I understand I am the great debtor it just gives me a heart that can do nothing but show the same mercy and love I’ve received. It clarifies and it simplifies. Yep, it simplifies it. In fact, it sounds a lot like the fulfilling of the Second Commandment and the story of the Samaritan. Can you see it? It’s everywhere in the Bible!

Now, let’s conclude all of this. So, what do I want to leave behind? How about Generations, Grandchildren and church people that are simply kind and gracious? How about a whole group of Christians that actually cut each other some slack (knowing we need it as well! – back to the Parable). How about this? You messed up and so have I. Let’s walk through changing our lives together as those on the same team. I’ve got 20 or so years to develop and see it through. I think I have enough time to do just that.

It’s.a great way to start the New Year! But more so, it’s a great way to live each day in the New Year!

Goodbye 2011 – Hello 2012.

I know I haven’t written a Blog lately, but here we go! And before I write anything, I’d like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!

I’ve been thinking a lot lately. Well, actually I usually think a lot. It’s one of my many traits. Sometimes I actually think way too much about issues and people and other times, I probably think far too little.

I’d like to ask you to consider one of my many thoughts. What is actually a Super Natural life? I mean, I know we all think laying hands on a blind man and having him see would be supernatural. So would raising someone from the dead. And I’d agree!

However, I’ve also realized something else. In a sense this saddens me and in another sense it brings great encouragement. See! I’m thinking too much. Ha!

It seems that Christians want relevance today. I know I’m generalizing and I really dislike when other Christians lump all the church in with a few bad Christians. I prefer to believe (and I think factually)  the Church as a whole is doing a pretty good job. However, that’s not really what I’m trying to point out. It seems we want relevance in areas we shouldn’t be relevant and forget about relevance in the areas that should make us shine or stand out.

I know, I know – it’s easy to point out areas. Christian drinking? I don’t really get this one on both sides of the coin. Jesus drank wine (and it wasn’t grape juice – sorry it wasn’t! Why would they have accused him of being a drunkard if it was?). So, I don’t see the issue there. But on the other side, what’s up with thinking I need to drink to be relevant? I’ve sure never needed to do that. I mean, I don’t need to smoke a joint to be relevant and I don’t need to read a Playboy (or worse) to be relevant, so what’s the point? I just think it’s a different ballgame with mixed drinks. I could argue that out Biblically – but it’s really not the point of this Blog. We could talk about all kinds of areas like that and find easy targets and yet miss the real point in my mind.

How about this one in connection to a Supernatural life? The fruits of the Holy Spirit. Think about these, “Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. Against such there is no law.” Yes, think about whether those are in your life. I know people who “stand for righteousness” that are just plain mean. In fact, they are critical and cruel. And yet they believe they are right. How sad. I know of Christians who point the finger at everyone else and haven’t even discipled one person in years and years of their life. What?? How can that be? It’s true. How sad.

So, what am I saying? I’m saying that Christ the Lord came on Christmas with a message. “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” It was a man touched with humanity and became humanity so that we can see something of the Abundant life.  Why not look at the “relevance” and the “supernatural” of Jesus life?  He visited and became Relevant to the most down trodden by doing something very novel. He cared, He had compassion, He actually looked for others to disciple. See the Relevance. Loving and Caring never become old, but dead religion certainly does.

So, how about we start a trend of the Supernatural in regard to the fruits (or the reality or the relevance of) the Holy Spirit in our little world? How about we begin to be a little more kind and a little more compassionate.

I’ve found something in my life. People who say they care about me and do the opposite reveal their “fruit”. And others that say they care and then go about proving it also reveal their “fruit”.

I’m pleading we become truly relevant and not Pseudo…….

P.S. – For those who may miss the point out there, let’s allow our focus to be the fruits on the Holy Spirit and not just the drinking issue. It is important – yes – but not nearly as important as the fruits. I’d read them again, if I was you.

I received a phone call this morning that is not all that unusual. It was from a Pastor friend of mine who had letters written about him and sent to his whole church. The letter told about how my friend doesn’t really “love”. It turns out that one of his congregation was taken to the hospital  (it turned out – it was for nothing) and he didn’t make it. From that incident it began to be reported, “our Pastor doesn’t love – he didn’t even go to the hospital!” It spread and spread until most of his congregation now believes he just didn’t care. The problem is they had no idea of the reason why he didn’t come. That day his child had come home from school weeping and crying. He had to make a difficult choice – does he help his child or go to the hospital? I say – it’s an easy choice. Help your kid!

Another pastor I know decided to put curtains up in his old church building to try and modernize it. The church is splitting because of it! They’ve accused him of all kinds of things. Um, didn’t God ordain curtains at one time?

Recently, someone accused me of not loving the poor and wanting a “rich” church. Others believed this report. How could they? Here’s the wild thing about that. Through the businesses I’ve owned I’ve probably sent over a million dollars to the mission field; have flown all over the world to try and help the poor; and have paid for and supported 8 Orphanages around the world.

So, how could someone believe such a report?

It’s simple. We don’t question or look deeper. We don’t do what the Bible says and actually believe a good report about others rather than the demonic lies of the enemy. Hell speaks a word into someone’s ear and it sounds right – but it’s wrong! Very wrong.

Hellish.

Good men and good women are devoured! The darts of the enemy fly into their souls and destroy good people – from those that should be helping and loving. The Bible says, “the wounds of a tail-bearer separate even the best of friends”. Amazing. Alarming.

Enough of it!

Matthew 20 is a story about the Kingdom. It’s the story where you find those that labored all day long being paid the same as those that worked only part of the day. Want to know why? Because they were all the same – new workers (babies in the Kingdom) and old workers (babies in the Kingdom). How can that be – you might ask? Simple –  the heat of the day did not do a work in the Workers – they were still murmuring against the Landowner. They were still babies.

So, how about we judge ourselves before we throw stones at others? How about we deal with the beam in our own eye first? How about this? We find a way to destroy the Accuser of the Brethren by defending and thinking well of those giving their lives.

Otherwise, it’s just lies! You’ve believed a lie. Sad.

Well, you might be asking – who would ever say that? Who would actually say, I hate people!? Perhaps Hitler did or perhaps Stalin or some crazed man out there. But certainly no one you know. What if it was you? No way, you say, let’s find out.

It’s kind of like this. There is a Hell and there is a Heaven. Yep, we all agree on that. Check.

The only way to Heaven is through Christ and without Christ the certainty of Hell is also assured. Yep, agreed. Check.

So, what’s the point?

Well, what if your church decided to go to two services? What if your church actually grew? What if, (God forbid!) people actually started coming in your doors and you didnt know them? Gasp!

Oh NO – we’d scream out. I love the comfort of knowing eveyrone. I love the comfort of not having to meet new people. I love the small setting and the small church atmosphere. I love being comftorable. In fact, it fits my Romantic ideal of how I want it. Period.

What’s wrong with that? Everything if you are a Christian. Ok, let me repeat if for affect. Everything if you are a Christian.

You see we’ve been given this command, by our Commander in Chief. You see our God actually has a desire. We are told to “Go and Make Disciples”. In another Scripture, “You shall be witnesses in Jerusalam (our towns), all Judea (our Country), and to the end of the earth”. In another Scripture God simply says He’s not willing that any shoud perish.

So there we have it. God’s design and plan is clear. Crystal clear. We are supposed to actually love people enough to do what Jesus said and yet in the midst of that is a slew of people who find issue with church growth and the idea of multiple services. I for one actually want to have 30 services in a weekend. Yep, 30 services of people being touched with the Reality of Christ. Sounds good to me. I find it odd that the argument given that large churches water down the message is in direct contradiction to the fact that actually small churches do! How can we remain small if we are doing Jesus commands? How can we remain small if we are all agreed that none should perish? So, who is watering down the message? Think about it!

I’d encourage us to put a sign on our door. “No one else is welcome here”. Yep, that’s it. Put it right on the door. That way you can remain small and no one can mess up your comfortable living and church club. I didn’t right that to sound harsh – actually I didn’t even think of it harshly. I just think that’s what it will become – a great church club. So, let’s just call it that. A true hater of people – but a really good club.

So, how about we put on the real hat (the Christian one) and say, at the end of the day it’s not about my comfort. It’s about the lost being won and many people (through me) finding a way to fall in love with Jesus. Let’s put on this new hat and actually love others into the Kingdom. See our churches grow and be happy about it!

In fact, maybe we should find a way to rejoice with Heaven. The Bible says that when one sinner repents, God throws a party. How about rejoicing and being happy with heaven as our churches grow and get on board – rather than being used to find fault.

Sound novel? Sounds like a plan to me……..

Well, you might be asking – who would ever say that? Who would actually say, I hate people!? Perhaps Hitler did or perhaps Stalin or some crazed man out there. But certainly no one you know. What if it was you? No way, you say, let’s find out.

It’s kind of like this. There is a Hell and there is a Heaven. Yep, we all agree on that. Check.

The only way to Heaven is through Christ and without Christ the certainty of Hell is also assured. Yep, agreed. Check.

So, what’s the point?

Well, what if your church decided to go to two services? What if your church actually grew? What if, (God forbid!) people actually started coming in your doors and you didnt know them? Gasp!

Oh NO – we’d scream out. I love the comfort of knowing eveyrone. I love the comfort of not having to meet new people. I love the small setting and the small church atmosphere. I love being comftorable. In fact, it fits my Romantic ideal of how I want it. Period.

What’s wrong with that? Everything if you are a Christian. Ok, let me repeat if for affect. Everything if you are a Christian.

You see we’ve been given this command, by our Commander in Chief. You see our God actually has a desire. We are told to “Go and Make Disciples”. In another Scripture, “You shall be witnesses in Jerusalam (our towns), all Judea (our Country), and to the end of the earth”. In another Scripture God simply says He’s not willing that any shoud perish.

So there we have it. God’s design and plan is clear. Crystal clear. We are supposed to actually love people enough to do what Jesus said and yet in the midst of that is a slew of people who find issue with church growth and the idea of multiple services. I for one actually want to have 30 services in a weekend. Yep, 30 services of people being touched with the Reality of Christ. Sounds good to me. I find it odd that the argument given that large churches water down the message is in direct contradiction to the fact that actually small churches do! How can we remain small if we are doing Jesus commands? How can we remain small if we are all agreed that none should perish? So, who is watering down the message? Think about it!

I’d encourage us to put a sign on our door. “No one else is welcome here”. Yep, that’s it. Put it right on the door. That way you can remain small and no one can mess up your comfortable living and church club. I didn’t right that to sound harsh – actually I didn’t even think of it harshly. I just think that’s what it will become – a great church club. So, let’s just call it that. A true hater of people – but a really good club.

So, how about we put on the real hat (the Christian one) and say, at the end of the day it’s not about my comfort. It’s about the lost being won and many people (through me) finding a way to fall in love with Jesus. Let’s put on this new hat and actually love others into the Kingdom. See our churches grow and be happy about it!

In fact, maybe we should find a way to rejoice with Heaven. The Bible says that when one sinner repents, God throws a party. How about rejoicing and being happy with heaven as our churches grow and get on board – rather than being used to find fault.

Sound novel? Sounds like a plan to me……..