Torn
School has started again and blogging is a great way to avoid homework so now yall get to read another amazing new blog. I haven't been serious in awhile, a long while actually, while blogging so here goes one. I'm not sure what i'm going to do with my church situation. Right now i'm torn between two options. Option A. I stay a member at parkview. If you aren't involved with parkview then you wouldn't know that they have gone through quite a few changes. Right now the church has no pastor and it will be a little while until it gets some stability. This is all the more reason for me to stay. I don't feel like i should leave the church that has given me so much in the past 8 years in a time where so many members are leaving. However if i went with option B. i would still continue to attend parkview every week and my prescence there wouldn't change. Option B. I move my membership to the Ring Community Church. This option excites me with what i could do. I would love to help start a youth group there. Again i wouldn't leave parkview i would just be a member at a different church. So i'm not sure if i should stay with parkview or go and see if i can be a big part of this new church. Besides the obvious (pray about it that is) Any suggestions???
posted by Eric at 8:08 PM
9 Comments:
as much as i would love for you to join the ring with me, i think parkview is (or will be) in need of upcoming youth such as yourself to help re-establish the church you used to know. i haven't heard you say anything that would lead me to believe that parkview is in total ruins and should be left alone, so why give up now? you still should consider both options, and if you ask me, it's a win-win situation. you're a smart guy, pray about it :)
-Love
luke, i am your father
but parkview isn't bad off at all and i think i'd get more done at the ring
if parkview isn't bad off at all, then why were you considering leaving it? i agree that you'd get more done at the ring, for the time being. starting something new is always exciting. but how would you feel about being a bystander for the rest of your time at parkview?
I'm going to respond to you with some Led Zepplin lyrics!!
You don't have to go, oh oh oh oh
Eric, please, don't go
Well, I read the blog that you wrote me, the other night night night.
Well, I read the news that it told me, made me sad sad sad
I still love you so,
I can't let you go....
I know it's been tough at Parkview lately, but think of what's ahead. I say you get with Robert & try to find a way to grow the youth group where you are...but that is my selfish opinion!!
Eric,
I know that the "stuff" at Parkview isn't very fun right now. It's not for us either. And ultimately the decision is yours to make. However, option B isn't really an option. I think your options are (A) Be a member at Parkview or (C) Be a member at The Ring. You can't be a good church member and fully functioning part of the body at either if you're trying to do both (Option B). If you go with moving your membership to The Ring, but still being just as involved in youth at PBC as you are now, that's kind of like saying, "This is the girl I want to marry. I'm pledging my love, my life, and my finances to her forever. BUT, I still have a lot of fun with my other girlfriend, so I'll marry my wife and take my girlfriend on a date every Friday. That will work out for everyone." As you see, it really doesn't. A wife doesn't want or benefit from you having a girlfriend on the side and ultimately you have only conditionally made a covenant with her. Similarly, at some point, the girlfriend gets tired of just being second place and she can't meet you needs nor you meet yours if your not completely committed to her.
You do need to be plugged in where you can grow and are challenged, but a few tough months deosn't mean it's time to abandon ship. On a purely personal note, we'd miss you terribly, but of course this is one of those tough decisions you have to make.
Here's something to think about. I got this from a friend's blog, so I can't take credit (and she had ripped it off someone else's blog), but here it is:
Closer?
I've been thinking today about the 'career Christians' that move from church to church and shepard to shepard. I'm coming to a conclusion that the only reason a person should join/leave a church is to be closer to Jesus and his mission for their life.
I want to ask the career Christian...
Will this move bring you closer to Jesus?
Will it draw you into his presence?
Will it make you less about self and more about Him?
Will it cause you to put down your idols and pick up the cross?
Will it bring you closer to following the Holy Spirit when you don't 'feel like it'?
Will changing your location also change your heart? Will it?
Or will a move of venues take you further from Christ?
Will this move reinforce your selfish behavior?
Will it make you less transparent and more anonymous in your personal life?
Will leaving your church provide you more 'cover' from anyone seeing your heart?
Will it take you further away from Christ and closer to the world's view of success and pleasure?
Will leaving your church seal your fate for the next few years to a life of superficial Christianity?
Will going to a new church allow you to lie all over again?
Will a new church pick up on your shallow faith and weak backbone?
Will changing churches draw you closer to Jesus or closer to your sinful nature?
I do believe at times God may move us so that we can take 'the next step forward' in our relationship with Him. I do also believe, however, that the reality is that these moves for the right reason are few and far between.
Most "church hops" are simply horizontal in nature or worse yet, most are steps backwards.
I want to reach people with the gospel of Christ and I want every Christian around me to have that passion. Being reached with the gospel isn't "just salvation". I want Christians to start being "Christ-Followers" and do what HE came to earth to do (i.e. "Seek and to save that which was lost.")
The next time someone church hops out of your church ask them...
"Does this move draw you closer to Jesus or closer to your selfish nature?"
Praying for you!
Pam
I think you could do both, it's not quite like girlfriends and wives. I think it's more like God and God. Anyway, I think it's great that you want to be involved in two church bodies that need people.
as much as i would love to comment on this, i am really just posting to tell you that i read your comment on the q&a blog... email me and we can chat about it - joshcausey1@gmail.com
i totally wish i had that option. my parents took me away from parkview, the place that's been my home for so long, and put me somewhere else. somewhere new and different. and difficult. i just don't feel like i fit in there. you've been there for me the whole time: checking in on me and asking how i was doing. and i really couldn't have done it without you. (really off the subject, i'm sorry).
but you have the choice. be the faithful guy that you are and just continue to pray about it. God won't leave you in the dark, so just be persistent and he'll show you what's best.
-much love and prayer
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