Be Careful Christians!

If you have been worshipping with us at Broadway, we have been focusing on "praise" for the past several weeks. I have tried to keep my blog in line with that focus, but today I feel the need to veer off of that subject at least for today.
I am not a fan of technology. I think it is primarily because I don't really understand it, nor do I have a desire to sit in front of a computer or ipad and learn it. However, I have been encouraged to "get with the times" and join facebook, create a blog, create a web page, and the like. So I am trying it out. I have a facebook account. Obviously, I am attempting this "blog" thing! I don't quite understand twitter, so I am leaving that alone for now.
I had to laugh this morning when my daughter was reading over my shoulder as I caught up on everyone's facebook status. She said, "Mom, why do people send you this dumb stuff?" I guess what Tara was making for dinner and who Bailey is dating and Mallory's latest song lyric post was not interesting enough for her.
However, one thing that was posted has had me thinking all day. In fact, it really has me wanting to shout at everyone, "CHURCH, BE CAREFUL!" The following is a facebook conversation that took place this morning:
-"Your answers don't have to be "churchy" just because you are in a room of Christians. I think even Jesus wants you to be real. If you can't be real, how can you deal with real problems?"
-"Amen! Uh-oh I used a "churchy" word".
-"LOL, I figure "amen" is ok. It is words like sanctification and fellowship that make my skin crawl."
-"I totally agree. If you are not in seminary school, you should not use sanctification in a conversation."
ARE WE SERIOUS??? Christians, we must be very careful. If we are so worried about being "real" and "relevant" that we forsake God's Word, we are in tremendous danger. I agree, Jesus was real. He wasn't "churchy" at all (or should I say "synagoguey"). In fact, he kind of shook things up in the religious department of his day. But my dear friends, words like "sanctification" and "fellowship" were part of his vocabulary. If these words offend you or make your skin crawl, I have to question if you have studied His Word at all.
It scares me that we find ourselves in this situation as a church. People are posting and chatting and talking about Jesus, but I question if they really know Him. They want Jesus to be relevant. They want Him to be their Friend. They want Jesus to be "edgy" and "controversial". Let me tell you, friends. The only way that you will know Jesus as edgy and as a Friend and as relevant is if you study His Word. I mean....really study it!
And I guarantee you if you study it, you will see words like "sanctification" and "fellowship". I also guarantee that if you study those words they will in no way make your "skin crawl". I also guarantee that Peter and Paul didn't have seminary degrees and they used those words. I don't have a seminary degree and I love those words. I love them because I know what sanctification is and I praise Him for it. I love them because I know what fellowship is and I know that I have it because of Christ's work at the cross. I am sanctified because of the Spirit's work in me making me more like Jesus. I have fellowship with God because of Christ's atoning work. I can walk right into the Holy of Holies because my Savior died on the cross and rose again on the third day. He took my sin and nailed it to the cross. His blood was the perfect atonement. I am justified and made right because Christ became a servant and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. He said "It is finished"...and Praise God, it was! Praise be to God for His indescribable gift.
I guess this blog turned into a praise focus after all...(sorry about all the "churchy" words!)