God's shaking
God is shaking the modern church. I've written about this for the past year. You can sense it - people are rapidly growing tired of "religion" - but they are dying of thirst for God. Hebrews 12 talks about God shaking the earth and the heavens. His shaking will come and perhaps it has already begun. From the Message - "If those who ignored earthly warnings didn't get away with it, what will happen to us if we turn our backs on heavenly warnings? His voice that shook the earth to its foundations; this time - he's told us this quite plainly - he'll also rock the heavens: 'One last shaking, from top to bottom, stem to stern.' The phrase 'last one shaking' means a thorough housecleaning, getting rid of all the historical and religious junk so that the unshakable essentials stand clear and uncluttered."

The passage goes on to say, "Do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He's actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won't quit until it's all cleansed. God himself is fire!"

Yikes! God is going to torch all that needs to burn. God is going to shake the earth, the church and each of us to knock off all that isn't of God.

Too many of us want just enough of God. Just enough to make us better people. That is all. We stop there. We then turn to the church to meet the other needs - nice, clean sanctuary, nurseries brimming with qualified care givers, AWANA for the little kids, summer camps, youth groups, nice choirs, etc. etc. Some mega-churches have taken this to an extreme with gyms, health classes, social events, networking plans, etc. so that the "consumer" will spend their free time (and money) in the institutional church.

Many have said, "I'd rather have all that - all that comfort and convenience - than I would a passionate relationship with God. All that radical church stuff is dangerous, it is unsettling, it is unconventional." EXACTLY - God isn't "safe". God isn't comfort and convenience. He wants all of us totally sold out.

If we refuse Him, the shaking will hurt. He warns against those relying on their own craftiness, own plans, own creativity -- "Go light you own fires, trust your own light to guide you. But this is what you'll receive from me - you'll lie down in a place of pain," Isaiah 50:11

God's shaking is happening. Big changes are coming in His church. He wants all of us. Are you willing to let go and let God take you where He will?

Soar!