I Still Love Those Fries-"Don't give Up on God! (314 hits)
By Milan Ford In the fall of 2002, I was blessed with the unique opportunity to serve as the college ministry director for one of the largest and most influential churches in the country. For nearly four years, I had the opportunity to serve, counsel, lead, and learn from hundreds of college students who attended various schools within the city of Atlanta, Georgia. During that span of time, I witnessed first hand what many ministry leaders throughout this country are experiencing today - a growing discontentment and apathy regarding the relevance of the local church in the eyes of today's generation of young people. Despite all of the programs, events, concerts, scholarships, pizza nights, and other heart felt approaches our churches have tried to offer in order to reach this generation, what was once considered necessary, has now become optional. And worse, what was once attractive... now repels. And although many would like to attribute this pattern of apathy only to young people, there is alarming number of believers today (ages 30 and up) who now refuse to have anything to do with the local church because of either a prior unfavorable experience they had while apart of one, or perhaps being made aware of a considerable disparity between what a particular leader was saying or teaching in public, and what he or she was doing in private. I am often asked by parents and ministry leaders alike what my response is when I encounter someone who has given up on God and their faith because of something that happened to them while attending a local church. My answer, although far from earth-shattering, is always the same. Feel free to borrow it whenever you like. Here it is: I am in LOVE with McDonald's fries.In my opinion, they are the best-tasting fries in the world. Yet despite my unfailing adoration for them, I am not at all impressed with what I have to endure in order to get them. No matter the hour of the day, no matter which restaurant location I select, my experience at McDonald's has often been an awful one. When going through the drive-thru, my order will always be missing something.When inside, I always encounter that one cashier who clearly is upset that I choose her line.And I won't even get started on having to pay an extra quarter for more barbecue sauce! Yet, no matter the trial and obstacle, I still insist on returning. No bad experience I may have today can hinder me from expecting a better one tomorrow. Why? Because I still LOVE those fries! As believers, there must come a time when our love and commitment to the PRODUCT is no longer subject to the imperfections of a particular PROVIDER. Once we allow the SERVICE we have received from others to cast doubt on the SERVICE we have received from Him, we will become a great DISSERVICE to everyone we come in contact with. On the night before He was to be crucified, Christ delivered perhaps His most important message to us all: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this ALL will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." - John 13:34-35. It is literally impossible to truly love God without loving what (and whom) He loves. Despite its many challenges, I still believe the local church and the Body of Christ at large is by far one of the greatest ideas our God has ever had. Perhaps His finest. Imagine the impact we could have on this world if we as believers took the time to just believe the BEST of one another. Let's face it; some of us (as Christians) can take ourselves way too SERIOUSLY. Once you and I make the decision to lighten up and embrace the fact that all of us have missed the mark from time to time, we will be able to extend the kind of grace and unconditional love that will bring glory to God. And most importantly, draw others closer to Him. I think the daily devotional says it all. Don't give up on God. In these trying days we need him most. The girlfriends Network http://girl-friends.connectplatform.com
Although I understand what the writer of this commentary is trying to convey regards McDonald's fries and church --- I disagree with her.
Churches aren't like McDonald's fries, because not every church has the same tasting sermons, congregants, or music. You can go to any McDonald and the recipe for the fries are the same and for some reason if the fries are too cold or stale then you can ask for a fresh one.
In churches this is not possible... You have a person who in many cases stands before the people stating that he's heard from God and that what he's preaching is like the same as God (which is not) and unlike McDonald's I can ask for my money back if I'm an unsatified customer.
All the money I've given in churches--- not one time has a pastor told me that if I'm not satisfied --- he /she would refund my money.
I love God, but if I could get out of going to church I wouldn't go because it's just not what I would rather be doing with my time.
Wednesday, February 24th 2010 at 12:13PM
Jen Fad
...and apparently many other young people feel the same. To reach this generation requires learning how to utilize the current tech to meet them right where they are... God knows this and there are many ministries who are doing it--- Having bible studies via the web allowing people to ask questions via black boards.
Sermons / music can be downloaded free to M3P /Ipods... Generation X & Y are a different breed of people.
Wednesday, February 24th 2010 at 12:17PM
Jen Fad
I don’t agree with you totally, and on some things I do sister. Churches don’t have the same tasting sermon, but each denomination is built on the same concept and taught in general the same values as to the word of God. That’s why they have convocations every year, where leaders of the same denomination meet to discuss Bible principals and be in compliance and even get more education. You can get a refund from any church you go to if you can verify the amount of money you put in, that’s why churches use a depository envelope to put your monies in, but I really don’t think anyone would actually ask for a refund, because of the sermon. After all its not actually the sermon, but the deliverer. You chose that church, they didn’t choose you. If a pastor is stale, go to another church where you feel the sermon is fresher. A pastor does propose to be speaking the word of God as spoken to him. You may not agree with it, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t come to him from God. He speaks to me in some form or fashion every day. I feel you took the context of the message literally and not generally kind of like a parable. Look deeper. Im not a member of any church even though I visit different ones from time to time, simply because I haven’t found one I’m happy with where I live, but I do go live every Sunday with pastor TD Jakes, then I go live with Creflo Dollar, then go live with Fred Price Jr.(powerful young aspiring pastor) on Sundays.You have a point in reaching these young adults via technology, but don’t take away from the churches because they are getting on board. Bible studies on Tues,Wed and Thurs. nights and all kinds of programs via internet. You stated that ministries are doing this, but ministries are a smaller part of a bigger force. (A church). The things I feel could be done better, is that the churches need to reach the young adults already in the church (which they have started doing) and get them to head up some programs. It used to be the adults went to church and the young went up in the balcony or sat quietly, but they have learned somewhat and now the young are more active, at lease in the smarter churches anyway. But you are right, more has to be done. God Bless Sister.
Thursday, February 25th 2010 at 2:56PM
anita moore
Sister Anita, I hear you, but no church publicly makes it known to parishners that they can have a refund. Ha!! A pastor would laugh at me if I asked for my money back, because he delivered a bad sermon. I've heard some of these messages from a few of the mega church preachers --- sometimes they are on--- and sometimes they are off. I've learned to hear the Holy Spirit confirm things to me when people are preaching. They are not all the time speaking from God.
As you know Paul the Apostle was one of the most gifted and learned people in the scriptures & there were times he stated that he didn't receive this or that as a revelation from God and let the parishners know that what he was speaking was his opinion. Many preachers don't do this so it is up to us to seek God's truth.
Are you of the COGIC denomination, because I was under the impression Convocations are synonomous to COGIC and not all denominations have them especially these pop corn churches you find on ever inner city street corner like the Chinese restaurants.
Friday, February 26th 2010 at 4:03PM
Jen Fad
No sister I am not a member of the cogic denomination. I am non denomination even though I come from baptist as well as muslim backgrounds. I have been to all types of churches. Convocation simply means a group of people formally assembled for a special purpose and all churches under a denomination have convocations even though they may call it another title. I don't know about any pop corn churches. I've never been to any. For some reason they seem self appointed instead of God appointed. As far as your statement about Paul I agree that every thing that comes out of a pastor may or may not be true. thats what you have your bible for. The facts are there.
Saturday, February 27th 2010 at 5:20PM
anita moore
This is true --- regarding convocation --- we called it the convention in the Baptist church and in the Methodist church we called it conference, but it's basically the same. Thanks for the blog and I look forward to reading more from you. ((smiles))
Monday, March 1st 2010 at 11:35AM
Jen Fad
Thanks sister. I have read and will continue to read your post as welll. God bless
Monday, March 1st 2010 at 1:47PM
anita moore
