Why Word Life Ministry Was Formed

The Apostle Paul taught the Colossian church: “Walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10).

As I observe the modern day church I am constantly astonished at some of the things that are being offered to entice people into attending services and functions. When did desiring a close relationship with Christ stop being enough? It is a sad day for Christianity when we have to be lured, entertained and enticed to follow Christ.

I am sure God shakes His head when He looks down on us and witnesses the extremes that the churches go to just to "bring people to Christ".

Is not...

the shedding of His blood and the torment He faced on the cross
the suffering He endured for our infirmities
the stripes He took for our healing
the humiliation and ridicule He was subjected to because of our unrighteousness
and most of all the total isolation He felt because of the separation from the Father while He had the weight of every sin of every human being upon Him...is that not enough to make our hearts burn for a closer walk with the Savior.

There is nothing luring, entertaining or enticing about the cross. It represents the greatness of the love Christ had for us...we should hold the cross in the highest esteem and reference.

Shame on us that we have allowed the redemption of the cross to be reduced down to...

coffee shops where people can bring their laptops and sit at tables with one another and watch on the big screen the "worship service" going on in another part of the building. This allows the attendee to be totally detached and unengaged in worship. What's the point in going?

entertainment in the sanctuary such as....dinner theatres, wrestling matches, sports events - Super Bowl parties come to mind etc. Some may argue that we are the sanctuary and the church is the people not the building. While I agree with that...the section of the building we call the sanctuary was set aside as the place the church congregates together to worship the Lord. Tell me where is the worship in these entertainment programs.

Recently I heard of a church having "porn Sunday" where they actually showed pornagraphic movies on a big screen in the sanctuary. When asked about it the Pastor said...there was a huge problem in the church with men being addicted to pornagraphy and they wanted to show the men what they shouldn't be watching. How delusional is that!!!!!!!!!

Please don't missunderstand me...I am not against fellowshipping with Christian brothers and sisters and having programs for kids...however that being said...those things should be secondary behind the presentation of the cross of Christ and the instruction on how to have a more intimate personal relationship with the one who gave His all so that we might be saved!

If we have to have entertainment and programs and give in to the modern day technology crazy mentality to bring people into the church then we are not presenting the gospel of Christ with the conviction and passion that it deserves. If we talked about Christ with the same awe and affection that we do a new love in our life or our spouse, children, grandchildren, friend, movie star, music entertainer etc then everyone we come in contact with would want to know Him and would do whatever it takes to meet Him.

So........Word Life Ministry was created through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit......for those of us who want to KNOW CHRIST. For those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for those who long to walk with Him and talk with Him, for those who crave His presence like the writer in Psalm 42:1-5

1) As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2) My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

He is desperately seeking and searching..... then

3) My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

Have you ever been so tore up over a relationship that you couldn't eat or drink anything...all you wanted to do was cry...that's what was going on here...He wanted to be in the presence of God more than eating or drinking or fellowshipping, or being entertained

4) When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God (watch the difference in what went on in the house of God then as compared to now), with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitide that kept holyday.

Nothing here about entertainment, programs, coffee shops, social clubs, they went rejoicing and praising God...they went solely to worship God!!!!

5) Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

The psalmist so longed to be with God that he was depressed and low in spirit...yet the secret to having your dersire for God met is in the next words....HOPE THOU IN GOD....watch now....FOR I SHALL YET PRAISE HIM FOR THE HELP OF HIS COUNTENANCE!!!!

Glory to God...if we really want to know Him...all we have to do is get back to what we were created for and that is to WORSHIP HIM, LONG FOR HIM, FELLOWHIP WITH HIM, SEEK HIM, FOLLOW HIM and LOVE HIM WITH ALL OUR HEART, MIND, SOUL & STRENGTH.

So dear friends you are invited to come along with me as I develop a WORD LIFE that, as Paul said in our opening scripture, is worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in knowledge of God.

See You In The Word,

Janetta