Conversation with Russell Zik, about the church and our role.

The world in which we live currently seems to be filled with questions and doubts about almost everything. The uncertainly of situations, events and even people have created a state of uneasy and a state of no trust in about all things.
If you are a conversationalist, you know immediately what I am talking about as even the debate about ideas is not longer a plausible discussion. This is true because we hear, almost everyone, protecting their position, their interest, and they seem to also be closed minded to any direction other than their own. With all these questions, doubts, and wonders about how “the mess” the world seems to have invented will ever straighten out has many throwing their hands up in the air, but I am not one of those.
The skill of disagreeing yet maintaining a true and respectful appreciation of others is a characteristic that individuals have discarded and no longer being sought after or developed in our mindset or skills. As a Christian, one of the foundations of our belief system is respect for people and their decisions. Thus I would propose that the leadership of our churches repositions themselves as the Ambassadors of the Creator of the Universe, Jesus Christ, and that we begin to re-establish the church as the library of resources for seeking, searching and just exploration. The most difficult trait to develop as a Christian is that of allowing people to say yes and no. The Bible is filled with the example of Jesus alone in allowing people to seek, search and explore, and yet still respecting them in their decision to walk away. The key for the Church is that while respect people’s decisions, we continue to demonstrate the love of Jesus for them even through rejection.
In a recent conversation with Russell Zik, who is a student at Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, we explored the opinion when folks say, “everything works out”. Now the Bible certainly teaches that there is a purpose for everything, but the scriptures do not teach that everything works out. There is a condition to such and most individuals do not quote the scripture just a paraphrase of their desire for how things should be. Roman’s 8:28 clearly states things only work out for those called according to His purpose. This is a great place to being ones search for answers and seeking of solutions. The church is also the perfect place to facilitate this exploration just as Columbus set sail out on the ocean blue.
Our conversation also included a discussion of the often quoted conditioned response to “how are you”. Folks everywhere mostly say just fine, even when the world maybe in pieces around them. I shared that people give this type of response because they don’t believe our question or inquiry is sincere or genuine. Unfortunately many people just consider that to mean a method to use to find out gossip, or to be “put our nose” where it don’t belong. As Christians and church leaders, we could change that. We could demonstrate the real love and concern that Christ has for people, and that could lead to an eternal difference.
The scriptures talk of the church as the salt and light of the world. By the way, when I say church, I am talking about the body of Christ, we the people. The buildings that the body has erected are instruments that we should use to tell His story but to often they are just on display through out the week as landmarks for folks needed earthly driving directions. What a difference could be made if those who profess the name of Jesus, believed He was who He said He was…

Until then