Church Then and Now

by Rick Crigger

   Since I was a kid I can’t remember a time to where I was not in church. When I was seven years old I give my heart to God in Sunday School at a First Brethren Church.   
   Growing up as a kid in Church was a pleasant experience for me. The People were very loving, compassionate and truly cared. Just like one big happy family! As a kid I noticed a big difference between the world and Gods people right way. Being a Christian is not what you say but how you live and treat others. The Bible says to be separate from the world not a part of it. James, 4:4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. As a kid I remember the Church being very separate from the world and more active. There used to be Services and fellowship practically everyday.  

     Unlike today to where they meet one day a week for a few hours, it seems like people treat it as a chore theses days. The Church’s used to have the three “E’s” (excitement, enthusiasm and energy). Now days I don’t think we have one out of three! We need to get on fire and proud of being a Christian again.
    I remember Vacation Bible School, I had so much fun playing games and learning about Gods word. In this time period PlayStation or FaceBook didn’t exist and computers were very limited in what they could do. Needless to say me and my brother played outside to pass the time. The Bible School would be consider primitive for today’s standers but I think I got a better understanding of the bible without all of the distractions of modern technology we have today.
   Overall I have noticed a change in the Church! Some of the Churches are incorporating more worldly stuff into Gods house of worship. I have witnessed kids bring magic cards into Sunday school and talk about watching Harry Potter and South Park. Also adults and kids drink excessively, sleep around and using profanity. But they are a Christian! Now I’m not the smartest person in the world but this doesn’t sound like Christian behavior to me. Don’t misunderstand stand me it doesn’t mean when becoming a Christian you won’t sin. It means when Jesus gets a hold of your life you don’t want to sin, you will want to be Christ like! As time goes on and myself getting a little older I wonder what happen to the Church’s? Have we fallen from our first love? Short answer “Yes”! We as Christian’s need to do the first works over again! I hear Christian’s all the time talk about building new power programs and increasing the size of their Church to get more members. While adults and kids are committing suicide and over dosing on drugs thinking that nobody cares about them. We don’t need a fancy Church or elaborate programs, we need to care more and take the time to listen. That’s why God give us two ears and one mouth. He wants us to listen twice as hard. Church meant a lot to me growing up and it saddens me in what it has become. If you’re reading this article I challenge you to be Christ like and rebuild Gods Church!