Shortfalls of American Christianity

Intro

All countries, peoples and languages deal with sin…

All countries, peoples and languages need the same God…

Though the culture was so different, it was interesting to see how they struggle with the same things we do here in America…

Not all are the same… there were MANY faithful wonderful people there…

They struggle with their spirit

They live according to the flesh and not the spirit

They look for what they can get instead of what they can give

While I was there, I observed a lot of culture and saw some things that were quite convicting...

They are very poor

Many don’t have cars

Many have pour health

I noticed some things we can take for granted here in the states:

1. Distractions in church

Music as people drive by

Horns honking

Gecko’s climbing on the walls

Stray dogs barking and fighting

Hot and humid

kids crying

Here someday sneezes and we get all distracted and can’t remember what the preacher just said...

They stay locked in pretty well despite all of that going on…

2. Church property

They meet in an upstairs room at a community center

No AC, barely a bathroom

It is up a large set of stairs

One man get’s carried up the stairs

The elderly ladies walk very slowly up the stairs but make it anyway

You know how many people just wouldn’t come at all if that is the type of place we would have to meet?

Somehow we associate our building with our status…

If it’s not up to a standard you are happy to be associated with, you don’t want to go at all...

I wouldn’t go to “that church”…

We get so prideful about this and forget to thank God for what He has given us…

I seriously doubt anyone here would continue coming if you had to be carried by 4 men up a large set of stairs just to get to church…

3. Length of services

During the revival meeting, we met Wednesday, Thursday, Friday nights as well as all day Sunday…

Each service lasted between 2 1/2 and 3 hours with 2 preachers preaching each time…

Rarely did someone get up to use the restroom or get a drink of water

4. Effort in the ministry

They have little to no education and they probably don’t understand much of what is being preached… Yet they are still faithful and trying to learn as best they can…

They have no training in what to do, how to sit in church, how to read a Bible, yet they seem to soak up what is being taught by these pastors…

They have no money…

Yet they are so faithful to services… Most walk or ride one of the busses.

Several of those Guyanese people got up to sing specials…

Most were NOT on key… Most were not on ANY key…

So many of them took it personally to invite everyone in their section of the scheme…

5.) Dress standard

They have no money and yet many of the men and boys are wearing dress shirts and ties. They usually don’t match, but they are wearing what they have!

Many of the ladies are wearing dresses and even dress their small children in dresses… THEY HAVE NO MONEY!

I think it’s easy to lose sight of the importance of coming to church dressed to meet with God…

I’m not mad at anyone, I’m just saying… American Christianity has turned into whatever feels best, whatever is most comfortable and whatever brings as little burden on me as possible is the worship to God of my choice…