Are We Pioneers Or Puppets?

Are We Pioneers Or Puppets? By: Stan Carlock

Before I start, I want to share with you a quote I came across on one of my friends pages:
"Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." Ralph Waldo Emerson
What a profound statement!! Are we as Christians following the leading of the Holy Spirit and blazing a trail or are we following the trail of tradition handed to us by mere men? Why do we do the things we do, especially when it comes to church and to worship? Is it because "That's the way we've always done it", or is it because we're hungry, wanting something fresh, something new. The sad truth is, most Christians are following tradition. They become "religious" and lose sight of the true meaning of why we come to church. I've said it before, and now cry it out loud for all to hear, "GOD HATES RELIGION!!" Religion is a killer. Period! It takes the life of the church and chokes it to death in the strangle-hold of traditions of men! I don't know about you, but I am sick and tired of church as usual. We come in, sing a few songs, sit down, hear preaching (if we're lucky) and go home. I say "if we're lucky" because even true preaching has faded from most churches to be replaced by watered-down, "tickle-the-ears" teaching that pats sin on the back and uses terms like "Hell is closed", "All-inclusive" & "We're all headed to heaven, just on different paths". We have turned from the truth and have turned aside to fables and false doctrines! Even sadder is the fact that some churches have great preaching and great worship, but only a select few are there for the right reasons. They are there seeking the face of their Creator. They want to see His glory. They are hungry and thirsty for a move of God that will change their lives and the lives of all those they come in contact with. Where is the passion that once spread like wildfire through the church? We have lost our "expectancy" when it comes to seeing the miraculous, experiencing the power of the Holy Ghost and seeing God change lives. We have allowed tradition and fear of change to keep us bound to what is "safe" according to the ways of men. Why do we have to fit into a "mold" that a group of so-called elders wants us to conform to? We become like puppets as we "don't get too loud" or "don't sing too many songs" and we cut worship down to a minimum so we can have more room for a few more anouncements or pleas for more money. We pat ourselves on the back because we have a nice building or pretty landscaping or give to missions, all the while people in our comunity are dying and going to hell. These are people that come through our doors and leave unchanged because we are so stiff-necked and unbending when it comes to the way we think we ought to do things. It's high time we get out of our religious rut , cut loose the puppet strings of tradition and become pioneers for Jesus Christ. First of all, our music has got to quit being intoverted and speaking of ourselves, what we've done, how "horrible" we are or how great heaven will be one day. Our music should speak to God and bring glory to Him. We should praise God with "new songs" that are pleasing to Him and bring a smile to His face. Even though He is always with us, it's through worship that His presence becomes "real" to us as He responds to our worship by manifesting His Glory to us, and also to those who don't know Christ. When our lost visitors come in and see a bunch of old folks sitting down with their arms crossed and scowls on their faces, it is an immediate turn-off. I have watched people get up and leave, never to return because we had to have "our way" and not God's. I challenge you - get up and worship God!! Close your eyes, lift your hands and your voices and let Him break the chains of tradition that have you bound. I pray that the anointing will break every yoke, that the King of Glory will come in and that lives will be changed! You hold the key. Will you be a pioneer? Or will you continue to be a puppet? The choice is yours. God is waiting for you. So am I. God bless-------until next time......................Stan