Christian Living

Stuck In The Middle Again

by Carl Painter
08/26/13
Not For Sale
Author requests article critique

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Jesus came to reveal the Kingdom of God, set the captives free and establish the foundation for His kingdom on the earth. He did not intend for the body of Christ to sit on the fence. However, over the centuries the church has become stuck in the role of being a halfway house.

Halfway House n
   1.  A rehabilitation centre where people who have left an institution, such as a prison, are helped to readjust to the outside world.
   2.  A stopping place, such as an inn, that marks the midpoint of a journey.

This is not to say that the church is wrong, far from it! The primary purpose of the church is to help newly freed captives adjust to the society, the true way of life to be found in the Kingdom of Heaven, as it is revealed through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

It has been recognised, that long term prisoners will usually re-offend after their release (recidivism), as they actually want to return to the relative safety and security of their prison cell. It has become all they know and they are comfortable with the prison society and the place they have made in it. They are fed, clothed and housed and are not in the position to commit a crime against the society outside of the prison they are separated from.

God knows that some churches can be full of proud, self-righteous and hypocritical people. What do you expect to find in a halfway house? I expect to find a place full of ex-cons who are at least trying to change and adjust to a society they find difficult to fathom and relate to.

The Lord is wanting those that are leaving the church to realise that you are risking falling back into the comfort of your prison cell. You must help to be the change you want to see, or you are avoiding your duty, your ability to respond (responsibility) in service to God. It must be remembered that God's great plan and purpose for humanity is a lot bigger than any individual. It is bigger than the both of us and Ben Hur!

If you truly want to be free, you need to be ready to be thought of as crazy and not be content to just circle around in the 'Tunnel of Love'. The Kingdom of Heaven is within us, and the only way to get there, is to go 'out of our mind' and not have a 'care in the world'. The Kingdom of Heaven is beyond your wildest imagination and whether you like it or not, that means it is a roller coaster ride to get there!