- Jun 19, 2009
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Mikdash as the Central Source in Yeru'Shalem' as "the Completeness"
I'm sorry to say that the most of the church programs and policies are not aimed towards this theology of becoming stable and whole, rather they chose to be aimed at promoting denominationalism over the enrichment of community spirit and promotion of human welfare.
In fact, in the autobiography of
Benjamin Franklin, another Philadelphian like myself, he noticed the same things about his Presbyterian church.
He said on page 92 in the Riverside Literature Series of his autobiography, that it seemed they were more interested in making people Presbyterian rather then good citizens.
Local churches especially in the inner cities are taking in the communities money yet they do nothing successful in stopping the crimes, excessive drug and alcohol use, separation of family, children getting into trouble, violence such as shootings, stabbings, and so on.
The church in addition to services should be promoting study groups, community interaction, forums for discussion and solving problems. They surely have the space for it.
Family counseling should be advised, as well as clubs for activities that are positive like cleanup or fixing up the neighborhood.
The church should be stimulating creative thoughts rather than suppressing them; encouraging constructive actions rather than creating destructive behavior. I have proposed that the new heads of the church should be more involved in having an eye or watch on community needs, such as by setting up spotters within their flock, letting them know what needs to be stressed - for instance, problems in the area needing special lessons addressing special issues and needs of the individual community.
Example: some communities have a high divorce rate, adultery rate, or crime rate, others have a high drug use rate or murder rate, and such that need solutions as well as concerned action.
Suggested activities already being discussed and utilized by a few major known pastors that are taking my sound ideas & advice:
Churches involving in mini polls to evaluate what people believe or know to get a feel for what needs to be stressed and taught.
Volunteer people in the flock need to be involved in creating programs for planing to offset any local problems and identifying and finding solutions or lessons based on those issues.
Example: if an area is getting run down and the poor or elderly can't afford to fix up dilapidated houses then people will organize and inquire about donated tools (paint, tar, plaster etc) and round up volunteers to teach others and to fix the homes of those who can't afford it, in the same time they can be helping teens in job training (like home repair) and
giving them their job experience as well as something that looks great on their resume.
It is advisable to do all these things by organizing talk groups, which can identify deficiencies, much like the PTA meetings or town council meetings.
Make reports of what's needed in the community whether its moral, security, clean up, repair, family issues, etc., and follow through on these reports.
Allow suggestions in making solutions for how these issues can be handled and met head on and if one can't be found then approach the other churches outside your area for advice and help on solutions to combat local problems.
I'm sorry to say that the most of the church programs and policies are not aimed towards this theology of becoming stable and whole, rather they chose to be aimed at promoting denominationalism over the enrichment of community spirit and promotion of human welfare.
In fact, in the autobiography of
Benjamin Franklin, another Philadelphian like myself, he noticed the same things about his Presbyterian church.
He said on page 92 in the Riverside Literature Series of his autobiography, that it seemed they were more interested in making people Presbyterian rather then good citizens.
Local churches especially in the inner cities are taking in the communities money yet they do nothing successful in stopping the crimes, excessive drug and alcohol use, separation of family, children getting into trouble, violence such as shootings, stabbings, and so on.
The church in addition to services should be promoting study groups, community interaction, forums for discussion and solving problems. They surely have the space for it.
Family counseling should be advised, as well as clubs for activities that are positive like cleanup or fixing up the neighborhood.
The church should be stimulating creative thoughts rather than suppressing them; encouraging constructive actions rather than creating destructive behavior. I have proposed that the new heads of the church should be more involved in having an eye or watch on community needs, such as by setting up spotters within their flock, letting them know what needs to be stressed - for instance, problems in the area needing special lessons addressing special issues and needs of the individual community.
Example: some communities have a high divorce rate, adultery rate, or crime rate, others have a high drug use rate or murder rate, and such that need solutions as well as concerned action.
Suggested activities already being discussed and utilized by a few major known pastors that are taking my sound ideas & advice:
Churches involving in mini polls to evaluate what people believe or know to get a feel for what needs to be stressed and taught.
Volunteer people in the flock need to be involved in creating programs for planing to offset any local problems and identifying and finding solutions or lessons based on those issues.
Example: if an area is getting run down and the poor or elderly can't afford to fix up dilapidated houses then people will organize and inquire about donated tools (paint, tar, plaster etc) and round up volunteers to teach others and to fix the homes of those who can't afford it, in the same time they can be helping teens in job training (like home repair) and
giving them their job experience as well as something that looks great on their resume.
It is advisable to do all these things by organizing talk groups, which can identify deficiencies, much like the PTA meetings or town council meetings.
Make reports of what's needed in the community whether its moral, security, clean up, repair, family issues, etc., and follow through on these reports.
Allow suggestions in making solutions for how these issues can be handled and met head on and if one can't be found then approach the other churches outside your area for advice and help on solutions to combat local problems.
