Mosaic is an organic community born of the Spirit of God. Rooted and influenced by the word of God led and directed by the Spirit of grace. We are a revolutionary movement of followers of Jesus Christ committed to spiritual transformation, and the transformation of culture.

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Religion: Institution or Revolution?

In writing any article about religion you run the risk of people not agreeing with you or the risk of offending people. Does that mean we should not write about religion? Absolutely not.

Should we worry that people might be offended? No. We should not go out of our way to offend people, but as long as you write your true beliefs, then you are doing what is in your heart and should share that with others.

For many churches, Christianity and religion have become institutions. Power, politics, money, and other worldly things have become the focus of these institutions.

Many people who read this article will find what I have to say uncomfortable. Jesus never promised that you or I would be made comfortable in this life and in this article I don't promise to make you feel comfortable either.

Jesus calls the church to reach out to the community, to the poor, the sick, and to those who do not know Christ. Jesus promised that He would provide for our needs as long as we use what he provides to do His will and to bring Him glory. He taught us to believe him for this promise and to act as knowing that He will fulfill that promise.

Instead, these days many churches focus on survival. They plan their budgets to make sure they bank enough money for a rainy day, hire business managers and treat the church as if it is a business entity rather than a church whose mission it is to do GOD's work.

Politics is one area that many churches and religious institutions have focused much of their attention. They lobby politicians, get involved in campaigns, and donate money that does not belong to them to politicians who promise much but deliver very little.

Does not belong to them? What do I mean by that? Tithes do not belong to the church they belong to GOD. Tithes are to be used for GOD's purposes. Nowhere in the bible can I find where helping politicians get elected is a proper use for money tithed to GOD.

Jesus did not lobby the Pharisees and the Roman government for laws that force people to follow His way. Jesus taught people right from wrong, then gave them a choice of whether or not they would follow Him. Through the bible, Jesus still teaches us right from wrong and offers us that same choice.

It is our job as Christians and as church leaders to teach GOD's word to others and let them know that Jesus has offered them that choice. We cannot rely on governments to pass laws to do our job for us. Saying that we need to lobby for those laws to be passed to force people to do what is moral is saying we as Christians and the church cannot or will not do the job GOD intends for us to do.

Most people have an image of Jesus Christ as meek and mild, a healer of the sick, a helper to the poor, and our Lord and Savior who loves us. Jesus is all of those things, but Jesus was and is also a revolutionary!

Jesus stood up to those in power in both religion and in government. Jesus challenged them. Jesus told them they had no right to oppress His people. Jesus went out and consorted with the poor, the sick, prostitutes, tax collectors, and other sinners. He ministered to the unbelievers. He did not spend all His time at the sanctuary preaching to believers.

Rather than churches becoming institutions they should be leading revolutions. Rather than just surviving and preserving traditions and rules, they should be throwing all of GOD's money forward to help those in need and to reach those who do not know Christ as their Savior.

Rather than worrying about building new roofs, buying stained glass windows, and buying new carpet and pews, we should be worrying about breaking down walls and calling unbelievers to join us.

Church is not just a place where believers gather to worship, it is also a place where believers gather to teach unbelievers about Christ.

So many Christians today think all they need to do is attend church, pray, and do good things, then wait for Jesus to return. Jesus charged us with much more than that. Jesus charged us to change those around us, to change communities, to change the world. He charged us with teaching his word and to bring more people to him so they can have everlasting life.

Cowards hide and wait to be rescued and GOD despises cowards more than any others. Become the revolutionary that Jesus called you to be. Allow Him to use you to achieve His purpose rather than praying that he will help you achieve yours. It is not about you.

About the Author: Chris McElroy did things his own way to benefit himself most of his life. After joining Mosaic Church in Miami a couple of years ago and asking Jesus to come into his life, he now devotes much of his time to learning more about Jesus and the purpose He has for all of us. The views expressed by Chris McElroy are his own. Visit http://www.mosaicmiami.org and http://mosaicmiami.blogspot.com to learn more about Mosaic.


Mosaic Miami Church Website
Mosaic Miami Church Blog

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Mosaic Miami - Life is in his Son part 2

In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him;
and without him was not any thing
made that was made.

In him was life;
and the life was the light of men.

John 1:1-4 KJV


Mosaic Miami Church Website
Mosaic Miami Church Blog

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Miami Churches - Life is in His Son

And the testimony is this,
that God has given us eternal life,
and this life is in His Son.

He who has the Son has the life;
he who does not have the Son of God
does not have the life.

1 John 5:11-12 NASB

Mosaic Miami Church Website
Mosaic Miami Church Blog

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Mosaic Miami - Conquering through death part 2

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35-39 ESV

Mosaic Miami Church Website
Mosaic Miami Church Blog

Mosaic Church in Miami has services from 11am - 12:30 every Sunday beginning with Worship Music. Barbeques after church are not uncommon. Come as you are! Relaxed atmosphere with couches and chairs instead of pews. We4 are simply here to worship GOD and everyone is welcome, even non-believers. Come and see!

Monday, September 15, 2008

Mosaic Miami - Conquering through death

"For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Galatians 2:19,20 NASB


Mosaic Miami Church Website
Mosaic Miami Church Blog

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Miami Churches - Bible Verses For The Day - 08-04-08

Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD."

Jeremiah 9:23,24 ESV

Mosaic Miami Church Website
Mosaic Miami Church Blog

Mosaic Church in Miami has services from 11am - 12:30 every Sunday beginning with Worship Music. Barbeques after church are not uncommon. Come as you are! Relaxed atmosphere with couches and chairs instead of pews. We4 are simply here to worship GOD and everyone is welcome, even non-believers. Come and see!

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Mosaic - Our God Reigns

"Therefore My people shall know My name;
therefore in that day I am the one who
is speaking, 'Here I am.'"

How lovely on the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who announces peace
And brings good news of happiness,
Who announces salvation,
And says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices,
They shout joyfully together;
For they will see with their own eyes
When the LORD restores Zion.

Break forth, shout joyfully together,
You waste places of Jerusalem;
For the LORD has comforted His people,
He has redeemed Jerusalem.

Isaiah 52:6-9 NASB


Mosaic Miami Church Website
Mosaic Miami Church Blog

Mosaic Church in Miami has services from 11am - 12:30 every Sunday beginning with Worship Music. Barbeques after church are not uncommon. Come as you are! Relaxed atmosphere with couches and chairs instead of pews. We4 are simply here to worship GOD and everyone is welcome, even non-believers. Come and see!

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Sons of the living God

Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.

Hosea 1:10 KJV

Mosaic Miami Church Website
Mosaic Miami Church Blog

Mosaic Church in Miami has services from 11am - 12:30 every Sunday beginning with Worship Music. Barbeques after church are not uncommon. Come as you are! Relaxed atmosphere with couches and chairs instead of pews. We4 are simply here to worship GOD and everyone is welcome, even non-believers. Come and see!

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Mosaic - I shall come out as gold

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed:
I will sing and give praise.

Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp:
I myself will awake early.

I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people:
I will sing unto thee among the nations.

For thy mercy is great unto the heavens,
and thy truth unto the clouds.

Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens:
let thy glory be above all the earth.

Psalm 57:7-11 KJV




Mosaic Miami Church Website
Mosaic Miami Church Blog

Mosaic Church in Miami has services from 11am - 12:30 every Sunday beginning with Worship Music. Barbeques after church are not uncommon. Come as you are! Relaxed atmosphere with couches and chairs instead of pews. We are simply here to worship GOD and everyone is welcome, even non-believers. Come and see!

Friday, August 29, 2008

The LORD is Merciful

"Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the LORD,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts. "

Isaiah 55:7-9 NASB

Mosaic Miami Church Website
Mosaic Miami Church Blog

Mosaic Church in Miami has services from 11am - 12:30 every Sunday beginning with Worship Music. Barbeques after church are not uncommon. Come as you are! Relaxed atmosphere with couches and chairs instead of pews. We4 are simply here to worship GOD and everyone is welcome, even non-believers. Come and see!

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