I choose not to air the shortcomings of well-known Christians or churches in social media. These are “in house” issues that should be dealt with by church leadership. My Facebook pages are public places in which I emphasize the amazing testimonies of Christians who keep themselves clean no matter what is thrown at them by the world system.
I proclaim the virtues of the Church. Those who are not Christians see only our human faults and failures, but God sees us as sinless in His Son. We don’t need to confess our sins to priests to be healed spiritually, but to God alone through Jesus, our High Priest, and at times to other believers (James 5:16) who, despite their faults, are members of a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9)
I love doxologies and benedictions, both of which are scriptural. The Apostle Paul began and ended his pastoral epistles with great benedictions! I believe in processionals for the same reason. But not up aisles to earthly altars in religious buildings, but up to where we are “in Christ” positionally, in worship, while rejoicing over Who and What and Where we are in our glorious, ascended Lord.
I like spiritual songs and hearty hymns because both inspire me to higher and better things. I have preached in near-empty echoing community halls and from high pulpits. From the latter I have peered down over the uplifted faces of congregations below. I am in awe of great church buildings and their vast interiors but have slept soundly on the bamboo floors of nipa huts on blown-up plastic mattresses that leaked air overnight. I thank God for the high and the low, the good and the not-so-good. In all things, God is Good and Jesus is Lord!
Christ dwells in our hearts by faith and we are led by the Spirit of God. Other things aren’t all that important. A friend who was about to leave this life was singing and his wife asked him why. “I am singing a song to my Lord” he said and then went to be with him.
So, Christian, love God and be kind to others, especially members of your spiritual family. Avoid empty, endless repetition. Practice ‘burying’ yourself in the New Testament until your heart ‘rises’ from it in resurrection power. Let your words ascend in both high praise and in spontaneous thanksgiving. Forgive those who hurt you and then forget that they ever did.
There’s more, of course, but this post should help encourage you to move from Backward and Downward to Onward and Upward! Nothing stays still on Planet Earth — or in our universe for that matter. Things whirl and spin and circle endlessly. So we might just as well enjoy the ride!