Small Rural Churches
October 26th, 2006 by Northern FarmerI was reading over at the Kansas Milkmaid blog a bit ago about their small town or should I say rural church and that got me to thinking. That is my favorite subject in the world to write about, but I hold back so I don’t overload the old blog with to much of it. But it’s an interesting thread so far over that way, but as is my usual way I don’t comment too much anywhere else. Don’t want to disturb folks and all that stuff. Plus it seems when ever I comment on blogs other than this one the conversation stops dead in its tracks, thus I read many but comment on few.
What I want to write about is rural churches that are really on fire for God. Quite simply, if they’re not, they’re dead or near it. There’s no two ways about it. And they can be dead even if their numbers are booming. In fact from personal experience the churches out here that are using every modern trick in the book to swell their numbers are for all practical purposes, dead. Coming from churches like this I do know how they operate and it’s sad, trying to mimic suburban style modern churches where God or the Bible are put far back on the list, if at all. In fact I still receive newsletters from one and something caught my eye a while back. That was about that they felt that they should cut back on prayer time because of “our busy lifestylesâ€. Well, in the gathering of the saints the time spent in prayer should be a top priority, but thus is the way of the world. No wonder Wal Mart is busy doing their dirty deeds and our public schools are preaching perversion.
All over the rural landscape are churches that are spreading the Word. Not by slick programs and seeker sensitive exploits but by following the Word. And by that I mean preaching the Gospel not only in church but everywhere and every day in their immediate areas. Walking the walk and talking the talk. If the church stays small when doing these things, it’s not a problem for the church because God is on the move because of faithful believers doing the job they were commanded to do. Preach it and teach it to all. But on the other end of the spectrum, there can be rural churches that are breaking bread together, but keeping to themselves, not spreading the Gospel, waiting for people to come to them and if they meet approval, then they can stay. These churches are barely Christian, quite simply because they totally disobey the great commission given to the church by Jesus Himself. The church would have never gotten more than 120 members after the day of Pentecost if the original believers would have holed up like so many now. And then it would have died off as so many do now.
There’s nothing I like better than going to an old fashioned, hell fire preaching church out in the country. I know there’s some great churches in the big cities, but I’m just country so that’s where I come from. The churches that are on fire for God become a community in themselves, the luke warm churches do not. After a while the rural church becomes the main focus in a person’s lifestyle, with folks in one accord, willing to help each other out, willing to visit and be visited. To me this is got to be the greatest benefit of all, the people. Many are closer than some members of our extended family in our friendships and trust. And there ain’t nothing better than a rural church potluck, and if a person is skilled and on their toes he knows who the best cooks are and where their food is laid out. It’s an acquired skill I have. Comes in handy.
I’ve stated in the past that the easiest way to build a rural community of like minded folks is not to even try. It’ll build itself when people are on fire for God and believe the Bible is the Word of God and not let man made doctrine interfere with it. God will build it and it works, when man tries it fails. Funny how that works. I see it with my own eyes, in fact I can’t hardly believe what I’m seeing. In the weeks to come I’m gonna be putting some things on here about taking back the land for God. I’m just finding out about it all and some friends are going to be going to some conference soon and will get back to me. I never knew there was such a huge movement happening, and I never would have known if’n I wasn’t listening to the sermon a few weeks ago in our little church, on a dirt road, out in the hills.
October 26th, 2006 at 8:33 pm
I too love small rural churches that are alive! We attended a Friends camp meeting every May while we lived in Kansas. It was held in a large building in the middle of a field. No running water , no frills…I’ll finish this story on my blog as it is to long for here :)Also…. I always check out things I “hear” to see if they are “christian urban legends” or fact. Many times the things spead about in emails between christians are false i.e. Madilyn Murry O’hare is trying to get christian radio off the air=False..Ms Ohare is dead…..this one about Wal-Mart is true…One place to check these things out is Snopes…http://www.snopes.com/politics/sexuality/walmart.asp
Be informed not part of the herd.
I’m not saying anything false would be posted here but I am encouraging ya’ll to check what ya read before you spread it over the email world
October 26th, 2006 at 8:44 pm
Tom:
Words are seeming to fail me here for a bit. I just took a jog on the ole treadmill. But this post works me up a bit and not in a very good way. Here is why:
but I hold back so I don’t overload the old blog with to much of it. But it’s an interesting thread so far over that way, but as is my usual way I don’t comment too much anywhere else. Don’t want to disturb folks and all that stuff. Plus it seems when ever I comment on blogs other than this one the conversation stops dead in its tracks, thus I read many but comment on few.
You are always welcome to comment on my virtual homestead. You are my brother and I have the utmost respect for you and your thoughts. The closest thing you can do to upset this milkmaid is to hold back especially if what you are speaking is the truth. We so ought to speak the truth in love and boldness.
You might scroll back through the archives and notice I don’t have the most interactive group of readers. Only recently have folks started getting a bit chatty. So the lack of comments, I am sure has very little to do with you. It has more to do with I don’t have the ole blog ettiquitte (sp?) down very well. I perhaps come off really strong as knowing it all for many readers.
Don’t forget I am fully trained in moderating skills with the cheesy degree I obtained in social work. If anyone gets to out of hand, I can work with them to see the light or use the old social program I created as a back up. You know the slugs for thugs program.
If you are concerned about disturbing folks at my blog, just remember…how can you disturb folks who are already disturbed?
Please, Tom share your thoughts anytime. I appreciate your wisdom. You are always welcome, always!!
BTW, this article rocks minus the opening paragraph issues.
October 26th, 2006 at 9:32 pm
Great post Tom. You talked about taking back our land. It is so true. We have the authority and blessings of this land. We just have chosen to let the devil keep hold of it. It is time to take back this land. It says everywhere we walk it is considered to be holy land. We need to start declaring it. For it to be Holy no sickness, disease, famine, nothing can harm the land because it is God’s and God’s alone. The thing is that people have gotten away from prayer and praise and the authority that comes with it. Prayer and praise is so powerful it can move mountains. It brought down walls for some of the disciples in prison. I know most of us have wall that need to come down. That’s why it’s time for us to get off our lazy boy and get on our hands and knees in prayer and praise. God Bless.
October 27th, 2006 at 5:45 am
Morning Tom,
Good post again. I agree with you about rural churches. I enjoy them to no end. Come to think of it, I don’t ever think I’ve been to a “dead” rural church as you describe. In fact, one of the liveliest churches I’ve been to is a small Catholic church in Mikado Mi, population 1000. The church was too small for a priest, but they kept the church open, and a priest or a lay minister would make the trip every Sunday for mass. The parisioners were always very welcoming and appreciative of the ministers visits. To me just seeing the appreciation of the oppourtunity to worship Christ within the community makes this church alive.
Now if you want to see a church thats really alive, I suggest a southern Missionary Baptist church. WoW!!! The singing was electric. The preaching was exciting. I broke out in a sweat just listening. I looked over at my Catholic raised teenage boys, and they were just standing there with their mouths open. I guess with being told to be quiet and still in church all these years, they didn’t expect what they saw…..
On another note, I saw what you need in the SFJ since your selling your combine. There was a photo of one in there that took 24 or 25 horses to pull it. Looks like just what the doctor ordered. Course, by the time you got all those horses hooked up, It would probably be quittin’ time….
Have a GREAT day,
Brad
October 27th, 2006 at 5:54 am
Patti,
I can’t wait till you post about that over your way! Now as far as rumors go on this blog, hmmm, now you got me thinkin. Would I ever?………
They should get a direct line to that snopes at the local co-op right next to the salted peanut pail cause the manure really flies around that place at times. God Bless!
Christina,
Oops….. Gee whiz, now I feel like some sort of evil clod. I never was proper in internet stuff, probably never will be, and was caught in the act. But it looks like I must have posted over your way in my sleep, what little there was of it, sleep I mean. Never fear Christina, you are a friend and I stick with friends! God Bless!
PJ,
Glad you jumped in, and you didn’t even jack me up, wow, nice commenter, eh. Great comments! I’m in allot of pain these last couple of days so keep me in your prayers, I can’t affoard to go down now. No sleep and have a rough time walking. Thus the short comments from me. God Bless!
October 27th, 2006 at 5:57 am
Morning Brad,
If your ever up this way and go to church with us them baptists might seem a little tame, just a warning
Hey, I seen that big team, but I know where the hay crop would end up on this place with a big team like that, horse apples!
God Bless!