Primary Purpose
The primary purpose of ditchchurch.com is to reach out to those who have been ditching church for days or decades and inform them that there really is a safe place where they will not only be accepted but fit right in just the way they are. We understand that there are other churches getting real with God and if we are not a fit for you we will gladly assist you in finding the place that is.
• Reach Out
We are simply a body of believers reaching out to those who feel dissatisfied and disconnected by a religious institution. We encourage those who feel disconnected to engage with others who share in their desire to experience God in a real way with real people. We make no apologies for inviting those who desire to “get real” to join us in our journey.
Secondary Purpose
The secondary purpose for ditchchurch.com is to frustrate and motivate current Christ followers to reject the status quo and normalcy of what is considered “church” today and to develop as an authentic caring and growing community experiencing God together which we believe is defined by the Biblical Greek word ekklesia. (I will define this in detail later)
• Frustrate
Something is wrong with the church in general today and we include ourselves as we scrutinize the actions of the church. We possess the greatest story ever told but are frustrated that the church has not told it well. The church won’t change until we are frustrated enough to do something about it and we are willing to do everything we can to change it.
• Motivate
This isn’t simply about putting butts in pews or money in an offering plate. It’s about helping the church “be” the Church, and seeing lives changed as a result. Kingdom advancement is our motivation. We believe that when the Kingdom of heaven is advanced that many assemblies will experience growth numerically and spiritually. This is our desire.
• Develop
We develop by getting off our butts and doing. You can start right now: 1) start blogging - define your experience with church and what you think should be and can be done about the fractured institution. Let’s create an ongoing and healthy conversation. 2) get connected with those who are ditching “church” and finding purpose developing as a community, wherever you may be. 3) share your story - share the story about the positive changes happening in your life.
When is the last time we preached on these verses…
32 Then Samuel said, “Bring Agag king of the Amalekites here to me.” So Agag came to him cautiously.
And Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”
33 But Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
Psalm 99:6 (New King James Version)
6 Moses and Aaron were among His priests,
And Samuel was among those who called upon His name;
They called upon the LORD, and He answered them.
And why did the NIV render it:
1 Samuel 15:33 (New International Version)
33 But Samuel said,
“As your sword has made women childless,
so will your mother be childless among women.”
And Samuel PUT AGAG TO DEATH before the LORD at Gilgal.
Was God was too mean?
Awesome website. I love it. Let’s wake up the church, be the church and move on!
Many people missed the point here but even more did get the point.
First of all, this was an invitation to those who don’t attend church already…to those “who have been ditching church for days or decades” as quoted from the website AND postcards. The Easter party that we hosted was a giant success for the kingdom of heaven if you actually care to know. The High School auditorium was full of Christ followers as well as the unchurched and dechurched. The celebration through praise and worship was incredible, God’s Spirit was there, the Word was presented and the altars were packed with people giving their lives to Christ.
When will the “church” understand that the unchurched and dechurched aren’t listening to their “christianeze” anymore, they have shut their ears off to what the church has to say. The current language spoken by much of the church today needs translated so the lost can actually hear the message of redemption and receive revelation of the Word! That is what I find Jesus doing in the Gospels…speaking a heavenly kingdom language via an understandable format. The attacks directed at our intentions have been ridiculous and have proven the need for additional dialogue in regards to the secondary issue that our website addressed. We found only a hand full of people who were actually willing and able to hold a conversation about the broken institution of “church” without lashing out…to those individuals we applaud you whether we arrive at a consensus or not. The institution of church that many of us experience today is not the Church Jesus established on the day of Pentecost. According to Jesus the “Church” should think and act Kingdom minded. People are going to hell and dying without a Savior on a daily basis and yet here we have keyboard commandos arguing and bickering about semantics while probably never laying hands on and praying for God’s healing with a deaf man standing outside of their church building walls. You may have strong words in regards to how you think the gospel should be presented but when confronted with “what are you doing to advance the kingdom?” you have NO Biblical reply….only dogmatic rhetoric.
I applaud and stand in support to those who are in the trenches living the great commission - being the Church of Jesus Christ. Those who are preaching good news to the poor, proclaiming freedom to prisoners, setting captives free, releasing the oppressed and declaring the Lord’s favor! That message sounds remarkably familiar and it sounds like a Jubilee party to me!
Is there anyway to have a healthy conversation about the church? Or do we want to continue to argue, bicker, fight and split?
Hey Mark. DITTO!
Hi Mark A.!
Don’t intend to get to deep into the blog, lest me wife beat me for slacking off on the home front. And she would too.
I do appreciate and applaud your passion for reaching the lost. Truly I thank the Lord for it. And how truly needed are those who are willing to say “Here I am Lord, send me!”. And let’s know the Word cold first, lest we stumble (general statement, not specific to you or anyone here)!
I know from time to time it got a little rough with Sean, John and perhaps others. But I also think that good, respectful, threological discussion and debate glorifies God if kept in it’s place. Boots on the ground are also so important, not toward salvation but as a result of it.
I’d imagine you completely understand this… isn’t it amazing when you read God’s Word, the security, the power, and the victory living in Jesus Christ. Who could take away this gift of the cross! I am amazed every soul on the planet does not have a nose buried in this book - the Word of God. They should be dying to get it. Your message of reaching the lost is a great one. Perhaps it would do me some good apply the great commission with greater enthusiasm… I’m too quick to judge lost sheep as goats!
Please have some patience with us dusty old saints pastor. We’re sinners too!! You can put a bomb under us as long as it doesn’t blow us out of the kingdom :-0)
God Bless and keep you -
Mark
P.S. - I gather you might be a 60’s vintage Chevelle guy. Now I am in danger of lusting after my neighbor’s possesions…
Great to hear from you Mark G!
You have me pegged! I AM a Chevelle guy but it is a ‘70 454 SS. I repent for causing a brother to stumble! LOL
Thank you for embracing the message of the cross…without Jesus we would all be truly lost and without any hope. I promise not to intentionally blow you out of the kingdom. hahaha I need you as well to help keep my feet firmly planted in the reality of the insiders perception since my mind and heart outrun my brain often. I feel that I resemble the apostle Peter and that we’d get along nicely…most of the time doing or saying things without much forethought.
I have come to realize that the message and intention of ditchchurch is Biblical and necessary but needs to be articulated much more clearly. I am currently in prayer concerning just how to accomplish God’s will in regards to the advancement of His kingdom and this website.
I think you described it very accurately when you said, “good, respectful, theological discussion and debate glorifies God if kept in it’s place”. The key being glorifying God and keeping the discussion in it’s place. I have been thoroughly convinced the last few months that there are tares who consider themselves wheat and they actually fight against the advancement of God’s kingdom message of reconciliation and redemption. We preach sin. We preach love. What is wrong with a message of balance? God’s law exposes man’s depravity and need of redemption but it also reveals His kindness which leads man to repentance.
To clarify what has been misrepresented on many other blogs - Cross Roads Church is NOT “seeker sensitive” but we ARE sensitive to seekers - just like Jesus in my humble opinion.
God bless!
-Mark Alan Boer
Pastor
Cross Roads Church
P.S.If anyone would like to continue a civilized and healthy conversation about ditching church, I am more than willing. However, I will make it utterly clear that I will not engage in arguments and attacks - if you slander or demean I simply will remain silent.
Sheila,
Thank you so much for your email of encouragement and prayer. It means a lot to become united with others around the world who understand the message of salvation. I pray for you often and hope your heart’s desire is made manifest as you delight yourself in Him. Psalm 37:3-6
God bless,
-Mark Alan Boer
Pastor
Cross Roads Church
1970 Chevelle 454 SS, well…OK, you talked me into it! I’ll take it!!
We were all “grease monkeys” growing up. Actually I had a good friend with a Buick GS 455 (non stock, posi, set up to race, can you imagine?). I am still recovering from the whiplash, generalized anxiety disorder (from the curving country roads), and “Column Mounted Oil Pressure Gauge failure” oil burns! I live because of the sovereignty of God
!
I have conversed enough here to understand that there is a sincere interest in spreading the gospel as I stated. And as you know it would not take 2 seconds to get me into a theological debate. In the interest of full disclosure I am a Reformed/Biblical Calvinist Christian. In some circles mothers run to grab their children and scurry them away mumbling things about a bad man (LOL!!). In practice though I believe that a substantial number of Southern Baptist evangelical churches in America subscribe to the doctrine. some may argue a majority. Certainly a statement up for debate. Church history is steeped in the Arminian/Calvinist debate as you know.
Pastor Mark, I have a renewed commitment not to be critical, but to seek common ground. And I think I see what you are saying. Certainly there has been ample discussion about the importance of Doctrine, the Bride of Christ, and going out to get the lost. But I do have this very sincere question, and I’ll make it personal (to me).
Did I really offend them by being judgemental, or a hypocrite, or unattractive? Or is it the cross that offends them (scripture!). The thief on the cross beheld God, was never baptized, never knew a lick of theology, and yet was saved! Jesus, at that moment did also appear to be in a bit of a bind, no? But would the thief reject the Word of God, or Paul’s preaching, etc if he heard it…. I think not! Does that not say it all? Receive the Word, repent(!), accept Christ and the finished work of the cross, and receive eternal salvation. I am so confused as to why the people in the church are “expected” (not “ought to be”) to be a good reflection of Christ. According to scripture they (we) are filthy rags!! Total depravity!! We need STRIVE to be attractive, it is GODLY and RIGHT to be attractive, but attractive enough to be a lure to (as yet) unbelievers?? I’m afraid it’s impossible. Why would they need Jesus if they could make an idol out of us! I grew up in some really nutty churches (I’ll leave nameless), and yet was saved by HEARING God’s Word (Faith comes by hearing…). I hated the hypocrisy of the nasty pharisee-like “so called” saints, but realized that this was life on earth. Man focus is depressing, but God focus is awesome! No not one has done right. Romans 3:23…
So, based on the “seeker sensitive” comment you made, I have no reason to think that you water down the Word when you preach. And any biblically solid outreach is A OK with me! Why not just invite them to church? You guys are a church!! What would you do differently at the party? I am not a legalist, so maybe the music could be a little edgier, a little more Christian liberty taken than a chruch service I understand. But is the (offensive) message not the same?
In Christ -
Mark
On the Buick GS 455, the Holly’s 4 barrels were so big they could suck your right arm in…
…stay on topic Mark
WHEN GOD SEEMS DISTANT, WHO HAS MOVED? PRAISE THE LORD. JESUS DIED SO WE COULD LIVE. COME VISIT THE FAMILY BIBLE CHURCH ON HY 421 IN WANATAH WE CARE MORE ABOUT STUDYING THE WORD, THAN RECEIVING YOUR MONEY,AND WE HAVE NO CLIQUES, ITS ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL.
You all are believers in a world that does not render an environment that is suitable for any condition of a man’s imagination. (By man I mean your supposed “god”) The sheer fact half of you will blow this off is WORTHLESS to the world, because the half that have half of a brain and can compare a made up fairy tale to real life, God just does not exist. Learning such a story, and spending your whole life doing it is pointless. If it is what suits you, please waste your life and do not bother the world with your selfless pity that has been cast among you by generations of stupid, pedophilia loving ancestors. I’m sad to say that most stories in the bible cannot in fact at all be possible. There is no witness, no proof, no honesty in this book in which you call your Bible. Please, burn it. Save your life, how much time you spend learning it iss despicable. Live your life the way you should, to the fullest. Don’t sit around wasting your entire life dreaming on this world, when you can have it if you try to make it in the one that you’re actually living in. Please, for the love of my headache that does not exist yet, for those of you who disagree I honestly don’t care, don’t send me angry hatemail.
Thanksyamuch!
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