COUNSEL FOR THE ‘BELIEBERS’

Justin Bieber says he “just wanna honestly live like Jesus.”

Good for him. Good any who wanna honestly live like Jesus. Justin says: “Jesus created a pretty awesome template of how to love people and how to be gracious and kind.” Yes, and we need more love, graciousness and kindness.

The 21-year-old pop star was reared by a Christian mother but admitted he has veered off course. He couldn’t handle the juxtaposition of faith and fame. That’s hard for anyone, let alone someone as young as he. His often bizarre behavior was good fodder for tabloids and good business for paparazzi.

So let’s applaud this renewed spiritual direction for someone who is refocusing his life and can be a positive role model in the years ahead. The question I have is whether he can sustain his intentions. Like so many others these days, Justin views his relationship with Jesus as personal and individual. He and Jesus are going it alone.

Justin’s take: “You don’t need to go to church to be a Christian. If you go to Taco Bell, that doesn’t make you a taco.”

Hmm. Since he opened the analogy, let’s just go with it. You are what you eat. When you consume tacos, you are nourished (or malnourished) by them. Your body changes in response to what you take in. The spiritual principle is the same: When you eat the bread and drink the cup at the Lord’s Table in church, you are feeding on the food of Christ’s eternal truth, goodness and beauty. You begin more and more to reflect what you have consumed.

Our culture has a dismissive attitude toward the church, and the infrequent attendance of many church members reflects at least a “take it or leave it” attitude.

To some degree, the church itself is to blame. We like to draw bright lines about who’s in and who’s out. We are often as sinful within the church as those we point fingers at outside it. Our churches spilt and splinter more than a piece of dry wood. We deserve some disdain.

Nonetheless, where else will you go to find the company that will accompany you

Anglican

ALL SAINTS EAST DALLAS / allsaintseastdallas.org

Sunday worship service at 5:00 pm

Meeting at Central Lutheran Church / 1000 Easton Road

Baptist

LAKESIDE BAPTIST / 9150 Garland Rd / 214.324.1425

Sunday School 9:15am & Worship 10:30am

Pastor Jeff Donnell / www.lbcdallas.com

PARK CITIES BAPTIST CHURCH / 3933 Northwest Pky / pcbc.org

Worship & Bible Study 9:15 & 10:45 Traditional, Contemporary, Spanish Speaking / 214.860.1500

PRESTONWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH / “A Church to Call Home”

Sundays at 11:00 am

12123 Hillcrest Road / 972.820.5000 / prestonwood.org

WILSHIRE BAPTIST / 4316 Abrams / 214.452.3100

Pastor George A. Mason Ph.D. / Worship 8:30 & 11:00am

Bible Study 9:40 am / www.wilshirebc.org

Catholic

UNIVERSITY OF DALLAS MINISTRY CONFERENCE / udallas.edu/udmc

October 22-24, 2015 / Sponsored by Catholic Diocese of Dallas

Sessions on Faith, Scripture, & Ministry / Exhibitors / Music / Mass

Disciples Of Christ

EAST DALLAS CHRISTIAN CHURCH / 629 N. Peak Street / 214.824.8185

Sunday School 9:30 am / Worship 8:30 am - Chapel

10:50 am - Sanctuary / Rev. Deborah Morgan-Stokes / edcc.org all the way to heaven? “Bad company corrupts good morals,” St. Paul said, quoting an ancient Greek playwright (or was it my mother?). Church is where we help each other persevere in the way of Christ.

Christianity is communal. We need each other. I admit it: I’m a pastor with a vested interest in the link between personal faith and congregational life. But is it really possible to be a Christian for long on your own? Won’t a flaming ember die quickly when blown from the fire?

Jesus is not just a historical figure to be emulated; Christians believe he lives now in and through his body on earth, the church.

A body is not bunch. Take an onion out of a bunch; the bunch will hardly miss it and the onion will still be an onion. But separate an arm or a leg from a body, the whole body will be impaired and the limb will soon die from being cut off from the source of life.

Praying for Justin and all the “Beliebers” out there trying to go it alone in faith. We’re keeping a pew warm for you.

Lutheran

CENTRAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA / 1000 Easton Road

Sunday School for all ages 9:00 am / Worship Service 10:30 am

Pastor Rich Pounds / CentralLutheran.org / 214.327.2222

FIRST UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH / 6202 E Mockingbird Lane

Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am / Call for class schedule. 214.821.5929 / www.dallaslutheran.org

Methodist

LAKE HIGHLANDS UMC / 9015 Plano Rd. / 214.348.6600 / lhumc.com

Sunday Morning: 9:30 am Sunday School / 10:30 am Coffee

Worship: 8:30 am & 10:50 am Traditional / 10:50 am Contemporary

Presbyterian

NORTHRIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH / 6920 Bob-O-Link Dr. 214.827.5521 / www.northridgepc.org / Welcomes you to Worship

8:30 & 11:00 am / Church School 9:35 am / Childcare provided.

ST. ANDREW’S PRESBYTERIAN / Skillman & Monticello

Rev. Rob Leischner. / www.standrewsdallas.org

214.821.9989 / Sunday School 9:30 am, Worship 10:45 am

Unity

UNITY OF DALLAS / A Positive Path for Spiritual Living 6525 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX 75230 / 972.233.7106 / UnityDallas.org

10:30 am Sunday - Celebration Worship Service

UNITY ON GREENVILLE / Your soul is welcome here!

3425 Greenville Ave. / 214.826.5683 / www.dallasunity.org

Sunday Service 11:00 am and Book Study 9:30 am