Going to church on
Sunday has become a Christian tradition all over the world. For some, Sunday is
the holy-day when we rest and honor God. For others, church is becoming less
relevant to their busy lifestyle.
What would Jesus think
if He walked into our church service today?
While a part of being a
Christian is to connect with other believers, wanting to be social for personal
gain should never be the reason for going to church. When our motive is to get
close to the pastor, leader or other believers for personal advancement, then
we’re jeopardizing our faith. WHY we
do what we do is far more important than what we do. Remember, God still looks at
the intent of our hearts!
A major emphasis is
placed on what we’re going to “get”
when we go to church. We use phrases like, “What
did you get from church today?” For a New Testament believer, it should be
just the opposite. We don’t go to church to “get”
but to GIVE our praise, worship and adoration to God from whom all
blessings flow. We also should bring hope, encouragement and practical help to
one another while we’re in church. Sure God will give us what we need for our
daily life but our goal should be to GIVE rather than to get – an attitude of
gratitude.
What would Jesus think
of our leaders in the church today? Jesus looked at Peter and commissioned him
to “feed my sheep.” Yet, many pastors
today are using the pulpit to “beat the
sheep.” Often congregations are put through guilt trips for not coming to
church often enough or not giving more of their money to church. Other pastors
are obsessed with their theology and doctrines. Their ego is bigger than life! Church
leaders, here’s what Jesus would remind us, “Feed
my sheep and lead them to green pastures where My presence is.” As leaders our
main job is to create an environment for people to encounter God. Sinners
need hope, the sick need healing and the oppressed needs to be set free. Saints
need to be empowered into action; not just to come to church on Sunday and
coerced into giving 10% of their income to the church (by the way, why are we
obsessed with the 10% when 100% belongs to God in the first place?) but also to
live the rest of the week being salt and light to the world.
I wonder what Jesus
would think about “bodyguards” in the
church today! Jesus made Himself vulnerable even to His enemies who came to kill
Him. He willingly gave Himself up for us. Why is it that leaders have to
surround themselves with secret-service-looking body guards? Do you know how a
church leader and his church get recognized by the government in communist
Laos? In my recent trip to the country, I was told that every pastor of a new
church is arrested and put in prison for 6-12 months. If they survive the
persecution and torture without giving out the names, protecting his members,
they come out free to conduct services and recognized by the government. This
test of commitment is the same in majority of the world including communist
China, where Christianity is exploding! In return, believers remain committed
to the church for the rest of their lives.
Brothers and sisters,
going to church should not be an obligation. We should go there to worship God.
We should congregate to lift, encourage and help one another. We should go to
church to be saved and healed from our hurts and pain. A church should be a hospital to heal the broken, hurting, sighing and
dying people not a showcase to display perfect people. Pastors should be
more concerned about delivering people than delivering sermons. When we allow
the Holy Spirit to move among us, we will see the power of the church restored to
her original glory. Heathens will be drawn to church when they see our love for
one another. God is far more interested in our lifestyle rest of the week than
the weekly two hours we spend in the church. Jesus said, “My house will be called a house or prayer.” Let’s pray. Let’s
worship. Let’s learn and become Disciples of Christ. When we reflect God’s love
and light to our lost world we will encounter His glory again!
“He said to them, "The Scriptures declare, 'My
Temple will be called a house of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of
thieves!" (Matthew 21:13 NLT).
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