If you grew up in the 80's you probably are familiar with the TV show "Cheers" and it's theme song: Making your way in the world today Takes everything you've got; Taking a break from all your worries Sure would help a lot. Wouldn't you like to get away? Sometimes you want to go Where everybody knows your name, And they're always glad you came; You want to be where you can see, Our troubles are all the same; You want to be where everybody knows your name. Don't we all want to go to a place like that? A place where people are genuinely glad to see you, they are quick to put an arm around you and let you be you? We assume that is what it is like coming home to our family; but often the family is the last place to find refuge. Then how about the church: Isn't that supposed to be a place of love, kindness, caring? Sadly, if people were honest, God's house for so many has become the one place they feel the most unwelcome. Listen to some thoughts from a good friend:
Wow, as a pastor that is hard to hear. Are we not supposed to be different? A Christian is a "Christ-follower," and for people to come into a community of "Christ-followers" and not meet Christ is a travesty. I think you could even say this is the main thing wrong with the world: "Salt & Light" has turned out to be "Sewage Water & Black Darkness."
Why is this? Why do people view the church in such derogatory terms? I think there are 2 negative reasons, and 2 positive reasons - - you decide what is keeping you from coming. THE NEGATIVE: when SIN destroys unity in the church (1) Churches destroy joy when righteousness is measured by outward acts and appearances. Legalism kills. Legalism separates...and legalism makes the name of Christ toxic. Legalism communicates that to be a good and proper Christian you have to live by our rules; and if you don't, "Good riddance!" This is the kind of church that makes you feel like the stranger walking into an old western town where nobody trusts you and nobody wants you, and they stare at you with a blank face hoping you will choose to just walk on by. (2) Churches hurt people when they become competitive businesses. When a church wants to grow fast by winning the market-share of possible believers in a city or a town; they often institute certain business tactics that are more concerned about promoting their brand of Christianity than the people they are meant to serve. If a pastor doesn't say the right things, dress the right way or bring in the numbers, "Your fired!" If the people attending do not quite fit the demographics of the church's target audience (ie: not cool enough, rich enough, beautiful enough, or don't drink Starbucks coffee) it is indirectly communicated to them, "You're not welcome." THE POSITIVE: when HOLINESS draws healthy lines (1) Churches protect the purity of Christ when they don't join in the world's cesspool. The world is always seeking to persuade us to follow their bad habits, adopt their carnal tastes, and join them in a culture gone mad. God wants us to be separate, to be holy. And this tension will cause real division - - this division is a good thing. It is a good thing that you don't adopt a liberal political agenda just so the cosmopolitan people will think your cool. It is a good thing that you don't adopt a lock-step approach to conservative political agenda just so the old guard and your grandma will think you are a good baptist boy. It is a good thing to not be a drunk, an addict, an adulterer, or a sluggard. It is a good thing that your god is not your stomach, nor your glory is in your shame. (2) Churches are on this earth for kingdom mission, not comfort, entertainment and maintenance. Bars like "Cheers" want people to feel good. They don't care if you are a bum, a cop, a hooker or a tap-dancer. They don't care if you sit at the bar drinking until closing, or just come for a quick nite-cap. Bars have zero expectations. Not so with the church of Jesus Christ...we are on mission. When people only come to sit on Sunday and sing a few songs, there is just something not right about that. Sermons are meant to exhort people to action, not to cradle people to sleep. We shouldn't judge a singer by how we feel, but by how they help us exalt our King. Slackers and Consumers, people who just want to exist in church without committing, will often feel uncomfortable and guilty. Not because people are pointing at them or accusing them, but because they were meant for more. The church was designed for more. People who don't want to be more will eventually leave. Is that the church's fault? No more than a parent who is sick of their 30 year old son who is living in the basement without a job. In John 17 Jesus prays that his church would be one, unified, friends. We are to be unified on mission, not on comfort. We are to be one in exalting his name, not one in feeling entertained. We must as a church not judge based on our rules and laws; but we also must not allow any kind of lifestyle or sexual behavior just to keep the peace. Balancing all of these objectives is difficult; but it is what Jesus has asked us to do! Why do you go to church? Why don't you go to the bar? Or do you?
6 Comments
anonymous
10/17/2014 09:19:52 pm
I agree with the ideas portrayed in the positive points, but like you quoted from John 17 that this church would be one, unified, FRIENDS. I would say that I've always felt or church (kcbc) to be a little lack luster in the friendliness department. And mostly so in the ages 20-30. Just an opinion, nothing to ruffle feathers about. The one reason it's a concern is that often times, New comers in this age group are coming from a sinful type lifestyle. Being one of these, and truly knowing what my sin has done to my savior, making a complete change of life is difficult, on many levels. One of the most difficult is the area of friends. Often friends you've had for years are a stumbling block and new ones from the church are hard to come by. Let's face it, making a while new set of friends at this stage in life is challenging, and can make for a lonely transition to a Christian lifestyle. I've chosen not to reveal my babe because I don't want to see extra effort in this area towards myself, but in rather in general. Besides...I come to hear/learn truth and worship my God.
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Chris
10/17/2014 09:30:57 pm
thanks for being so honest! What is interesting I just had this exact discussion with some younger people who are trying to figure out how to reach the exact group you are seeking of! And I won't try to guess😊
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Paul E. Newton
10/18/2014 01:58:59 am
Good words, brother Chris! The American church seems by and large, with far too few exceptions, to have completely capitulated to the corrupted culture. Jesus calls us to die to ourselves, daily, at any cost, and then to esteem others greater than ourselves. He calls us to humble service, motivated by His love living itself out through our lives. Too many churches are just country clubs that preach comfort and self-gratification. (Peace! Peace! Where there is no peace, nor any chance to find it because the only One who is Peace is ignored.) Another way the churches have left the Bible is in buying into the American ideal of the rugged individual. Jesus loves His Church. He died for her, to make her holy! While He does love us and save us as individuals, He does so with the express purpose of making all of us individual sinners into a people. A people of His very own, set apart to show His glory for all eternity! Our rest is coming, but in this world we are to be committed to each other in love, forgiveness and perseverance, doing the hard work of encouraging one another in being conformed to the image of our Lord. Let the world have its cheap, shallow, knock-off imitation acceptance, for me I won't be satisfied by anything other than the real, sweet, deep, painful and deadly love of Jesus.
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Chris
10/18/2014 05:08:43 am
paul, you are spot on! Thanks for your well thought out arguments. Very clear.
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Comment
10/19/2014 01:26:47 am
"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, critisize their faults- unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier than thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor." - Matthew 7:1-5. A "drunk, adulterer, or sluggard" may be viewed as a better person in God's eyes than someone who judges other's sins (there is the principle of the laws that the greatest of these is love). God will judge, and Only God knows where our hearts are at.
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Chris
10/19/2014 04:21:35 am
thanks for your comment, but what if the bible does say something is a sin? Are we to continue in it and allow people to continue int it? I didn't think I was on a traveling road show, in fact I have been living for 19 years with the same families trying to show mercy. Does the bible okay drunkeness, does it turn a blind eye from adultery, does it commend sluggardly? Jesus did love everyone, but he also said, "Go and sin no more." And by the way, didn't our sins nail him to the cross? Why would we want to live in them any longer?( ROMANS 6:1-4)
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