It seems as though worship in the church is suffering from the same kind of disease that western Christianity is suffering from - it's compartmentalized. Believers have their "God-time", their family time, their church time, their exercise time, their work time, their down time, etc. We schedule everything and stick it in a nice little box often right next to the words "to do" so we can check it off when it's done. A friend of mine pointed out that even us pastors are contributing to the problem when we ask people "How's your spiritual life?" (like it's a separate part and not just life).
So I got to thinking about how people approach church and worship. A lot of people come to a church looking for something and wanting to be taken care of, noticed, accepted, or whatever. There's a place for that for sure, but it's not (and shouldn't be) the highest goal. When that happens, people approach church, worship, God and Christianity like they're visitors, expecting someone else to do all the work and preparations before hand so that we can just show up and enjoy. We (pastors and church leaders) do it too. We prepare for guests to come, practice "our lines" and hope to make them feel welcomed enough that they can see, feel, connect or accept Jesus. Not a bad thing either is it?
But I don't want to be a visitor when it comes to Christ; you know, here one minute and forget about Him the next. That's why so much of the world sees us as hypocritical (BTW we'll be talking about that in our next series "6 Things I Hate About Christians") I want to be a follower of Christ. I want our church to be a follower of Christ first and foremost. People coming to church to worship should be coming as followers of Christ (not visitors) - intent on lifting up His name, participating and sharing in the praise of who He is. That needs to be the focus - Him.
Maybe it's time we stop treating people like visitors and start preparing for the followers to come. Maybe it's time to stop worrying so much about "how" and start focusing solely on "who". (Hmmm, I like that - same letters totally different end result) Maybe it's time we evaluate a successful church or worship service not by the positive or negative comments, but by whether or not everything pointed to the One who is worthy. And if that's the case, we need strong leaders (pastors, worship leaders, etc) who can stand before the people and challenge them to "follow my example as I follow the example of Christ" *
So what are you? A visitor? A follower? Who's your church preparing for? Visitors? Followers? Both? Help me understand this.
7 comments:
Very good post. I do think church should be prepared for both visitors and followers. I desire to be a follower after Jesus and His ways. We do compartmentalize, and even put God in a box too.
You post is very thought provoking. One thing I have also thought of during all of the previous comments...is 1st Corinthians Chap 13 (which I thought was neat that Marcus brought up, because I also had that vs on my mind this past week) and I'm paraphrasing it here..."we can have all knowledge, but if we present it without a position of love...then it is a gong of a clanging cymbal." More paraphrasing...Personally, It sounds like to me...well...the teacher in "The Peanuts". Wah WAH wah WHa WHA. That is just my thoughts about it.
I'm no Bible theologian, but I have a passion for Christ and desire to serve Him even in the small things...smiling at someone who needs to see a smile. Being kind. It isn't always the grandeur things we do. Yet, they are all important to God...He cares about every part of us.
I think Steve put it well too...those who are in leadership and leading worship...they are doing what they believe God is putting on their hearts to do to share Christ's love, and doing what they love for the Glory of God too.
I'm guessing if my first thought is love, and to share the love of Christ in spirit and in truth, then I get it right. Otherwise...I am the teacher in The Peanuts. :)
Thank you Jason for presenting your thoughts with the love of Christ.
Great answer Jason! I wholeheartedly agree...but what does a followership service look like?
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Need we look at any other source for "how" we are to function accordingly in this present dispensation of the Grace of God? What we think about "how" things should be done is no more reliable then the advice Job's wife gave him in Job 2:9 advising him to "curse God, and die". So, as far as the personal and practical thoughts and ideas, it would be advisable to put them all in the "just plain nuts" catagory and take heed to what is Biblical. Concerning your useage of the word "thee" in your post, had me scratching my head, hoping you were just being silly, but, I hope you know "thee" and "thou" are personal pronouns in singular form, as well as "ye" and "you" are in plural form. You guys lose so much in the NIV and other (per)versions I thought it would be profitable to clarify this.
Your next paragraph deals with compartmentalizing as a disease and at the same time, you did the same by singling out "western Christianity"..I only find "One faith" in Ephesians 4:5 for this present dispensation of God's grace. There is no difference in doctrine based upon where one lives. So you are just being kind when you said "even us pastors are contributing to the problem", actually...they are a major part of the problem in not equipping the people in the doctrines ascribed to the Church, the body of Christ, breifly: we are bought with a price, we are not our own, we are dead (not born again) and our life is hid with Christ in God, we are crucified with Christ, quickened together with Him, Complete in Him, Sealed unto the day of redemption, Baptized into Christ(not water), Baptized into His body (not water),judicially seated in heavenly places, blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.....
As far as "see,feel, or "accept" Jesus" I've never met anyone that has "seen" Jesus, but I know who was the last to see Him...1 Corinthians 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.(Paul)..I won't comment on feeling Jesus, but "accepting" Jesus?...Jesus accepts us when we believe and trust the Gospel of the Grace of God...Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved...that is backwards of accepting Jesus isn't it?..
Now, "I want to be a follow of Christ"..do you really? and you want your church to follow Christ also?..that could only mean one of two things,,,,you think the "red letters" in your Bible are more important then the black letters...or...you missed the progressive revelation of the scriptures neglecting to rightly divide the word of truth...because to follow Jesus would put you about 2000 years behind the learning curve. Jesus operated everyday in His earthly Messianic ministry "under the law"..are you under the law?..Jesus was a minister to the circumcission to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.(that would be Israel)...is that your ministry? Jesus went about preaching the "Gospel of the Kingdom"..is that what you are preaching?..Israel's promised earthly, Messianic, Davidic Kingdom?.. If that isn't enough, how about you obeying what Jesus taught His disciples in Mathew 5:42 by writing me a check for everything you have in the bank because I am asking,oh yeah, and let me borrow your car, not sure if I will return it or when.
Many people think the Bible is static and you can take a verse, here a verse, there a verse, anywhere a verse verse and just apply it willy nilly as you well please..but that is not how the Bible operates...it progressives kind of like a movie. God didn't tell US to live in a garden, naked, and only eat fruits and such did He? God didn't tell US to build an Ark in our backyards did He?..also, God didn't speak to you in a burning bush did He?...and, Jesus gave His followers alot of stuff to do in order to be His disciples didn't He?...there isn't enough room here to name them all, but I would bet you are doing a lousy job at following His instructions aren't you?...and He doesn't expect you to because He sent Paul for our pattern..1 Timothy 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Paul is our Apostle (Romans 11:13, Romans 15:16)..Paul was the last to see Christ (1st Cor 15:8) and the first to get the Gospel of the Grace of God for this dispensation of Grace. What Paul writes is the commandments of the Lord (1st Cor 14:37) Paul is the ONLY Apostle given the doctrines associated with the Church, the Body of Christ,,,the NEW Creation!..You worship and follow Christ when you follow the one He sent with the Gospel he commited to him. Combining Christ's earthly ministry with His heavenly ministry is what Paul calls "preaching another Gospel" with the result of being accursed.
1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ...that would be what Paul refers to in Romans 16:25, and Ephesians 3:9 as the "revelation of the mystery" which was kept secret since the world began (that includes Christ's eathly ministry) but NOW is made manifest!..it was kept secret since the world began until revealed ot Paul. Paul never said follow my example...he always used the word "ensample" they are different words with different meanings...I am gonna stop now before I write a book.
Grace and Peace!!!
Dean...can you explain your possition in bullet points, I am having a hard time following, the "big idea" of your posts? If I may, what are you trying to accomplish with these posts? Just curious :)
Grace and Peace?
That's a nice way for Dean to sign his posts but the previous ranting you (Dean) typed (at least the tone it contains) only indicates a completely different attitude. Not feeling, seeing or otherwise noticing the grace and it seems like you really want to just stir something up, not bring any peace.
Sorry, not gonna engage in that.
Feel free to privately email me (jason@discoverychurchonline.com), but if you type in the same condescending tone (whether you're expressing truth or not) don't expect a response. Dialogue is fine....diatribe isn't.
Philippians 1:2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is the salutation in every one of Paul's epistles...notice from whom the Grace and Peace originates....This can only be accomplished by being on the same page with God. Ephesians 2:8 decares we are saved by Grace, Romans 5:1 declares we are justified by faith therefore having peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. These present truths are contrary to the doctrines found in Christ's earthly ministry in which He said "follow me".
As a matter of fact, those that were Christ's followers in His earthly ministry had absolutely no understanding of the efficacy of the cross. After being with Jesus (following Christ) for 3 years, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, Jesus for the first time begins to explain his crucifixion to them in Matthew 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.........and how did the disciples respond?.....next verse....Matthew 16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.....
Pretty obvious that they not only did not have any understanding of the matter.....but it clearly demonstrates the fact that the "Gospel of the Kingdom" does NOT include the cross....
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Now, concerning the "stirring something up" comment, the Apostle Paul was said to have "turned the world upside down" when he went into a synagogue for 3 Sabbath days (3 weeks)opening and alledging in the scriptures(Acts 17)..so I still have a ways to go if I am only stirring things up. (chuckles) And of course I would be delighted if you would stir yourself up to study what I have said and be fully persuaded in your own mind. 2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
We have a charge to reproof in...2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.....reproof and correction are mild compared to a rebuke, I was only bringing attention to a greivous error being propogated in the church machinery with their statements such as "I want to be a follower of Christ"and teaching the doctrines that God Himself is not operating in , during this present dispensation of the Grace of God. It's about the DOCTRINE, not a personality conflict.
I amke no apology for being set for the defence of the Gospel. If 1 Timothy 3:15 is correct, and I am convinced it is......we which are the church are the pillar and ground of the truth, therefore we MUST traffic in truth...not philosophy, not false teaching, wrong doctrine, not touchy feely experiences...but as ambassadors for Christ with the marching orders given to US in this present dispensation of the Grace of God.....that means we are to follow the Apostle Paul.
Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Grace and Peace!!!
PS...my email address is:
DeanHewitt@Hughes.net
hey!..we can do some Bible study,
I think the churches we've gone to here definitely treat us like a visitor. I feel like I'm a follower.
However, this whole struggle with finding a church here (still a work in progress) has me questioning all kinds of things as well. Really great post Jason, sorry I didn't answer it well. Erika
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