How relevant is breathing oxygen to your life? Do you wake up in the morning thinking to yourself, "You know, breathing oxygen just doesn't seem as relevant as it used to...I need to think of a way to make breathing oxygen more relevant to the new generation of people growing up in our world." You don't think this way, nor do I. We just breathe naturally with very little thought. It is a part of our human make-up and doesn't need me to make it relevant. It IS relevant and will always be so.
Beloved, the same is true with the Word of God and the Church. Many in the evangelical church of our day have determined that the Word of God is no longer relevant to our modern generations as it has been given to us. They believe that the preached Word is antiquated and outdated. The "guru's" of the modern church have determined that it is their responsibility to make the Word of God and the church relevant once again. So, hot-hearted preaching has given way to conversational dialogue from a stool or chair. Sermons on Hell, judgement, self-sacrifice, suffering and responsibility are nearly non-existent and topical preaching on subjects such as success, self-esteem and financial prosperity can be found in abundance. Church leaders of this sort believe they are "helping God out" by making the church attractive to people in the world. They wrongly conclude that they have made the Word and the church relevant once again. Focus clearly and intently on what you are about to read: The Word of God is relevant just like oxygen! It doesn't need me to "tinker" with it to make it relevant...it IS relevant. It has always been relevant and always will be relevant. Pastors and preachers have no need to preach some topics that are "attractive" and avoid those that are "hard"...we must simply preach the Word as it has been given to us and the Holy Spirit will draw and transform hearts. The church dare not substitute entertainment, self-help counseling and the latest programs for genuine worship centered on humbling ourselves before our Holy Lord and feasting on the "whole counsel of God."
We don't have to make breathing oxygen relevant...it just is. We don't have to make the Word of God and the church relevant...it just is. Quit breathing and you die! Quit accepting the Word of God as it has been given to us and you die spiritually. Something to think about......
Monday, September 19, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Cotton Candy Church
How about that Cotton Candy! When you see it at the fair, it looks so appealing to the sight and gives the impression that there's a lot of it wrapped around the paper stick. You pull off a hunk, pop it into your mouth and the taste is so sweet. Man, is it ever good...but, in a moment of time, it shrivels in your mouth and leave little to be found. Needless to say, you could never live on a diet of Cotton Candy. Though it has desirable outward trappings, there's actually very little to it...and no nutritional value. It just can't provide what is needed to keep a body health and growing. It's a whole lot of fluff.
Friends, the sad tale of our day is that we are inundated with Cotton Candy churches. They have a desirable appeal to the human senses. Their programming and events are advertised in such a way as to make them look "cool" and "today" as opposed to "that's so yesterday." Sermon series and titles appeal to the "felt needs" of man's flesh...how to be successful, relieving stress, adding sex appeal to your marriage and on and on it goes. The reality is that these churches have bought into a subtle lie. What is the lie, you may ask? Here it is...man must be lured into the church with the "stuff" that appeals to his flesh, it's the only way he will come. Then, when he comes, we must present him with "Christianity Lite". If the word is too hard, he will quit coming. If the church can be as attractive as the world, then people will keep coming. Dear Beloved Christian, we are not in competition with the world's appeal, we are to win people out of the world! Our job is to give people what they need, not what their flesh wants. A good mother does not feed her babies cotton candy for their meals...though it would likely appeal to the child...she feeds her babies strained peas (yuk!) and green beans and carrots. None of these are very appealing to the flesh, but they provide the nourishment needed for health and growth. The Word of God is not always easy on man and worship is more than fun celebration or emotional goose bumps. The church is to give people what they need, not what their flesh wants. Don't crave the fluff, but sink your teeth into the meat! Unite with a church that gives what you need!
Friends, the sad tale of our day is that we are inundated with Cotton Candy churches. They have a desirable appeal to the human senses. Their programming and events are advertised in such a way as to make them look "cool" and "today" as opposed to "that's so yesterday." Sermon series and titles appeal to the "felt needs" of man's flesh...how to be successful, relieving stress, adding sex appeal to your marriage and on and on it goes. The reality is that these churches have bought into a subtle lie. What is the lie, you may ask? Here it is...man must be lured into the church with the "stuff" that appeals to his flesh, it's the only way he will come. Then, when he comes, we must present him with "Christianity Lite". If the word is too hard, he will quit coming. If the church can be as attractive as the world, then people will keep coming. Dear Beloved Christian, we are not in competition with the world's appeal, we are to win people out of the world! Our job is to give people what they need, not what their flesh wants. A good mother does not feed her babies cotton candy for their meals...though it would likely appeal to the child...she feeds her babies strained peas (yuk!) and green beans and carrots. None of these are very appealing to the flesh, but they provide the nourishment needed for health and growth. The Word of God is not always easy on man and worship is more than fun celebration or emotional goose bumps. The church is to give people what they need, not what their flesh wants. Don't crave the fluff, but sink your teeth into the meat! Unite with a church that gives what you need!
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