Even If It Does "Moo"

In Colorado a few months ago, the Gill Foundation sponsored ads in order to
(as they claim) get people thinking and talking (again) about the debate on
whether or not homosexuality is or is not genetic. Their advertisements
centered around a cute puppie that said "Moo" instead of "Aarff."

And if there really is a gene that predisposes a person to alcoholism, does
that make it okay for him/her to get drunk?

And if there really is a gene that predisposes a person to homicidal
behavior, should we adjust our laws (let alone our morality) to let him/her
do what is "only natural"?

Even if a dog really does moo instead of barks, does that make the dog a
cow?

Yes, Virginia, there really is such a thing as a stupid question.

Does God Want You To Be Rich?

This was the title of the cover article in the Sept 18, 2006 issue in Time
magazine. I just read it after a friend sent me a copy of the article
itself.

It seems to me that, once again, we're asking the wrong question. Yes, I
believe there are lots of people who not only want to ask that question but
also want it answered (and people like Joel Osteen certainly want to give
you the answer they have)... But I'm not sure that there is a truly biblical
answer to that question... And here's why.

What we are told time and time again throughout the scriptures is that God's
primary concern is that human beings "grow up." What does it mean to grow
up? According to scripture, one's maturity is measured by how well one
loves. Of course, love has to be defined, too.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son
as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:10)

This is love for God: to obey his commands. (1 John 5:3)

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as
yourself.'" (Luke 10:27)

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have
heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. (2 John 6)

Love is not primarily about what you feel towards something or someone.
Love is about what you commit to sacrifice for the welfare of the other.
Sacrifice means giving of yourself. It may be a "thing" that you give (such
as money) but there is something of your self that has been invested in it.
Love means sacrifice.

The question really isn't, "How much does God want you to have?" The real
question is, "How much does God intend for you to keep?"

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched
the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people
threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small
copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to
him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into
the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but
she, out of her poverty, put in everything- all she had to live on." (Mark
12:41-44)

John Wesley said, "Make all you can. Save all you can. Give all you can."
As my friend has said... It's that last one that's the killer.

Does God want you to be rich? Yes... In love, my friend, in love.

Confession

Okay, maybe I've been a bit hard on the so-called mega-churches. Maybe.
Perhaps one of the things we might learn from them is that, if we
(Christians) are going to communicate the message of the gospel to whatever
culture in which we happen to find ourselves, we must use the "tools" that
culture has available - the "language" they use.

But... (you knew there was going to be a "but", didn't you?)

But my point really isn't about how outreach, evangelism and missions is
being done. My point is that worship is not evangelism. It's not outreach.
It's not that I'm opposed to unbelievers being present in the worship
service but when we tailor worship to be "palatable" to the unbeliever -
regardless of the cultural setting - then we really need to ask: What is the
purpose of worship - specifically corporate worship?

I cannot speak for other faiths or religions. I can speak for Christians
and for the Church, however. Historically, worship has been for the
believer. Period. Worship never was something the Church "used." It is
something God's Spirit uses - not so much like a "tool" as it is a
"breathable atmosphere." Christian worship is like a husband and wife
making love to each other. It's the act of "making love" but it's also more
than the act itself. It is the bonding of two hearts, two souls that are
totally committed to each other - exclusively to each other and to no one
else.

Sadly, many churches have made their so-called worship a theatre
performance, a concert, a "Your Best Life Now" instruction series, a
twelve-step program, a call to "come and get it." It's something THEY have
made... and not something the Spirit has made.

Worship is, as one song says, "all about you, Jesus." I fear that Jesus has
often been left out of the worship service - and not even missed. I recall
the words of one Christian (non-American) visiting a prayer meeting I was at some years
ago: "It's amazing what the Church in America has been able to accomplish...
Without any help at all from the Spirit."

And I wonder... How much success I have attained in even my own life without
any help from the Spirit? "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain
the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36)

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

The "Mega-Church" and the "Mega-Church Wannabe's"

This is my response to one of the comments to my "Church Growth" post. I changed only the last couple of lines a bit from the original post. I just thought some may read it as a regular blog post rather than as a response to a blog post. And if you disagree with me (or if you do agree with me), feel free to leave your comment. I may or may not respond. So here it is...

--------------------------

Most mega-churches and mega-church "wannabes" have sold out to our culture. (Notice i said "most.") What goes on in the "worship" service? It is, for the most part, a concert atmosphere. Get 'em in. Make 'em feel good. Get 'em to bring their friends. There is NO scripture read. Prayers are utilitarian. There are virtually no sacraments. Church tradition is ignored (at best!). The message (sermon?) is frequently a Tony Robbins knock-off.

Why has this approach been adopted? Because it brings in the numbers. The Church in America - particularly the Evangelical Church - has sold out to the pop culture. What the Spirit says to the Church (churches) in the Revelation of John is ignored because we'd rather give attention to our demographic studies and social preferences. We get "better results" through strategic planning than through preaching about sin and holiness.

Church structures are now routinely designed to avoid looking like a church because we don't want unbelievers thinking they're coming into anything religious. A gymnasium with no Christian symbols is preferred to an adorned sanctuary so people will feel "comfortable" and won't be reminded of the despicability of their sin and need for the blood (eeewwwww) of Christ.

Image has become far more important than substance in the Evangelical Church in America. Yet our brothers and sisters in other societies suffer extreme physical deprivation - not to mention the millions of those suffering outside the Church - so we can have our Starbucks Cathedrals.

The issue is far less about numbers than it is about what constitutes a Christian, what constitutes the Church. Multitudes flocked to hear Jesus... and what did he tell them? Blessed are the POOR... Blessed are the MEEK... Blessed are the PERSECUTED...

I never said the Church should ignore numbers. What i said was that the Church should be paying attention to a different set of numbers. For example: How many people in your church attend a prayer meeting where the time is actually spent in prayer? (Check out the Korean church!) How much of a tithe/offering do individuals provide each week? (Check out the Zimbabwean church!) There are lots of numbers we would do well to look at.

And having said all that I look at myself and am ashamed... for I have prticipated in the very things i have condemned. Lord have mercy.

Is it possible that multitudes today come to hear the gospel at one particular church of this "mega" brand kind? It's possible. But I believe that, in America, it's the exception... at least from what i've seen.

First Things First

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has
been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with
you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20

"...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will
be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends
of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

It might be awfully tempting to think, as many actually do, that this is the
most important thing the individual Christian has to do right now.
Evangelization is Priority One... Or is it?

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have
not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until
heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of
a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is
accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and
teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven,
but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the
kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses
that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not
enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matt 5:17-20)

It might be tempting to think that this is the priority. After all, if our
lives do not match what we preach, of what use is our preaching? But is it the
root issue? Is either evangelization or holy living really the primary goal for
the Christian? Are either of these what Christianity is all about? Someone
actually asked Jesus that question, albeit not in those words, but very
close to it.

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied:
"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second
is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets
hang on these two commandments." (Matt 22:35-40)

This is what author Scot McKnight calls "The Jesus Creed."

This is what Christians are all about: Love God. Love one another. Love is
defined for us by God himself. But that's for another post. God designed
us to love. We failed. God redeemed us to so that we could love. Apart
from faith in the grace and mercy of God, it doesn't happen. But himself
God is love. We were made and redeemed to love God... And each other.

To the Church: Let's make sure we get first things first.