Yesterday I was up at the church almost all day getting everything ready for the Christmas cantata as well as the children’s musical. Hoping to leave the premises before all the kids showed up (knowing that all the adults would add another couple of hours to my day in things they should have done several weeks ago), I didn’t get out quick enough.
Here’s where the story begins. I’m talking to one of our adults and there are a couple of boys are who sitting, yet rough-housing around the alters at the front of the sanctuary. This became a good teaching lesson for the adult. Listen carefully.
“Hey boys. Do you know why we shouldn’t rough-house around the alters? Do you know what happens at the Alter? This is where we meet with Jesus. Do you also know why we are not to run around in the church? Because this is where we worship Him.”
Well, at least she got the boys to settle down.
Here in SW Arkansas, we have engrained so heavily that we go to “church” to worship God. And that we come to meet with God at church.
Problem #1: You can’t go to something that you are. “Hey, let’s go to Brian Sparks. Oh wait, I am Brian Sparks.” You can’t go to church. You can go meet with the church. The problem is that we have split our spiritual life with our secular life. We believe that there is church and there is everything else. Did you know that when you meet with a church member at the coffee shop, you are not forsaking the assembly as some do? I personally think that barbecuing with your church members is closer to the meaning of that scripture than meaning that a true Christian must show up to every worship service. The proper response would be to tell the boys to settle down, this is not just your stuff. We don’t want to break anything.
Problem #2: You cannot meet with the church to worship God if you have not wanted to worship God all week long. Jesus said, “I don’t care about your sacrifice. I care about your mercy.” When we meet with the church, it is because we have worshiped God all week long. There is nothing sacred to the building. John 4, Jesus clearly states that there is no specific location which people must go to worship. Romans 12:1 that our whole life is worship, not just quite time with a tie on. There is nothing wrong with Sunday services, as long as we enter the worship service with our hearts already poured out. It’s a reflection of the week, not a catch-up time for all the cheating.
Problem #3: We have made these cute little phrases like “Don’t you lie in the church house.” “Don’t run in the church house.” Why? Because we don’t want kids to break stuff? – That’ll do. Because you want your kids to be obedient? – That great. Because this is God’s house? – That’s sad. That stinks for you. Want to see God’s house? Come to my house. Get in my car. Search out my heart. Not everything is perfect, but I don’t want to leave the Lord behind after the invitation. I’m not interested in locking Him up after I turn out the lights. I want my house to be a place of holy ground. I want my son and my wife to catch me staying up late on my knees. That’s where God is. He’s with me. Don’t leave God at the worship service.
John Skipworth
I just happened upon your blog off of Kevin Higgins. I read quite a few of them and was impressed with your thoughts. I was especially impressed with this one because it mirrors my thoughts. I noticed no one had commented yet so I thought I would be the first.
My wife and I discuss this all of the time. I even mentioned it in my sermon this morning. Worship is a 24/7 thing. We can only worship God on Sunday IF we have worshipped Him all week.
There is NOTHING sacred about the building! I think we are at a point where we must define church. For so many, church is the building and the programs.
There is a lot of talk going around on blogs about traditions. Every time the word comes up someone is offended and starts talking about doctrine. Traditions are things that we have imposed (personal preferences) and they have been imposed for so long that we would swear they came straight out of the word of God. That would show us anothing thing: that we are not spending enough time in God’s word.
I fully believe that we should know what we believe and that we should be able to back it up with the word of God.
No matter how cool some tradition may seem IT IS WORTHLESS IF IT IS NOT COMMANED BY GOD AND IF IT IS NO LONGER EFFECTIVE IN REACHING PEOPLE.
It is time that we quit playing church and start being the church!
You are right on John. It’s funny but in Texarkana, it seems that the traditional works. The lost have an idea of what they think church should be like. They condemn the non-traditional. So if you can get them to come, it’s easier to reach them in a traditional church.
However, the college age kids and down are wanting something a little more contemporary. Hence the delima. Make a church that serves everyone and you won’t get anyone. Make a church that is focused on young adults and you can’t fund it. Make a church focused on the traditional, and you get no where.
This is where we are at.