December 2016 – Page 2

movie-theater-revival-setup

You attend to the theatre to view the latest, greatest, “gotta-see-it” film. You’ve bought your ticket, a big tub of popcorn and a 32 oz. Coke, and have settled into your seat. Are you comfortable now?

15-20 minutes after the show begins, you abruptly stand up, leave your popcorn and Coke, and head for the exit! In the not-too-distance future, your spouse comes out to check on you. She approaches you with her inquisitive face and asks, “Why did you leave?”

“Well, my brain can only retain 10-20% of what I hear, so I figured, why stick around?”

Have you ever done that? When’s the last time you left a football game, a concert, and/or a play because your mind would only retain a small percentage of what you heard or saw? Truth is, 9.5 times out of 10, you arrive early and stay late for an event.

You know why? Because you love it!

Let me tell you, tailgating, whooping it up and hollering at your favorite football game is just over-the-top fun!!

Hard to beat a good concert, too! And I want the best seats, up close! I want to be where the action is! Love it!

Now, you want to know when I’ve heard the 10-20% brain capacity excuse? It is always in reference to the length of a Sunday service, and especially the sermon.

So what’s the deal? I’ll just put it bluntly . . . you get your “worship on” more with what entertains you than Who loves you and gave His life for you. And that entertainment might even be a Christian concert. . . and the music is loud, too.

The Church is Christ, and Christ is the Church (1 Corinthians 12:27). If you are a true, born again believer, then you are a part of the body of Christ, the Church. Everything about Church should excite you and call you be enthralled with its Head (Ephesians 5:18-32; Colossians 1:18).

Sadly, too many believers view the church they attend by seeing people’s faces instead seeing the face of Christ. Hence, because the people who attend your church are imperfect sinners who disappoint, discourage, criticize, and fail, the church does not live up to your liking.

How about going to church this Sunday to enjoy Christ alone? When the song service and/or sermon goes too long, beyond your 10-20% mental capacity, just let your heart take over (Matthew 22:37) and enjoy being in the presence of God, His Son, and the work of God that you cannot see through all the facets of a Sunday service! You will be surprised at what you remembered because your worship was in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

By the way, how about coming back in for the rest of the film?

bcbc

While visiting family in Kentucky last week, I passed a storefront church with a catchy name . . . My Church. Of course, my warped sense of humor made me think, “What a cool play on words for church outreach?” And then, I heard the following conversation in my head:

Church Member: “How about visiting My Church this Sunday?”

Neighbor: “What’s the name of your church?”

Church Member: “My Church.”

Neighbor: “Yes, your church. What’s it name?”

Church Member: ‘My Church.”

And this could go on and on like an old Abbott & Costello routine entitled Who’s On First?

Seriously, the name caused me to do some thinking about church. Jesus said, “Upon this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). What’s the difference between Jesus’ “My Church “and . . . my church.

Jesus’ My Church

Christ is the issue, the motive, the celebrity, the subject, the preeminent One, and the name that matters (Colossians 1:15-19; 1 Corinthians 1:29-31).
Christ is the architect, the builder, the model, and the planner (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 4:11-16).
Christ builds His Church with broken, sinful lives (Acts 16:12-34) who are eternally changed for God’s glory (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
Christ offers forgiveness (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14), reconciliation (Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:18), redemption (1 Corinthians 1:29-31; Ephesians 1:3, 7), adoption (Romans 8:15, 23), righteousness (Romans 3:21-26), and acceptance to all sinners on His merit alone (Ephesians 1:6).
Christ fits every one into His body (1 Corinthians 12:18; Ephesians 2:21; 4:16).
Christ is Who and What unifies His Church (1 Corinthians 3:11; 12:12-18; Ephesians 1:3-14).
Christ’s Word is the Operations Manual for the Church (Acts 2:42; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 4:2).
Christ’s church answers and handles all personal matters by obedience to the Word (Matthew 18:15-20).
Christ is the “face” of His Church (Ephesians 5:22-27).

My church

My church promotes man, his struggles, his failures, his sins, his illnesses, and his pride.
My church is built around what I believe the church should be and look like.
My church says, “Come as you are,” but let’s you stay as you are.
My church offers a temporal fix, a warm, fuzzy small group, and/or man-centered solutions.
My church fits me and what I like; what makes me feel good.
My church is unified around my music style, my dress code, my service times, my schedule, my selfish theology, my textual choice, and my perspective/assumptions.
My church is entertainment driven, perhaps constitution over the Bible motivated, board-run, and man-feared.
My church reacts to personal matters by anger, bitterness, gossip, and church-hopping.
My church’s “face” is the pastor, deacons, the person (pastor, deacon, church member) who hurt me or disappointed me, and the denomination.

So, now I must look at the church I serve and ask, “Is this Christ’s church or my church?” Look at the church you attend. Is it really Christ’s church or your church?

Let me add, I know very little about My Church in Kentucky, and this article is not about them. It could be if any of these nine things fits them, but I am not out to target them. I will say this, on their website I read these words, “Make My Church your church.” I think I understand their motive, but only you can make My Church into my church (your church). Only Christ can make His Church, His Church. I’ll choose the latter. . . and by His grace, make that the goal.