A Church I Can Believe In

Posted on October 18, 2015 by Rick Wadholm

Church FunnyA major issue in our western consumerist culture is that consumerist concerns are immediately applied to the way Church is viewed and practiced.  What can be offered for me?  What do I gain by being a part of this congregation?  What can we do to attract more folks?
While this is not only a problem in the contemporary or western Church (think of the issues mentioned by Paul and Jude concerning preachers in it for their own gain, or the Corinthian battle for pneumatic-supremacy), it has been sharpened by our propensity to consume.  If we don’t find what we are shopping for then we move on. This does not tend to be driven by any biblical notion of priorities for participating in the life of the Church.  Instead, it seems to be driven by market values (e.g., programs).
Certainly there is much to be said for trying to reach our culture in relevant ways, but should it be done at the expense of seriously thinking through our practices as the Church?  Why do we offer this or that message or program?  Why do we feel the need for it?  In fact, what is the purpose of the Church?  Why do we exist and to what end?  Do our various programs actually advance this center or do they simply offer trendy appeals to consumers?
I have often remembered the words of old-time evangelist Vance Havner who wrote, “Your job as the pastor is not to fill the pews, but to fill the pulpit.”  If we are faithful to what matters, we will not try (by other routes) to accomplish what God has determined to do if we are faithful witnesses to His life and kingdom.
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Originally posted at bluechippastors.org on August 16, 2012

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4 Responses to A Church I Can Believe In

  1. Tim Temple says:
    October 18, 2015 at 4:53 pm

    Baby Christians are the sign of an evangelist. But you need four more gifts to bring the babies to maturity in the faith. The list is: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. The sign of a baby leader is the lack of the rest of the gifts for the church in Ephesians 4:11-16. No one has all those gifts except Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the head and cornerstone of the church. Here’s how God builds a church in Ephesians 2:19-22.
    Here’s a prayer for asking God to bring maturity to the church:
    http://orderofsaintpatrick.org/service-blessing.htm

    Reply
  2. danieldisgrigg says:
    October 18, 2015 at 7:55 pm

    Love that quote at the end.

    Reply
  3. Brian Fulthorp says:
    October 19, 2015 at 10:31 am

    Reblogged this on συνεσταύρωμαι: living the crucified life and commented:
    what happens when we utilize and attractional way of thinking instead of engaging a missional way of thinking….

    Reply
  4. Duane Bagaas says:
    November 2, 2015 at 2:38 am

    If my thoughts are worth anything here, I’m amazed at how many ‘followers’ don’t seem to have a grasp on the ‘correct following’ way of thinking. There is so much in God’s Word that we have busied ourselves with to avoid and evade, rather than to believe/receive/obey. “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to Him for righteousness.” Our patriarchs of the First Covenant (OT) hear-and-did (shema). Faith and works is how it is reiterated in the Fulfilled Covenant (NT). Same/same. In my walk in Yeshua/Jesus (since 1971), I have found that, when we get our foundation correct, all the other pieces can fall into their correct place. Also, it seems, Yeshua said we needed the Ruach ha Qodesh/Holy Breath/Spirit in our lives. The way it happened at Sinai and Acts. When we understand that “God is the same yesterday, today and forever,” so much makes sense, it is nearly unfathomable. BUT GOD helps, when we ‘do what we know to do’ as it says, “To him who knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.”

    Reply

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