Sure It Does A Body Good, But First You Have To Taste And See
In We’re Not Like That Church Down The Street, Richard points out that most churches believe that they are less watered-down than all the rest of the churches.
As a matter of fact, in a particular consulting season, I asked about ten churches in a row if they considered themselves “deeper” than the other churches in their community. Ten out of ten, despite being from different denominations and of different sizes, all claimed to be “deep”. Go figure! Maybe those are just the churches that hire marketing consultants
. Maybe it’s that we all value depth and feel as though we’ve nailed it. Either way, we might just be missing it if we feel we have a unique claim on truth—or assume that others fall so short.
Recently Ryan addressed this issue as well in Neglecting The Weightier Matters.
I think it rather comical/ignorant that so many Christan’s in the first category think that the Emerging church is taking over and that liberal/humanistic and social theology is on the rise. Yet, if they visited any churches at all in America or just in the south, they would not hear anything about change at all towards being emergent or social, they would hear the same old thing they’ve heard for years, with a little bit of church growth techniques thrown in every once in a while.
With all the discussion about Calvinism and Total Depravity going on lately, I realize that the church seems to be divided into a few different camps.
- Focus on Church Growth (Evangelism)
- Focus on Spiritual Health (Edification)
- Focus on Temporal Needs (Missions)
There is value in all three of these, but there must be a balance involved as well. More than balance, we need to remember Christ’s primary mission.
And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham, for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” — Luke 19:10
Salvation is the principle work of the Bible. The entire Bible is a love of story of God’s heart to redeem miserable, fallen humanity. Too often we get bogged down in service, and forget to learn.
But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away.” — Luke 10:40-42
How many times do churches read that and then try to pass along the guilt trip to those who aren’t serving, because if they helped out a little bit, the busybodies wouldn’t be so bogged down.
But they miss the whole point.
The busybodies don’t need less to do, they need to do less.
So it’s better to sit at the feet of Jesus than it is to serve?
At times, it is better. But we must also remember that if all we do is sit around, we will lose our ability to do much else. “Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies” (1 Corinthians 8:1).
We know that love is not merely an emotion, but it is a state of mind. It is action.
Love sufers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. — 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
So it’s important to evangelize. It’s important to grow spiritually. It’s important to serve help the poor. But all of our service to God and man must be done with love at the core.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have no love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. — 1 Corinthians 13:1
Paul is saying that if we exhibit great external signs for all the world to see and yet do not have God-given love, we are simply making noise.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. — 1 Corinthians 13:2
Paul is saying that no matter how much we edify and strengthen other believers, if it is done for anything other than purely selfless motivations, there is no benefit to us.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. — 1 Corinthians 13:3
Again, if we devote our lives to meeting the physical needs of the poor and needy in this world, and yet are not doing it out of a loving heart, we miss the whole point.
2 Comments
Ericka Mellon on December 16th, 2008
Hello. I’m a reporter for the Houston Chronicle, and I came across your comments about whether or not to friend students on Facebook. I am working on a story about that topic. If you wouldn’t mind talking to me for the story, you can reach me at ericka.mellon@chron.com.
Thank you,
Ericka Mellon
(Sorry to message you here, but I couldn’t find another way to contact you.)
junior on December 14th, 2008
Balance is the key.
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Jesus chided the Pharisees for knowing neither a) The Scriptures; nor b) The Power of God