The Simple Life at Home

I think this video is, unfortunately, a fairly accurate representation of how many Christians in America view church these days.

Church is not about us. It's about God - we are there to worship Him. But many of us only look at whether or not "our needs" are being met. Do I like the music? Is the pastor friendly enough? How does it measure up to the church down the street? Do my kids have fun? Is the pastor exciting?

It's as though the purpose of church is to entertain us, to make us feel good.

But the purpose of believers coming together is to worship, to learn about God, to minister to each other. I understand that the questions posed above have some validity. But when we take our focus off of God and put it squarely on us, we have gone far, far astray.

We should be actively seeking to meet the needs of others, not just to have our needs met. Remember Jesus said that true religion is to help the poor, the widows, the orphans. Nothing in there about making sure we are being entertained. Nothing about being on a pumped-up emotional high.

If you want an emotional high, spend time with God in prayer. Sing praises to Him when you are alone and in a quiet place. Help someone who needs it. This is how God wants us to get our joy - not from stuffing ourselves full of the meeting of our own needs.

Acts 2 gives us a model for a healthy gathering of believers:

"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."

Do you see it?!? It's all about giving of yourself, both to God and to others. It's about denying yourself. It's about this: "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant." Phillipians 2:3-7

In your church, are you a servant, or are you expecting to be served?