I've often heard it said of the church that "the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." Yet why do we so often get it wrong?
Is it because the "main thing" to each of us is different? The answer is "YES!" The problems we have in churches today is that too often we get into a selfish mode, where the most important project or idea or controversy is created by what "I" want. Get two or more of these ideas working in a church and all hell breaks loose, literally! It's an act of idolotry, putting anything ahead of God, and we do this often without even realizing it. Israel (the Northern Kingdom, not the whole country) was guilty of this at every turn. And when Amos the prophet came to speak God's judgment on them, it wasn't pretty...
"I can't stand your religious meetings.
I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions.
I want nothing to do with your religion projects,
your pretentious slogans and goals.
I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes,
your public relations and image making.
I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
When was the last time you sang to me?
Do you know what I want?
I want justice—oceans of it.
I want fairness—rivers of it.
That's what I want. That's all I want." Amos 5:21-24, The Message.
We've been talking about the right way to love God, our mission. It's to love by our actions as well as with our heads, hearts and souls. It's about doing right by others, offering grace where it isn't justified; offering a hand to the needy; offering love to the unloved and unlovable; it's sacrificing one's own wants for the benefit of someone else.
Jesus said in his garden prayer, "not my will, but yours be done." In other words, his desire was something other than the cross, but his devotion to God set aside the human, selfish temptation and moved him to service and faithfulness to his Father, God...for the benefit of the whole world!
It's not about the style of worship, the marketing plan, the ministries that draw community, it's about living in God's way, always thinking about those we can influence with God's good news and with God's unconditional love.
That's the main thing!
Peace ><>
pc
2 comments:
There is a great Christian song out right now by Charlie Hall. The words are, "Christ, be the center of our lives, be the place we fix our eyes. Be the center of our lives."
I believe that once we can all pray that for ourselves and for our church, then we will begin to see all the blessings God has for us!
I agree. I heard Charlie sing that last year at a conference I attended. I've worshiped to his newest album ever since. especially "Micah 6:8" , "marvelous light" and "Center"
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