Pillars are Just Crutches

Last time we discussed that churches were for Christians, and we also discussed why breaking away from that (biblical) ideal was a dangerous move for any church.  It produces something that the world has lots of, shallow Christians, the church should be working on digging deeper Christians.

I think Acts 2:42-47 gives us a good idea of what church is for:

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers … all who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.  Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people.  And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

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I just finished reading a remarkable little book by Henri J. M. Nouwen who was a Catholic priest who taught at Harvard and ended up being a Chaplin at Daybreak for the mentally handicapped and their helpers.  The book is entitled, ‘In the Name of Jesus’.  The book is about Christian leadership, but it’s unlike anyother Christian leadership book I have ever read.

In his introduction he sets the stage of how he arrived at Daybreak from Harvard and he shares how that transition had given him a new perspective on Christian leadership.  In doing so he uses the tempation of Jesus as his guide.  The first temptation being turning the stone to bread.

This is the temptation to be relevant, and what a temptation, Jesus was hungry, he hadn’t eaten in weeks!  Some bread would have hit the spot!  Mr. Nouwen shares that Jesus came into the world, and when He was tempted with what He could do (feed himself with food that he desperately needed) He responded with what he should do, feed himself with God’s word.

This has big applications within the church today!  Many churches have tried to be relevant and reach out to the lowest common denominator, in doing so they have taken away the gospel message so as not to offend people.  They are being completely relevant to the world and feeding their congregations self-help messages that have been stripped of the Word of God.  They are no longer preaching sermon, they are giving seminars.  As a result, souls are lost.

Instead of attempting to be relevant Nouwen asks the question, “Am I in love with Jesus?”  The answer to this question is more important than what people may think of me or whether I get the result I expect or want.  It will also determine how close I am to Him and what my spiritual life is like.  He encourages us to seek God through contemplative prayer, simply dwelling in the presence of God.

To the churches great demise, prayer has become synonymous with ‘doing nothing’.  Churches are more focused on programs than spiritual disciplines and they have created a culture where busyness, noise, and attendance is often linked to success.  Whereas often the opposite is need, stillness, silence and solitude.

Instead of seeking relevance we should be prayerfully seeking God.