This past Sunday, as a congregation we sang a song that contained a verse "Simply Living for Christ". Although the song itself was not that appealing to me, the words spoke more than the actual arrangement of music. Our pastor even admitted that this song speaks to him greatly as we are called as Christians to "simply live for Christ".
As you have read in previous posts our church has experienced changes in mighty ways. Some of these changes have met much turmoil, confusion, discussion, appreciation and all other emotions that come with changes within a church. I, myself, have been against and for some of the changes as well as the way they have come about.
But this post isn't just about my church. It's about today's changing church. However, most of my experience is based on the experiences of my church. As I see a much need for some change in today's church, especially when reaching the unchurched and unsaved, I ask myself all the time "Where do we draw the line?". How much do we change to accomadate, to appeal, to make comfortable those who do not attend church rather they be Christians or not in order to bring them into a worship setting. This "worship" setting according some consistent, professing church goers can be anywhere besides an actual church. If the unchurched can be brought to worship in a bar, let's have worship in the bar...if the unchurched can be brought to hear the gospel on a softball field--well let's make a tent and have church. If it's more appealing to have church in someone's home, come on in and stay awhile...you get the picture. It's about whatever makes the unchurched the most comfortable to hear the word of God. Remember however, the unchurched may not necessarily be a non-Christian. He or she just may not attend church for some reason or another.
Some church goers believe the best way to bring in the unchurched is to promote more appealing ministries and programs within the church. New children's programs that seem to reach young ones better than the outdated, traditional ones...New women's ministries that reach more than the typical SAHMs who seem to live in a perfect world...New recreational ministries that reach the community through various sporting activities. All of which are very much needed and useful to it's own extent.
But here is where I am constantly asking myself this same question over and over...where do we draw the line? You can build programs to be the best in the area, you can meet in the most comfortable surroundings...but the message is still the same. We seem to want to make it comfortable for the unchurched...is it the surrounding that makes them uncomfortable, do they not like
dressing up and sitting in the pew of an actual church (never mind the denomination or the actual size of the church). Or is it the message they are uncomfortable with...do they not like to be convicted of the sin in their life...do they not like to hear that non-Christians will not go to Heaven...do they not like hearing the truth for fear or frustration that it makes them uncomfortable. You see, I fully believe that no matter where you meet...the message should be the same. You can't water down the truth in a bar, you can't water down the truth on a softball field, you can't water down the truth in a home. What is spoken in truth while sitting in a pew is the same truth spoken other than an actual church setting. So in trying to make the unchurced comfortable, where do we draw the line?
I believe that more than any program, ministry, preaching, songs, worship style or whatever logistical change the church may plan or pursue it's not until we as professing church-going Christians start to live our everyday live "simply for Christ" will any of these ministries actually work to the best that they can. It's just that SIMPLE. There are no programs that are more effective than we individuals living our life fully devoted to Christ OUTSIDE of the church. That means duplicating your weekly life to be same as your church life. That means living for Christ at work, at home, at the resturaunt, at the softball game, soccer game, football game, ballet, cheerleading, basketball, bunko, girls night out, guys night out, movies, watching tv, surfing the web, grocery shopping...literally in everthing we do.
A few Sundays ago, we stopped at our local grocery store to pick up a few needed items. To my dissappointment we saw several active church members with their children selling raffle tickets for their ball team. This is what I am talking about. (It is at this point that I say... I am in no way judging individuals, as I too have my own faults...this is simply an example). How much of an impact would we have had for Christ, if those dad's had said..."No, we will not be selling raffle tickets during church time nor on Sunday as it is God's day. Instead, I as a Christian father will teach my children that worship is more important than playing ball." Now they may have gone to church for awhile and left early, but to the general public, it didn't give that appearance. I like what our pastor said one time..."Do for your church what you do for your children's extra-curricular activities." I'll take it farther..."Do for Christ, what you do for your extra-curricular activities". Saying no to such activities as I just mentioned is "Simply Living for Christ". It's not a program, it's not meeting in a "comfortable" location. It's "Simply Living for Christ" to the point of making an eternal impact for your family, your church, and your community.
I have a friend who told me that the reason he doesn't go to church is because of the hypocrits. My initial reaction was,"yeah, yeah, yeah...the easy excuse and justification" Until he mentioned a fellow church member. And he was right. The person he mentioned is much involved on Sunday mornings but you would never know it by their lifestyle during the week and weekend. Now, I am not advocating that this be a justifiable reason not to attend to church, but he has a point. And if I was searching for the truth...I wouldn't know the truth if I followed the example and witness of the person he mentioned. (Again, this not pointing to any individual but the church as a whole). We don't "Simply Live for Christ".
Are the shows we record because we don't dare miss an episode glorify our relationship with Christ? If he were sitting next to you, which he actually is, be proud of what we are watching? Same with the movies we support by buying the tickets and renting them? Are our actions outside of church "Simply Living for Christ" or are they "Hypocritically Living for Christ". It's that simple. If we as consistent, church going Christians simply live for Christ...I believe it would make more of an impact than any "comfortable" setting, program, or ministry a church can promote.
Sadly though, not enough do this, including myself. There have been times I should have walked out of a movie due to events that took my God, my Savior's name in vain. I should have walked out in my way of "Simply Living for Christ". There are times that I have should have turned the radio station because the song blasphemed all that my God, my Saviour, my Christ died for. The movies glorified sin, the songs glorified sin. There are times I should have walked away from a group of friends that brought out the sin in me and kept me from "Simply living for Christ".
We boldly confess through fun surveys, through MySpace profiles, through Facebook profiles our favorite tv shows, movies, songs, books, bands, and singers through...some of which clearly do not glorify our relationship with Christ nor do they allow us to "Simply Live for Christ". What does this say about us as Christians? Would we dare bring some of those shows, songs, books, movies to church to share with our fellow members? I know I wouldn't bring some of the ones I've seen.
As I have shared examples of ways that we don't simply live for Christ, I would like to share one that I find honoring. I have a dear friend whose mom told me about a situation that she had to either live for Christ or go with the crowd. She was asked to help host a couple's wedding shower that would require each hosting couple pay several $100...just to host it, mind you. After she learned what most of the money was supporting, alcohol of course, she "Simply Lived for Christ" by kindly turning down the offer. You see, she has a Christian witness and testimony that she knows is more important than any party that can be giving. She knew that "Simply Living for Christ" is what she is called to do as a Christian. She followed her convictions and "Simply Lived for Christ" in that very moment of a decision. As uncomfortable and difficult it was to turn down the offer, it was a "Simple way of Living for Christ". (She didn't actually tell this story as a way of promoting her witness, it was actually told because of the ridiculous amount of money that each hosting couple was gonna have to pay.) Little did she know that her "Simply Living for Christ" moment made an eternal impact and a sense of hope for me.
A challenge to myself is that I "Simply Live for Christ" and to not only rely on any program, ministry, or comfortable setting to be my witness or outlet to show God's love or my way of living for Him.
Thanks for reading my thoughts and convictions. And please excuse any grammatical errors or misspellings as it late. HB
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