Style Stigma

My ears have been picking up on lots of words people use to describe church. Other than the usual "small or mega church" terms I hear a lot about casual, contemporary, modern, emergent, high church or traditional. Some other terms are spirit filled, exciting, on fire, growing, loving, boring, dead, or directionless. There are many more that is just a few that came to mind.

In my pondering today it dawned on me that we are way to caught up about the style of a church. According to who you are talking to you can get a positive or negative response about any of the styles we are experiencing today. All are passionate about their preferred style. If you go to the bookstore and look at the shelves they are filled with books on "How to do church". Much money is being made. I won't go there with that topic right now. Tune in later.

For us personally style is what we like. Some of us like spinach some of us like broccoli. Same with the church, the style is just the preferred taste of the majority of the church not a belief system. Some like loud some like quiet. Some like formal some like casual. The style certainly doesn't reflect the godliness of a church by any means. Of course unless they have naked praise dancers. Just kidding, I hope. Back to serious.
A church full of jean wearers can be as deceived as a church full of suits . And vice versa!

Just a thought, Have we become so consumed with the style and "how to" methods we have lost focus of the purpose of the church?

I agree it is nice to worship in a church that pleases our taste in music and teaching and dress. But it is far more important that the truth of God's Word is being taught and implemented. Not just said but actually being done.

It is far more important to have Godly leaders that have godly character than ones with charisma and charm.

It is far more important to be disciplining Christ followers than filling a bunch of chairs with passionless people who are looking for free counseling.

We must be careful we haven't lost our focus of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with people and have become more focused on entertaining them or making them feel good about themselves in their sinful state.

My heart is burdened by the careless way church/Jesus is being presented to people. Are we making it too easy? Do they understand how important this decision is for their eternity? It is great to be happy in the present but these are eternity decisions. So I am concerned when I see leaders/members being more passionate about style and buildings and hoping people are not being made uncomfortable by the teaching of the Word. I mean they must come back. :( If we don't offer them the TRUTH no matter how uncomfortable it makes them then aren't we just another form of entertainment. The truth is: the TRUTH is what they are looking for!

I am fortunate to be in a church where I feel we are trying to remain faithful to the truths of the Bible. It is a struggle for us all. It isn't always popular in the days we are living in .

This is a time of spiritual curiosity. We see it everywhere from Oprah to Dalai Lama. People are searching. We need to stay on track and offer them the REAL truth. Not some watered down version that has no power to change their lives. No wonder people can't tell Christians from non-Christians. It takes the power of Jesus Christ to be a light in the dark world.

Keep the faith.

Stunning Quote

"This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one...the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. "(Man and Superman, Epistle Dedicatory)By George Bernard Shaw

Yikes, that hurts. Are we more God focused or us focused? I hate to miss out on the purpose God designed me for because of my own selfish grievances and pursuit of happiness. I studied the Purpose Driven Life book several years ago. I remember thinking how much I focused on trying to make my life the way I wanted it instead of seeking God and what He had designed me for. That can be a struggle. I realized God is always trying to help us. He is for us! I believe our purpose is to worship God for who He is and live for Him with determination. That just means setting our minds to not give up. If we don't make up our minds to live with a purpose we can wander through life aimlessly. You know the old saying "If you aim for nothing you will hit it everytime"