The Power of the Towel

In my last post I discussed the thought process we go through as Americans when it comes to the church and what it is. One of the effects of this thought process has been poisonous to the church as a whole.

Because we act like church is a destination instead of something that we are, we've advertised church to the lost much like one would advertise a tourist attraction to tourists, or a performance to concert-goers. In those instances, one might have a flashy sign out front of the attraction or concert hall with something catchy on it to capture people's attention, or one might put an advertisement on television. Of course, the most important thing is that you have something at your destination that is worth coming to see. I suppose with a tourist attraction, this comes inherently, but with the concert hall, you try to obtain the best performers with the best programs in order to convince people there is something they need to experience. The goal is to have the most attractive program advertised in the most attractive way to maximize the number of people that will come (and ultimately, to maximize the profit).

How is this all that different from the American Church? How many church bodies have a flashy sign out front of the building they own (or, though it may not be flashy, at least have a sign with some catchy [read as 'cheesy' or 'lame'] phrase on it)? How many churches take out ads in the local newspaper or yellow pages? Numerous church bodies (usually the larger ones that can afford to do so) have advertisements on television, and my church growing up even took out space on a local billboard along a major roadway. And don't forget that there has to be something worth coming to experience, so a flashy rock band is added, only the most charismatic people are found on the stage, and the church programs itself to death with retreats, revivals, children's programs, teen events, concerts, plays, and the list goes on and on and on...

And on top of that, the content needs to be relevant! Otherwise, none of what is done will be worthwhile, so the church needs to work extra hard to make sure that God is helped out by making Him appear relevant. Oh, and it would be awful to offend those that the church has worked so hard at getting to come, because if they do get offended, they might not come back. This may mean compromising which parts of the gospel are shared, and may go so far as to allowing the post-modern mindset to creep in, but it's so that people who are seeking will come to our destination on the weekend. And, of course, God wants us to fill the pews...He'll be so proud!

Last I checked, Christ didn't tell His disciples to "get everyone to come to you so you can preach the gospel to them." He said, "Go and make disciples of all nations..." He didn't say, "Help make me relevant, because I struggle with that." He said, "I am the bread of life," (John 6:35) and "whoever drinks of the water I give him will never thirst." (John 4:14) If that isn't relevant, I don't know what is. Scripture doesn't say that "there are tons of people seeking God, so help them on the journey." It says that "No one seeks God. All have turned away." (Rom. 3:11-12) It doesn't say, "The message of the cross is attractive if presented a certain way." It says, "the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing..."(I Cor. 1:18) and that Christ crucified is "a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles." (I Cor. 1:23)

The church was never intended to be a destination, but because it has become that in the way we live, it has also become an excuse to not do the very things the church was made to do. Church gatherings aren't solely for evangelism. They are for the edification of the believers. They are so that we can be "teaching [disciples] to obey (or do) everything I (Jesus) have commanded you." (Matt. 28:20)

Please don't get me wrong. There is nothing inherently wrong with programs that share the gospel. But we've got the wrong idea. Most of the time, the unbeliever isn't going to come to us. We must be mobilized to go! We need to be the church every day, not just once or twice a week, reflecting Christ to all those we come in contact with.