The Young Adult Mystery…

No matter what age category you tag onto ‘young adults’, it is clear that the 18-35 year old bracket of believers are missing from our church attendance rolls. They remain to be a riddle wrapped up in a mystery tucked away inside an enigma.

I was recently asked how to get young adults to attend church. The answer that I gave stands firm: There is no “chapter and verse” proven procedure or program to get a young adult interested in church.

The truth is young adult attendance is an anomaly.

I find that the questions being asked about why young adults cease from church activity are slightly misguided. Many churches work and toil and labor to the point of hopelessness to get young adults active within the Body of Christ. But we all would do well to take a moment and look at what has taken the place of church in a young adult’s life.

And the more you look, the more bizarre the reasons get.

In an article published on a Protestant website, a study done in March of this year linked church attendance to obesity.

Researchers at Northwestern University followed more than 2,400 people ages 20 to 32 for a period of eighteen years and found that middle-aged congregants who attended religious services on a consistent basis were twice as likely to become obese.

Okay, so maybe young adults abstain from church because……they don’t want to gain weight? Sounds a bit shaky to me (although I love chicken & dumplings).

A 2007 Pew Research poll reported that eighteen out of one hundred young adults, ages 18 – 30, leave the church for “political reasons”.

I guess they couldn’t handle the donkeys and the elephants sitting together in the ‘Amen corner’?

The same poll reports that twenty six out of one hundred leave the church because “the church members seem judgmental or hypocritical”.

Then you have the ‘summer sleepers’ who contribute to the ‘summer slump’. These are the ones that take a vacation during the summertime, children in tow, and in doing so somehow permanently vacate the church.

Thom Rainer, President of Lifeway Christian resources, said in May of 2010 that if the trend in young adults abstaining from church continues, “…the Millennial Generation will see churches closing as quickly as GM dealerships.”

But obesity, politics, criticism, and vacations can’t be the only reason why there is a gaping hole in young adult church attendance. We have to at least entertain a hard reality that young adults are just plain bored with church.

I voiced this to a friend recently, and his reply may be the same as yours: “What are we supposed to do? Put on a show for them?” Not exactly. Ministers are called to feed sheep – not entertain goats.

However, there are a few things that we can do to change the method of our message. And probably the number one thing that needs to be revised in many Baptist churches is worship.

Let me first state that I am 31 years old and I am a young adult. And I love “The Old Gospel Ship” just as much as “God of Wonders”. I’m vastly different compared to my peers who are tired of ‘old-fashioned’ worship.

But ‘worship wars’ will only drive young adults away. And who is ever completely satisfied? The older generations has their own likes and preferences, the younger generation has their own likes and preferences, and the young adults stuck in the middle get what? Usually, they get the disharmony and tempers of the ‘worship warriors’ battling it out. I can’t much blame them for not wanting to get in the middle of it all.

Colossians 3:13 says we are to ‘Forbear’ one another. Literally, that means ‘put up with’. It’s a give and take over likes and preferences.

And besides all of that, is the music more important than the message of the Gospel that is contained within the music? Read the lyrics sometime, and forget about the music. Many of the traditional worship hymns are rife with deep, profound truth and spiritual exhortation. The more contemporary worship is profoundly exalting to the Lord Jesus Christ too.

Also, the technology that is available to churches for a meaningful worship time is nearly unlimited today. If we’re willing to blend, mix, change, and try a few new things in our church worship experience, we may cause a renewed interest.

Another area that we would do well to address is the family. Many young adult couples have no desire to drag their children kicking and screaming to a bland, colorless, lifeless nursery or children’s church. As a parent of three children ages 8 and under, I understand.

But at the same time your children may be too young to allow you to worship the Lord with liberty. The church that addresses the constantly shifting needs of children is a church that will be ‘user-friendly’ to young adults.

A few cans of bright paint, some nails and a hammer, and a child-friendly atmosphere can do worlds of good. A facility update is always exciting.

Staff is important also. A working schedule of duties for children during the worship time and for educational purposes (Sunday School, Discipleship Training, Bible Study, etc.) will help to give a sense of ease to young adults who struggle to find their footing in their walk with the Lord. No parent likes the surprise of coming to church to find out that there is no one who will attend to the demands of and teach the Word of God to their rambunctious 5 year old. It’s a big let-down, and the loss of confidence is tremendous.

Young adult fellowships and small group gatherings outside of the church can bring interests up too. You can make it to be a kid-friendly environment and have fun with the entire family in attendance. Young adults long for interaction on an informal platform where they can be themselves and loosen up a bit.

In our part of the country, a crawfish boil may be in order.  Maybe a young ladies’ informal gathering off-site at a member’s home.

Have a Mom’s day out and let Dad keep the children for the day.

Have a Dad’s day out to the lake and let Mom keep the children for the day.

Or pool together and have a babysitter so all the couples can go to a restaurant for food and fellowship.

Once the relationship has been established (or re-established), invite them to Sunday School. Let them know there is a community of believers that will help them to grow spiritually and support them however they can.

But most importantly, whatever method you employ to reach out to young adults, make sure that Christ is the center of all things. Decide beforehand that the love of Jesus will permeate throughout all of the activities and events and decisions that will be made to rescue young adults from the world and bring them back into our respective fellowships.

The Submerging Emerging Church

There is a postmodern movement in the churches of America that is commonly known as “the Emerging Church”. The ‘movement’ began in the late nineties, and gained momentum early in the new century.

One of its most prominent leaders is a man by the name of Brian Mclaren, Pastor of Cedar Ridge Community Church near Baltimore, MD.

In a 2005 Baptist Press interview, Mclaren defines the ‘movement’: “…there’s got to be a lot more humility and a lot more gentleness and (we feel that) that the Gospel is made credible not by how we argue and make truth claims. But it’s made credible by the love and the good deeds that flow from our lives and our community.”

One of the more bizarre assumptions by Mclaren is that the message of the Gospel is not about who is going to Heaven or Hell, but that the primary reason for Jesus Christ coming to earth was to fix the culture with a social Gospel; to fix poverty, to eliminate unhappiness, to repair the grimness of the situation in the social world.

A result of this type of liberal doctrine is the watering down of the Sacredness of Scripture and the dismissal of any absolute dogma regarding Bible doctrine.

But probably the most noticeable result of this ‘movement’ is the blatant apathy and indifference of the next generation to provide a bold evangelical witness for salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. Instead, many are focused on Christ repairing the situations and circumstances in which they live in.

From this movement, younger generations are applying Christ to the fruit of unrighteousness rather than dealing with the root, which is salvation. More emphasis is initially placed on right living rather than emphasizing the need for forgiveness and redemption in the Lord Jesus.

I recently preached to a group of teenagers at a Saturday night youth rally. The emphasis of the rally, I was told, would be geared towards right living and bearing Spiritual fruit.

There’s certainly nothing wrong with that. In the world in which we find ourselves today, the new generation could use a double-dose of respect for their elders, behavior modification, setting a good example as a Christian, etc.

That night I preached on the Rich Man who was found in Hell upon death. It was noted that the man had all of his senses about him in Hell: Seeing, smelling, tasting, touching, and hearing.

For an eternity the Rich Man would hear the cries of the damned that died apart from Christ. There were three that were mentioned: Cain, who asked the Lord “Am I my brother’s keeper?”; Judas, who sold the Lord Jesus for thirty pieces of silver and hanged himself; and King Agrippa, who, after the Apostle Paul had presented the Gospel to him, said “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian”.

These men, just like the Rich Man, would remember for an eternity each and every single time that they were presented with the Gospel.

The point that I made to those young people that night is that Hell is real. Hell is not a parable, Hell is not a figment of the imagination, and Hell is not an allegory or a symbolic representation to scare people into getting saved.

Some people think that it is offensive and rude to ‘scare’ someone into getting saved by telling them the truth about a real, literal Hell. In my opinion, I would much rather ‘scare’ someone into Heaven than love them into an eternal Hell.

Brian Mclaren

Yet, that’s exactly what Brian Mclaren and many of the Emerging Church leaders endorse.

In a 2007 interview, Mclaren said: “A lot of arguments happen among religious and non-religious people about the question of ‘Who’s going to Hell and who’s going to Heaven?’ And a lot of times Christians get into this argument by saying ‘We have the only way into Heaven’. And people often ask me what do I think is the way into Heaven.

“I have a problem when they ask me this question because it assumes that the primary purpose of Jesus coming and the primary message of Jesus was a message about how to get to Heaven.”

If I may, Mr. Mclaren, on this issue Jesus was crystal clear: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

As for the issues of social progress and ‘lifestyle evangelism’, the Rich Man who found his place in Hell upon death was ten times more concerned with the spiritual state of his five brothers than he was their social status, poverty level, and lifestyle. The only problem was that it was too late.

One young man came forward in the invitation at the youth rally to accept Christ as his Lord and Savior. He shocked everyone. He was thought to be saved and he thought himself to be saved also. Yet, he had been living in darkness for some time.

After the invitation was given and the rally was concluded, two other students gave their hearts to Christ. They thought they were saved also.

I guess they got ‘scared’ into Heaven.

Sorry Mr. Mclaren. I’d rather stick to the fundamentals of the Gospel.

RE-VIVE-AL

Revival…

 

 

I know, I know – it’s something that I probably speak about way too often, and you’re probably tired of it. Forgive me. I desperately desire to see God’s manifestation upon His people, and I will do just about anything it takes to see that happen. I guess my personal, daily encounter with revival is what brings me to speak about it all the time. But it is because of that redundancy that I want to take another look at it. Do we really understand what it is?

 

I mean, after all, if someone talks and talks and talks about something over and over and over again and nothing ever comes of it, then I believe it may be time to ask the question “Why hasn’t anything happened yet?”

 

This is akin to the man who wanted to be able to play piano. While standing in his church fellowshipping with a few folks, Bob pointed to the church piano and said “I’d really love to be able to play that piano. I just wish I could sit down at it and make wonderful music.”

That doesn’t sound so bad……until he had said the same thing to the same people every single Sunday for an entire year. Once Bob’s friend had finally had his fill of listening to his empty wishes and hopes, he asked “Brother, if you want to play that piano so bad, why don’t you go take some lessons and actually learn how to play it rather than just wishing and hoping for it?”

 

The same thing happens when it comes to revival. Ask any good southern, Bible-believing Christian if they want to see revival and you’ll get a favorable response every time. Yet, we still don’t have it, so that would lead me to assume that we either really don’t want it or we don’t understand the nature and definition of what revival really is. I believe it is the former. We love to talk about it, sing about it, and wish for it……much like Bob talked, crowed, and wished to be able to play the piano. But Bob was unwilling to personally get involved enough to know how to play the piano. So also are many who beat their jaws about revival.

 

So I decided to take another look at revival to see if I had missed something. The word “revival” has three separate parts to it that need to be separated in order to fully understand the word.

 

#1: “Vive” is the root of the word and needs to be addressed first. “Vive” (pronounced ‘veev’) defined means “long live”, or “to give life to”. In other words, it means that there is some life present. “Vive” is the root of several words, such as “Vivacious”, and “Vivid” – all of which have to do with the living. If you will recall, some years ago Taco Bell had a very successful advertisement campaign that centered on a little talking Chihuahua enjoying an entrée called a ‘Gordita’. The dog would stand before a large crowd that would hush when he stepped to the podium, as he shouted “Viva Gorditas!” In English, that simply means “Long live Gorditas!” It was cheesy (no pun intended), but the point is that from English to Spanish the word does not change. Whether “Vive” or “Viva”, the word means that there is life present.

 

A church is generally assumed to be full of people who are dead to sin and have been made alive unto Christ. We’ve been born again, and we are as alive as we can be. The new walk with Christ has given us life in abundance, and His death at Calvary paved the way for us to experience life to the fullest – to the extent that we are eternally secure in the Father’s hand.

 

It was the famous 19^th century evangelist D.L. Moody that once stated: “One day they will come to you and tell you that ‘D.L. Moody is dead.’ Don’t believe it for even a second! I will, at that point, be more alive than I have ever been in my life here on this earth!”

 

#2: “-al”: The suffix “-al” simply means “pertaining to”, or “of”. Generally, any word that ends in “-al” has this meaning. “Supplemental” simply means “of, or pertaining to supplements”. “Rental” means “of, or pertaining to rent”. “Survival” means “of, or pertaining to surviving”.

 

So when you put just these two words together, “vive” and “-al”, it simply means “of or pertaining to life”, or “of or pertaining to the giving of long life”. We go to church to learn more about the spirit life and the ways of God from the Word of God. These are things that pertain to being alive in the Spirit and being sensitive to the leading and guidance of the Lord Jesus Christ. The church continues to march on as a life giving institute purchased by the Lord’s own sacrifice at Calvary.

 

But from time to time life drifts into stagnation. The same ways of obedience become ho-hum, and the spirit life that once shone so vibrantly in your life begins to fade and become dimly lit. We begin to go through the motions of religion rather than functioning in a vibrant relationship with Christ. Does that mean that you’ve lost your salvation? If you’ve truly been born again of the Spirit, there’s no way you can lose your salvation. However, you can lose your way from time to time. And that goes for the leadership as well as the layman. This leads to the last point part of the word, which is actually the first part of the word……

 

#3: “Re-”: This one is simple. It means “again”, or “once more”. Put these word fragments together and you have “Re-vive-al”, or “Revival”. It does not mean that you are dead spiritually, but that you have to be renewed and refreshed in your spirit walk with Christ.

 

But here is where the problem exists.

 

The reason why we don’t see any significant movement of God’s Spirit on a body of people today boils down to a simple truth. If we don’t experience revival, this can only mean that we are content with where we are in our Spirit walk with Christ. Complacency is prohibiting God’s anointing and His Power from manifesting itself in real, Holy Ghost revival.

 

The only way for real, lasting revival to take place is for us to get uncomfortable in our complacency. Many are uncomfortable now, but are content to remain complacent because of the inconvenience that revival would cause. Simply put, revival would disrupt our lives, and we don’t want that. There is nothing ‘convenient’ about taking time out of your day to pray, to read the Bible, to seek God’s face, or to help out a neighbor. However, we find it convenient to be caught up in the trappings of the world. We do our jobs and come home to shut the door and not let anything interrupt our schedule of American Idol and Jeopardy.

 

Yet, we still call ourselves followers of Christ. Is this acceptable?

 

Our communities will not see revival until people begin to be hungry enough to start allowing some inconvenience. Our lives will not be changed until we are desperate enough to not be content with second best. If you are a follower of Christ who is nominal in your walk with the Lord, I challenge you to begin to look at the big picture of your life and ask what could be cut out to give some time for the Lord. The laundry can wait to be folded; no one is going to die if you turn the television off for an hour; the world will not stop turning if you are late for your Zumba workout; you don’t have to go shopping on your lunch hour.

Meet with God. Seek His heart. Listen for His Voice.

 

And when you get stale and stagnant in your faith walk with the Lord, rinse and repeat. Start over again. Go to a quiet place. Meditate on His Word. Do something that you’ve never done before – cut the cell phone off! Give the Lord a sacrifice of your time in order that you may draw ever closer to Him……and experience His life in the Spirit again and again.

 

Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. ~Psalm 70:4~

 

A Stagnant Stench

During the intermission to a theatre performance, a small fire broke out backstage that quickly was deemed “out of hand”. As the fire department was being called, the emcee came before the audience who were being seated for the performance. His intention was to keep order and peace and have everyone evacuate without a raving panic sweeping the place. So he decided to be gentle and kind in his announcement.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I regret to inform you that there is a fire that has just broken out backstage and we are going to have to cut our performance short tonight and ask you to evacuate the theatre. Please exit calmly and quickly.”

The audience began to laugh and applaud, shouting “Bravo! Bravo!” with every warning the emcee announced.

The emcee, flustered, calmed the audience and said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, this is not a joke. I am as serious as I know how be. There is a fire backstage. The fire department is on the way, and we must evacuate this theatre as quickly as possible.” He was still very calm, cool, and collected, knowing that if mass hysteria broke out there would be a great deal of confusion and possibly someone getting injured in the process.

The audience began to cheer even louder, clapping and drowning out the sound of the emcee, who was visibly frustrated.

Finally, as the emcee’s anger continued to grow, he shouted, “FOR GOD’S SAKE, THERE IS A FIRE IN THE BUILDING! THIS IS NOT A JOKE! EVERYONE NEEDS TO EVACUATE NOW! YOU WILL DIE IF YOU JUST SIT HERE!”

Again, the audience cheered, this time standing to their feet with whistles and shouts of adulation for the passionate performance the emcee gave. As the audience continued to drown out the voice of the emcee, smoke began to creep into the dimly lit theatre…

 

 

The purpose of a theatre is for entertainment. That’s what the folks in the audience come for – to be entertained. There is no sense of danger when the emcee comes to make his grim announcement. The people just respond the only way that they know how and the only way that they assume that they are supposed to respond.

I think that this is the exact perception that some people have about the house of God today. Many attend church on Sunday morning assuming that they will be entertained and have their senses tingled by the wonderful music and the orator’s skill.

Even when the message is grim, the people just respond the only way they know how by saying “Amen” when he hits a high point or gets a little excited about the content of the message. Sadly, much like the theatre, the smoke creeps in and catches people unaware and oblivious to the condition of their own heart.

The church today has become so Gospel-hardened that if the minister were to preach a fire and brimstone message many would casually listen and nod in affirmation, but never check their standing before the Lord. The messenger who has been sent to the Church to warn about the coming judgment, the penalties and pitfalls of sin, and the destination of those who are found apart from Christ upon death – by and large, he is given a pat on the back for a “job well done” when the people leave the service.

What a tragedy that we cannot even smell the stench of stagnation in our Churches today.

I don’t make it my habit to talk about other Preachers/Pastors, for I know that I am imperfect and flawed just as they are. But, by and large, what happens in these situations where the people in the Church only desire to be entertained is that the minister will oblige their request. He will cease the preaching on the total depravity of man, on a Christless hell, on the brutality of the Cross, and  other controversial things that makes folk “uncomfortable” in order to keep the  few whom he feels will walk if he does not transform his message. Unfortunately, the result is usually a large following of individuals who enjoy having their ears tickled.

When the Pastor reduces his message to a motivational speech, the Body of Christ becomes impotent. There is no spiritual power, there is no anointing, there is no blessed unction……and the flock suffers because of it. The most devastating part of all this is the fact that we’ve herded a multitude of lost sheep into a large stall and told them “You’ll be just fine if you stick together, believe in yourself, and think positive.”

The Bible says in Psalms 107:11-12 says “Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.”

How tragic it must be to go through life and live out your own personal spin on spirituality, only to stand before God on that day of judgment and find out that you were wrong. And to add insult to injury, to finally discover that you had the answer to it all and never chose to look into it.

Hope for the Weary…

Christians have a tendency to become worn and weary as we fight the good fight of faith in these last days. It seems as if our efforts for the advancement of the Kingdom sometimes fall short due to an apostate attitude toward the things of God. Many in our world today do not share the same passion for Jesus that we do, so it is understandable to a certain degree that we become discouraged and down-hearted from time to time.

I am no different. It saddens my heart to see the blatant apathy and disregard that some of my fellow believers have towards the advancement of the Gospel. We are called to be light in a darkened world, but, if we were honest, sometimes our batteries get weak and we need recharging.

Dwelling in the temporal things of this world can get you there quick too. If you don’t keep an eternal perspective, things can get out of hand quick. We have to remember that, though we are in this world, we are not of this world. We are but strangers and pilgrims seeking to spread good news to those who will hear us.

As I meditate on that thought, my mind wanders to Isaiah 65. In this blessed chapter, we learn some things that help us to draw a strong contrast from our present state of being to our blessed state of being we will one day obtain. This particular passage goes into the future, after the closing hour of the 7-year time of Tribulation on the earth, and speaks of the Millennial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ on the earth.

The only thing that stands in the way of us obtaining all of the promises contained in this chapter is TIME. We must remember that our God does not dwell in time like we do. He is above and beyond it. So when the Word of God states that we as believers possess something, we must take into consideration that God is already in what we know as the future, watching us receive what has been promised to us in the present. God keeps His Word.

Verse 17 states that “…the former will not be remembered, nor come into mind.” In that wonderful day, we will have no more memory of sin’s devastation on our lives. I find this especially comforting since there are a multitude of Christians who have a hard time letting go of the poor decisions that they have made in the past.

But furthermore, I believe that this touches on a grander scale. Each year we are reminded of the atrocities that occurred on September 11th, 2001. We are reminded that religious fanatics murdered 3,000 innocent people, and we pause briefly to relive the sorrowful effects it had on our lives that day. I believe there is coming a day when we will not have to relive the horrific effects sin has had on our life anymore, no matter what tragedy you’ve weathered in live.

Verse 18 states: “…for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.” I believe this tells us that there will be no more sour fellowship. Today we have ‘irreconcilable differences’, divorce, disputes, and disharmony……and, even though it sounds like I am describing the lost world, I’m only referring to those within the Body of Christ. What a tragedy that we can’t get along and we constantly fight and fuss, but what a blessing it will be in that day when there will be unhindered, unbroken fellowship between us all.

Verse 19 declares that God will “…rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.” I don’t have to go into the storied history of the Jewish people for you to realize that there has been intense persecution of the people of God since the very beginning. What a blessing it will be in that day to have no more adversaries who launch terrible persecutions towards God’s chosen people.

But this goes a bit further to touch even you and I. In Romans 11, the Apostle Paul teaches how that Gentile believers were grafted into the Body of Christ. In other words, we who are not Jewish are taken under the wing, so to speak, and brought into the fellowship through the blood of Christ. And certainly we can see that this is true from the book of Acts where Peter first extended the Gospel to the Gentiles and they received it (Acts 10).

Today it is estimated that somewhere upwards of 160,000 Christians give their lives as martyrs for the sake of the advancement of the Gospel. You don’t hear that stat on the regular news media. It is a stated fact that there is an intense persecution against anyone who will name the name of Christ, but it is also a stated fact that there is coming a day when we will not have to worry about persecution anymore.

Verse 20 tells of a time when there will be justice in life. For example, it tells us that there will be no more infants who die shortly after they are born. I’ve had the unfortunate duty of officiating a funeral of a precious little child who was taken to Heaven shortly after birth. It is an especially sobering experience to stand next to a casket that is no bigger than a large shoebox and see the faces of that child’s parents looking to you, hoping to hear some words of comfort. It is unjust. It is wrong. It is out of order. No parent should have to bury their child, no matter how old or young they are.

We have words of comfort that we give in the here and now to help us to cope. One passage of Scripture that I have especially taken comfort in is Zechariah 8, verses 4 & 5:

“Thus saith the Lord of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.”

What a blessing to know that the natural process of death will one day be extended and the man or woman that is 100 years old will be as agile and have as much energy as a 5-year old, and they shall be considered “young” who make it to 100. No more arthritis, cholesterol, blood pressure, migraines, or feebleness.

Verses 21 and 22 speak of the people dwelling in safety and security. I know I’m a bit old-fashioned for my age, but I remember a time when you didn’t have to wonder in the middle of the night if you had locked the door or not. We had a measure of innocence at that time. Today, we spend billions of dollars annually on security systems, security personnel, firearms to protect and defend our home, lighting to light up the night, etc. Praise God there will soon be a day when we can dwell in peace and safety.

But these verses also state “…they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them…they shall not plant, and another eat…” I believe this tells us that we will one day enjoy the fruits of our labor. Life today moves at such a rapid pace that we really don’t have time to enjoy what we work hard for. We are “connected” at all times. Cell phones, the internet, and the 24/7 news cycle keep us so pumped up on current events and status changes that at the end of the day we feel like there should be 27 hours in a day rather than 24 so that we can get everything done.

Ecclesiastes 5:18 says “It is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.” God’s original plan was for us to work hard, but to be able to enjoy the fruits of our labor. There is coming a day when we won’t be rushed, and we can enjoy all of the blessings He bestows upon us.

These are but just a few of the great promises that we have that we can place our hope and trust in. When we walk through this life and encounter trouble, just remember that the system that we now live in is fallen and broken because of sin. In that glorious day it will be when we no longer have to face the devastating effects that sin has had on our world and on our own lives.

And when you’re weary………these things can offer great hope.

The Redneck Christmas Blog

Well, it’s that time of the year again. It’s time for turkey and dressing, time for itchy sweaters and footed pajamas, time for hot chocolate and marshmallows, and its even time to break out the video camera and dig through the junk drawers to find a blank tape. It’s time to see the family that you don’t really care for but tolerate just for the sake of the season. And if you have family on the way in from out of town, it’s time to fold out the bulky, inconvenient hide-a-bed and be appalled by Uncle Bob’s incessant desire to pass gas at the dinner table . . . . . and giggle about it. Yes folks, it’s Christmas-time again.

On Christmas morning little Bobby will get a new battery-powered fire truck with all sorts of annoying bells and whistles, little Jerri will get some new Barbie dolls, Billy will get the latest war game to play on his X-box, Jen will get her first cell phone, Dad will get another tool to put into his toolbox, Mom will get a new house-coat with matching slippers, Grandma will get pictures of the kids, Grandpa will get a new fishing hat and pocket knife, etc.

Wrapping paper will be strewn from one end of the house to the other; the flash of the camera will keep blinding everyone, smiles, laughter, tears of joy, voices . . . . Christmas.

But in the midst of the entire Commercial hustle and bustle that we’ve made Christmas out to be – giving presents, sharing laughter, enjoying family – many times we don’t even mention the real reason why this time of the year is so very special. Sadly, the economic woes of the times are dictating the activities and thoughts of many during this season. Some who were in a better financial state in times past now worry if their children will get everything they wished for in their letter to Santa Claus. And, truthfully, “Santa” has a lot on his shoulders these days – what used to be acceptable for a child’s gift is now just a what-not to put on a shelf and look at. I believe Santa now has an account at Best Buy . . . . . but what do I know? (*wink*)

What ever happened to those good old days when things were simpler? Days when the only electronic device you’d get for Christmas might be a remote controlled car or truck? Days when some of the items in your stocking consisted of things that were actually useful, like an apple or an orange or a package of fresh, new socks?

I remember those days.

Back when I was knee-high to a grasshopper, my family and I lived in a trailer off of a little dirt road that adjoined to the black-top road about 100 yards away. Some people called where we lived a community, and others called it a “nook” in the woods. (If you’d say that now, there would be an onslaught of people heading to the woods to find an e-reader, but that’s another story for another day) “Town” (the big town of Bastrop, Louisiana) was twenty or so miles away. Winters seemed colder back then, but I must admit I spent a lot more time outside then than I do now. My Daddy was a farmer, and my Mama was a homemaker. The cash was scarce, and the bills were plentiful.

So Christmas was simple.

After setting out some milk and cookies for Santa, we would make our journey to Granny & Papaw’s house in town for Christmas supper and presents afterward. Supper has been served there at 6pm sharp every Christmas Eve for as long as I can remember. We would eat turkey and dressing, ambrosia, pistachio salad, and rutabagas. Well, I never ate the rutabagas. Rutabagas are one of those things I will have to ask God why He created when I get to Heaven. (Yuck!) But somehow they would always make it to my plate (and secretly get stuck in a napkin and tossed in the trash when no one was looking).

Then, after everyone was through stuffing their faces, we would gather in the small living room around Papaw Baker to hear him read the Christmas story from Luke Chapter 2. I hate to admit this, but my cousins and I weren’t nearly as interested in the Christmas story as we were the little white envelopes that were in Papaw’s shirt pocket. That was our Christmas present from him: A shiny, sleek, brand-new twenty dollar bill for each of us! One of us kids would be nominated to be “Santa” and pass out the Christmas gifts. Another given was my Aunt who was an Avon distributor. We always knew that we’d be getting some deodorant or cologne from her. Then, Papaw would ever-so-slowly reach into his shirt pocket and pass out those cherished little white envelopes to each of us.

After we said our good-byes, we made our way to the even smaller town (more like a dot on a map) of Bonita, Louisiana where Grandmaw and Grandaddy Johnson were awaiting our arrival. This worked out well for me because they had already eaten their Christmas supper and the leftovers were still on the table. And, remembering the rutabagas that I had secretly tossed in the trash, I would always sneak to the table while no one was looking and munch on some more spectacular Christmas food. More presents, more laughter, more family.

Realizing it was getting pretty late, Mama & Daddy would say their goodbyes, load up the presents, and start the journey home down the long, winding Hopkins Hill road. It seemed like it took an hour to get home. I couldn’t wait to see if Santa had made his stop at our home yet (although I never quite understood how he got in since our trailer didn’t have a chimney).

Mama would always point out the now half-glass of milk and the half-eaten cookies to me, but I was more interested in what was under the tree. I remember getting my first set of Tinker-toys one Christmas, as well as some G. I. Joe action figures. I even got the He-Man and Skeletor action figures from the Masters of the Universe cartoons! And as always, when all of the presents were unwrapped, Daddy would point out that the stockings on the wall were full. So we’d pilfer through and find more goodies that “Santa” had left behind.

Looking back on those times makes me realize that we have commercialized and compacted Christmas to such a degree now that our children believe Christmas was all about getting “stuff”. Yes, that is part of it. But getting “stuff” would not be possible without the participation of loving family members that make it happen. Without family, none of this even matters. What child wants to receive a gift and open it alone? That’s no fun.

That’s why I love the fact that Mary and Joseph weren’t all alone that night in the barn. Oh sure there was the occasional braying of the donkey and lowing of the oxen, but that doesn’t bring comfort like the words of excited shepherds can.

The shepherds. Think about those guys the next time Uncle Bob runs everyone away from the dinner table. The shepherds were the outcasts of society. Plus they didn’t smell that great. You certainly wouldn’t catch a Pharisee or a Scribe shaking hands with one of these scrubby fellows. Yet they were the very ones who witnessed a manifestation of the Heavenly host singing “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth, peace; good will toward men.” God chose to tell them about the greatest miracle of all time FIRST.

Christmas is about the greatest gift ever given, in the oddest way possible. A baby, a hay-filled manger, some swaddling clothes, farm odors, and stinky shepherds. Not the best circumstances, and certainly not the most sanitary.

Yet, this is the way that God chose to implement His Master plan of redemption for you and I.

And He chose to use the comfort and means of the family to do it with.

Many people in our society today testify to their belief that the family no longer matters – that it’s outdated and needs to be “traded in” on more modern cultural norms. Kids don’t even want to come home for Christmas anymore for any number of reasons. “I don’t like him”, or “I just don’t fit in”, or “They’re not my ‘kind’ of people anymore”, or (I love this one) “They’re just too old-fashioned”.

Or, what’s worse is the 24/7 news cycle that tries to spin Christmas into some sort of quasi-magical family time where people get together and exchange gifts for no other reason than exchanging gifts, and not even mention the word “Christmas”. Instead they substitute it with “holiday” or “seasonal” day. Holidays are important, and family is important, but  listening to the liberal media describe Christmas and the reason we celebrate this time of the year is about like listening to Jack Kevorkian describe himself as a compassionate guy. And Heaven help us all if they attempt to describe the purpose for the advent of the Messiah! The secular world just doesn’t get it.

Just remember during this holiday season that the reason Christmas is a big deal is, not only because He is the Savior of the world, but also because of family: a husband and wife that couldn’t find any room at the inn, but found comfort in having smelly surroundings and smelly shepherds present at the birth of their first child. Our Savior was born with earthly parents that, despite all odds, surrounded Him with love. He was a part of a family here on this earth. And Christ would go on to provide access for all of us into God’s family by His death, burial, and resurrection.

Though Uncle Bob’s flagellates disgust you, remember he’s still family. Though your Grandparents are “old-fashioned”, remember that they’re still family. And even though you may already know that your Aunt is going to get you some deodorant from the Avon catalog for Christmas, just remember she’s still family. Love them. You’re making family memories that will last a life-time.

God accepts us just as we are and gives us the privilege of being an even bigger part of His family of misfits and mess-ups. We’re far from perfect, but thanks be to Him that we’re forgiven!!!

Have a very Merry Christmas, and a wonderful New Year!

Ewww, what’s that smell?

Okay, I’m a stickler when it comes to smells. I love candles that smell good, I love a great smelling soap or body wash, I love the smell of food cooking in the kitchen, I love to smell the after-effects of a fresh rain – there are many smells that I could just bask in and never return to reality. Some smells remind me of when I was a kid, and others just take me to a place where my mind is content.

 

Conversely, there are some smells that repulse me. I hate the smell of cigarette smoke, beer, bad breath, garbage, etc. The list of odors that turn my stomach is probably as long as the ones that I love.

Recently, I entered my house and caught a whiff of something that didn’t have a great smell to it. It smelled like mold or something mildewed. It only lasted for a brief second, but then it was gone.

The smell continued to get more profound over the next few days. I asked my wife about it and she affirmed that she noticed it as well. We did some minor investigation, but found nothing. I did a little spot cleaning on the walls and the floors, but the smell persisted.

The next day, my kids said something about it. Now, I have 3 kids: an 8 year old girl, a 4 year old boy, and a 5 month old girl. Both of my older kids walked in the house and said “Eeewww, what’s that smell?” Then my 8 year old blamed it on my 4 year old…

……just think about it – you’ll get it in a minute.

On day four, I had all I could stand. I’m not sure if it was the unpleasant smell or the curiosity that drove me to it, but I decided to slow my busy life down long enough to take a good look into what this smell was. I had my idea of where it could possibly be coming from, but still was not sure.

I started by pulling the dining room table out and mopping the floor. Sure it needed it, but I found no “smoking gun” as to where this odor was coming from. After mopping the floor with a mixture of bleach and water, I could still smell the underlying odor.

So I moved to the next curious spot: Under the kitchen sink. I removed all of the cleaning supplies, dish detergent, rubber gloves, etc. The cabinet bottom was lined with that rubbery drawer-liner stuff, and I think at some point early on in its existence it had been white. Not wanting to initiate the act of Congress it would take to clean it (and because its way cheaper to replace it), I took my pocket knife and sliced a large area of it in two so that I could pull it up. After bleach, degreaser, and some elbow grease, the spot under the kitchen sink shined with brilliance………but the smell remained in the air.

Next I moved to the stove. I don’t know if you’ve ever cleaned out from under your stove, but I can say this: If you haven’t and are now considering it, be prepared for what you might find (I won’t go into detail). After a good mopping and scrubbing, the floor was clean as a whistle………but the smell still remained!

By this time I was getting desperate. I had to find the source of that smell! I was now considering investigating under and behind the refrigerator, but, having just cleaned from under and behind the stove, I had some serious reservations. After all, the area where the refrigerator meets the kitchen is by one of the busiest places in the entire house: Right in front of the microwave. I guess it was hard for me to face the music and come to grips with the fact that it was probably a nightmare down there. Nevertheless, I moved the refrigerator and almost lost my lunch over what was back there (again, no details – it was embarrassing). After a good soaking in bleach and degreaser, the floor and the surrounding area was as good as new………

BUT THE SMELL WAS STILL THERE!!!

Having made a serious dent in the smell, I decided to leave it be. I opened some windows, hoping it would air itself out. After I took the time to replace everything I had moved for the cleaning project, I began to prepare some things for supper. “Mashed potatoes sounds good”, I thought to myself. I grabbed the bag of potatoes to begin peeling them……and found the source of the smell.

I would like to describe it to you, but, again, it was too terrible for words. I never guessed that the bag of potatoes sitting on the back of my kitchen counter had a rotten potato in it. Undoubtedly, the bag had a decaying spud in it when I got it from the grocery store – it just was not noticeable until it entered my house.

And the more it sat, the more it stagnated and stunk up the place.

I tell you this story because, like an unknown rotten potato can really foul up the air, the superficial pleasures of this world can really soil your soul.

I did not thoroughly check the bag of potatoes in the store before purchase; therefore I missed the bad one in the bunch. The bag was clean, the spuds that I could see were in good shape, but deep in the center laid decay.

Many of the things we are exposed to in this world look good on the outside. The Bible indicates that the Devil himself parades around as an angel of light (2^nd Cor. 11:14).

When the smell was too much to bear, I decided to do some major cleaning – even in those places where eyes never see. What I found embarrassed me.

We are instructed to take a thorough and honest examination of our lives (2^nd Cor. 13:5) to see where we stand in the faith. Even the best investigators miss out on a few things from time to time.

Once I finally found the source of the smell, I immediately did something about it. I threw the potatoes away. I didn’t attempt to make them smell better – this was a drastic move to deal with a drastic problem.

Christ instructs us to make a drastic move when we’ve been made known of our faults. He says in Matthew 5:23-24 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

With the holidays upon us, let us as believers strive to be beacons of light in a darkened world by keeping our “house” clean. Substitute your New Year’s Resolution with a Life Resolution by surrendering to the inspection of the Lord Jesus Christ in your life.

When we surrender everything in this world to His Lordship, He discloses the rotten potatoes in our lives.

And He will help us to throw them out.

Creation’s Cantor

Whether we admit it or not, we all have questions about the debate on Creation vs. Evolution. Some well-meaning, respected Christians have alleged that Biblical descriptions of Creation are intertwined with scientific research breakthroughs about the Big Bang, the evolving of humanity, and the various findings in the area of paleontology. While I disagree with many fellow Christians on this matter, I have no business questioning their personal relationship with the Lord.

I specify “Christians” because I met a man a few years ago who was both pro-evolution and a Christian. He held to the secular scientific findings about the processes of Creation, but, in his own words, he said, “I believe that God caused it to be.” It was an interesting conversation, but it was a sad one. Primarily because I hold to the fundamental truths of the Word of God as being the absolute authority concerning a Biblical 7-day Creation period – exactly how it states it in the Bible.

And, to be brutally honest, I’ve always had questions about the actual process. Subliminally, I guess that you’ve had questions as well. Don’t misunderstand me: I do, and always have believed that God created everything just as His Word states. But when it comes to explaining it, I fall short. Until recently.

So I want to pose to you a Q & A with some common questions that we’ve all had about Creation, and give you a Biblical explanation for them all. Sound interesting? You bet.

Question #1: Did God really create everything in six literal 24 hour days and rest on the seventh? Or were they really just epochs, millenniums, or long expanses of millions of years that were just called “days”?

Answer: Yes, God really did create the world as we know it in six literal 24-hour time periods called days, and rested on the seventh. They were not epochs, millenniums, or millions of billions of years. And there is Biblical evidence to support this.

First of all, you have to look at these things from the perspective of a God of order – which Jehovah God is. He will never do anything without a purpose. He is calculative, methodical, and thoughtful. He creates things for a reason, and he created everything in a particular order for a reason.

With that in mind, look at the last day of the entire Creation process. Genesis 2:2-3 says this: ‘And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” I emphasize the word “sanctified” because it means that this day is set apart from the rest for a specific purpose.

Fast forward to Exodus 20:8, 10a-11: “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy……But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God……For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

Here’s the deal: God hallowed and sanctified the sabbath day for us to remember and honor Him as the Creator. If the evolutionist theory of epochs, millenniums, or millions of billions of years per “day” is true, then you would never make it to a sabbath day. And that is contrary to the stated purpose of God instituting the sabbath day to start with. So, I believe in a literal six, 24 hour per day Creation.

Question #2: What about dinosaurs? Are we to believe that dinosaurs were a hoax?

Answer: Absolutely not. Dinosaurs are a scientific fact, and were very real around the time of Creation. The word “Dinosaur” (which was first introduced into the English lexicon in 1841 by Sir Richard Owen) actually means “Terrible Lizard”. The Greek “deinos” means “terrible”, and the Greek “sauros” means “lizard”.  Furthermore, the Bible speaks about dinosaurs.

Job chapters 40 and 41 speak of two creatures named “Behemoth” and “Leviathan”. Behemoth is spoken of in chapter 40 as a creature that has a tail like a cedar tree, and plays on the mountains. Many will assume that this is an elephant seeing as how the chapter describes him taking water through his nose, but how many elephants have you seen with a tail as big as a cedar tree???

Leviathan is spoken of in chapter 41 as a creature with scales like pieces of iron, fire coming from his mouth, and smoke from his nostrils. Again, there are some that assume this is an alligator or a crocodile, but how many gators or crocs do you know that breath fire?

But that’s just their existence. We already knew they exist. Here’s the real scoop: Reptiles are the only species of animals that continue to grow as long as they are alive – evidenced by the Komodo Dragon. If the Komodo Dragon lived for 800 years, it would be pretty big too.

The Biblical position is that there were two of ALL species of animals that got onto the ark when God was preparing to flood the earth. And those species’ included “dinosaurs”. All of the rest died in the flood.

Question #3: Then how can scientists date dinosaur fossils back to millions of billions of years old through the carbon-14 dating process?

Now, I have to admit to you that I’m not a scientist. But the good news is that it doesn’t take a scientist to figure this one out. All it takes is a little practical, common sense.

In my days before ministry, I worked at a water treatment plant. I learned quite a bit about how water affects different things. For instance, the water towers that you see scattered throughout the country-side are there to provide a gravitational pressure on the system of water pipes throughout the community. This is because every vertical 2.31 feet of water creates 1 pound of pressure (per square inch). So, for example, to maintain 70 psi in a piping system, the water tower would have to be roughly 160 feet high.

Without being too hypothetical, let’s assume that during the time of the flood there was exactly 1 mile (5,280 feet) of water over the land. That would put 2,285.7 psi on the land – thus vastly increasing, amplifying, and accelerating the process of fossilization.

Question #4: What about Neanderthal man, Nebraskan man, Peking man, or Java man? Are they a hoax?

Neanderthal Man

Nebraskan Man

Peking Man

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Java Man

In a word, YES! Not a single one of these “findings” have been conclusive. And, to add insult to injury, many of the “scientists” that have made these discoveries proved to be lying about the age of their findings.

Why is there such a debate between Creation vs. Evolution today? Well, simply put, if there is no Creator, there is nothing to be accountable to. And if there is nothing to be accountable to, then humanity is an accident that just occurred at some point in time. And if that is so, then there should be no moral compass, no virtue, and no decency to humanity – anything goes. And, in a sinner’s heart, this is the exact desire.

So there are those who hold to the theory of Evolution for the purpose of being able to do what they want, when they want, how they want, and because they want – and there are those who hold to Biblical Creation with an Intelligent God giving purpose and meaning to life, but holding those accountable for their actions and behavior.

If Evolution is true, suicide makes sense. Life has no meaning. No purpose. Just do as you please.

But if Creation is true (and it is), then God creates and sustains all things for His own purposes, and one day you will have to answer to Him.

The choice is yours.

I Just Can’t See It……

Faith.

It is the evidence of all that is invisible and can’t been seen.

It’s the “thing” that inhabits our hopes and dreams.

Faith is what continually keeps us motivated when we don’t know what our next step will be.

Faith is trusting in something……or someOne greater than yourself.

Faith is supernatural: It defies all logical thinking.

It defies all reasonable arguments and discussions.

It supersedes all of the natural, physical laws of nature and mankind.

It brings substance and form to that which cannot be rationalized or explained.

Take all of the knowledge taught by institutionalized education, take all of the skill and savvy of every engineer on the planet, bring in all of the latest and greatest technological advances in computer science, astrophysics, mechanical automation, and industrial science to the table, put an unlimited amount of funding for the task………and try to move a mountain. With all of the tools and technology and unlimited funding and the greatest minds available, they would not be able to move that mountain  like one single person with an amount of faith in God that is the size of a mustard seed. The type of faith that moves the mountain is the same type of faith that builds a bridge over the gap of the valley of uncertainty and allows you a safe passage into the place of comfort, hope, and peace.

Faith is personal: You possess it. It is yours. What you do with it is solely up to you.

Only one person can destroy your faith in God – YOU.

What is interesting about faith in God is the fact that 1.) all people possess the capacity for it, 2.) it is the most powerful force in the universe, and 3.)  you and you alone have the power to feed it and let it grow……or starve it and let it die.

There are several different ways that you personally can destroy or diminish your own faith in God. In God’s Word, He states that faith comes from hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Since that is true, the converse is true as well – the absence of a healthy diet of God’s Word will diminish your capacity to have faith in God.

An unhealthy, nominal, or nonexistent prayer life will certainly decrease your ability to have faith in God. Again, the Word of God states that we are to build up our faith through the means of prayer (Jude verse 20). It would be foolish to believe that someone would have faith in a God that they were unfamiliar with or did not have any sort of communication with. The more that you know Him, the more you can trust in Him. But if you just place Him in a “box” on the shelf until it is convenient for you to call on Him, chances are that you won’t have very much faith – and the little faith that you have at that time will be so temperamental that it will quickly subside when the crisis is resolved.Faith is currency: It is the means of exchange with Heaven.

A transaction of money between people will cause things to get done and people to move.

A transaction of faith from you to God will cause things to happen and problems to be solved.

God accepts nothing else. Period. He states in His Word that it is literally impossible to please Him without faith (Hebrews 11:6).

This type of faith-currency is simple in principle, but hard in practice. It is not so much a question of how much faith you have in God, but do you really trust that He has your best interests at heart?

In a figurative sense, faith directs you to “write a check” on God when you don’t have the means to solve the problem. You must 1.) check in with Heaven to see if the way you are about to travel is God’s Will, 2.) declare in faith that no matter how bleak the situation looks you will trust Him, and 3.) watch God provide for your need. In this process you have made a transaction with Heaven. Your faith in God is tendered for God’s provision for you.

Faith is total dependence upon God: When the path is not clear, when the way is not known, when the waters are murky, when life is too tough – faith in God provides comfort and security in Him.

In His Word, He gives this principle: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart’; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

It does no good to have faith just for the sake of having faith. Faith in the wrong thing is foolish at best. You wouldn’t place all of your trust in a tree, would you? What about another person? A material possession? No, faith is only True when it is placed in the hands of God. To be totally dependent upon Him is to believe in Him totally to supply all of your need – even when the way is not certain.

So what have we learned thus far? We’ve learned that faith is supernatural, we’ve learned that faith is personal, we’ve learned that faith is currency, and we’ve learned that faith is total dependence on God.

But there’s one more thing. If we are to trust God to do the supernatural, if we are to have a personal faith, if we are to invest in the economy of God and exchange the currency of faith, and if we are to put our total dependence upon God, we must first realize that God’s own Son, Jesus Christ links us to faith through belief in Him (John 3:16).

Faith allows us to live a life above and beyond our circumstances through the Son of the Living God, Jesus Christ. Through faith in Him, we can have a peace that surpasses all common, logical understanding (Philippians 4:7), and a joy that is unspeakable and full of Glory (1st Peter 1:8). Through trust in His finished work at Calvary, we believe in our heart that He cares for us (1st Peter 5:7) and that He will not leave us to be helpless and hopeless (Hebrews 13:5).

“And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those thimgs which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” ~Mark 11:20-23~

Is The Word enough?

Most Churches today have all of the acrudiments and comforts of any modern-day spa.

The seats are comfortable and posh, whether it is padded, high-back pews, soft, cushiony chairs, or stadium-slanted seats – some of which resemble the construction of an IMAX theatre rather than a place of worship.

The expensive theatre-style lighting can spotlight a person from just about any angle, with a multiplicity of colors and functions for illuminating the message – or the messenger.

The choir is robed in elegant, dashing gowns with golden embroidery. The hem gently brushes the floor as they enter the choir loft to sing beautiful, harmonious songs of worship and honor and reverence to the Lord Jesus.

The Church is steeped in a wealth of technological tools like video projectors, movie screens, thousands of dollars worth of sound equipment: ear microphones, sound boards, equalizers, digital recorders, CD burners, acoustic instruments – all of which are utilized to tantalize and mystify your emotions and somatic senses.

The building is cool in the summer time and warm in the winter time – and if you don’t like the temperature on the floor, just move up to the balcony where it’s a bit warmer.

The altar is cozy and inviting, with neat little pillows to place your knees upon when you feel the need to kneel, and a velvety cushioned surface atop the altar to place your elbows on as you pour your heart out to God.

The carpet is fresh, soft, and a deep shade of red – always cleaned and shampooed to perfection to make a lasting impression on visitors from abroad on the cleanliness of the facility.

The baptistry is lavishly laid out with a beautiful mural of some sort overlooking the water as a symbol of comfort; the water is always warmed to the perfect temperature so you won’t be uncomfortable when you make your profession public by the ordinance of baptism.

The gym and recreation center is of such a quality that it would make the NBA jealous, and it is complete with a commercial kitchen attached to it so that a large group of people can be served their food piping hot while the kids shoot hoops and play kick-ball.

And that’s not to mention the people who attend today’s Churches. Stroll through the parking lot on any given Sunday morning and you will see hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of luxurious transportation – polished, waxed, and beaming in the sunlight.

My Mama always told me to “dress your best for the Lord” on Sunday mornings, so it is not surprising to see the thousands of dollars worth of clothes that the attendees wear to church: polished shoes, a forty dollar tie, high-heels, cuff-links, finger rings and earrings, men in their Dockers khakis, women with their Burburry handbags, etc.

Kind of sounds spooky when you lay it out like that, doesn’t it?

Now, before you begin to criticize and get mad, I want you to know that I am not saying that all of these things are bad. The particular Church that I currently serve has many of these things. I’m not ‘dissing’ having nice things in your Church to utilize as a tool to win souls, share the Gospel, and make Disciples for the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that we should give the Lord our very best. After all, He is worthy.

But, just for a moment, I want you to think about everything that I’ve just mentioned and ask yourself this question: “Does this really sound like ‘The Church?’”

Was the Church founded on theatre-style lighting and fantastic sound systems?

Did the first hundred and twenty members of the Church have a movie projector and a screen to watch a witness training video while they were in the upper room? Did they have padded pews and air-conditioning?

Were the three thousand people who were saved on the day of Pentecost baptized in a heated, insulated baptistry? Did some refuse baptism because there were no handrails to hold on to as they made their way in and out?

Of course the answer to those questions is “No”.

But it makes me look a little deeper at what the Church is today.

Let me give you a hypothetical…

Take three thousand people and give them all of these things that I have mentioned for the “atmosphere” of the modern-day Church. Then start taking them away one by one.

Take away the air conditioning – you’d lose at least half of the congregation right off the bat.

Then take away the soft, pillow-top seating and replace it with a hard wooden bench – there goes several hundred.

Remove the baptistry, and make sure everyone knows that baptisms will now take place down on some muddy banks of a cold river – a hundred or so would deem that as ‘insensitive’ and start “Church-shopping” again.

Get rid of the fancy, multi-thousand dollar sound system along with all of the acoustic instruments – another hundred or so get bored and start to drift away.

Eliminate the theatre-style lighting and replace it with a few lanterns, and maybe an open window to let in some sunlight – the ‘drama-seekers’ get uninterested and move on to higher ground.

Replace the nice, posh, cushiony altar with an old, rugged altar made from some scrap wood and a few rusty nails – there goes fifty or sixty who don’t want to get dirt smudges on their elbows.

Rip the carpet up and substitute it with a wooden floor, full of knotholes and unsightly jagged edges – there goes the forty or so men who wear their ‘best’ khakis to Church.

Do away with the recreation center with the adjacent commercial kitchen – there goes a few more.

How many would be left?

A hundred and twenty.

For the first hundred and twenty that were gathered there in that upper room, the focus of their mission was not all of the acrudiments of the Church that we enjoy today. They weren’t worried about who would sit on the front row……they were in fear for their life. So they prayed and meditated on the promises of God. As a matter of fact, that was the only thing that they had of value at that time – a promise, a prayer, and a Blessed Hope.

When all of the pomp and décor is gone, when the music has faded, and when all of our modern-day comforts are stripped away, you have to ask yourself this question: “Is the Word of God enough?”

Again, let me say that I am not against having all of the latest and greatest for Churches today. The simple point that I am making is that while all of those things are nice, the Word of God should be stage ‘center’ of all that the Church represents – not some sort of sideline attraction to come after you’ve “experienced” everything that the Church has to offer. If a Church cannot at the very least offer you the unmitigated, unashamed Word of God, there’s not much else they can offer in the superficial arena that will last.

This says something about the status of the modern Christian today. Many are more interested in the superficial than the spiritual, the level of physical comfort rather than the actual presence of the Comforter, and the warmth of their surroundings  rather than the worship of our Creator.

I don’t know how you do things, but when I get into His presence I couldn’t care less what the thermostat is set on.

I don’t know what you believe, but I believe there is no greater place than in the presence of the Lord – and it doesn’t even matter if the seats are nice and cushiony.

We have exchanged the life-changing message of the Gospel for the comforts and luxuries of the secular world. The Church has catered to the world in an honest attempt to bring more people into the Kingdom – and I applaud the effort in many cases. But when you look at that first hundred and twenty believers gathered in that dim upper room, fearful for their lives and not knowing exactly what to do, without all of the comforts and ministry tools that we enjoy in the Church today, I see them and say to myself:

“The Word of God was enough for them. Is it enough for me?”