Steven Davis is a recovering social worker, overcooked preacher’s kid, musician, and media producer.
Probably one of the more lighthearted scenes from the movie Robocop (1987) is a scene with this guy who had the tagline is, ‘I’d buy that for a dollar.’ He just says it over and over to ad nauseam. He looks appears to be sweating, hyperventilating and quite possibly had too much caffeine that day.
A lot of the world’s countries have some form of capitalism. And in America, we can claim the throne for being the most consumer-driven country on the planet. China, however, is catching up.
According to the magazine Business Insider, here are some things people spend money on;
One eBay user paid $3,000 for an imaginary friend
Britney Spears’ used pregnancy test was sold on eBay for $5,001.
Nicholas Cage bought a pyramid-shaped tomb so he can be buried like an Egyptian king.
A crazy fan bought Justin Timberlake’s partially-eaten french toast.
Yep, that’s crazy money.
When Christians spend money, what should be our approach? After all, isn’t money just a means to an end? Or is it the end. What about the means? One of the times Jesus talks about money is in the parable of the talents (or large amounts of gold.)
Matthew 25:14-30 English Standard Version (ESV)
The highly programmed church that seeks to program for the desires of everyone runs the risk of programing out what the church was established for, reaching lost sheep and loving on those in need. It should never be our intent to compete with the world in programatic provisions since the church has Jesus. So there’s no need for a trampoline park at church.
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants[a] and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents,[b] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.[c] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
So what was the point? One point from this parable was, the master expected the money or resources given to each servant to be used wisely; to have a return beyond the initial value. The servant that didn’t invest wisely was cast out. That servant was found to be in the wrong.
You mean there is right and wrong? Yep. When the master chastised the evil servant, it was because the servant didn’t meet the expectation. Which was for money to be used in a way that the master got a return. In other words, their money wasn’t their own to use as they wanted. It had rules.
Whose money is anyway? There are 120 verses in the Bible about money. So God felt it important to include it since He knew we would struggle with it. Some say money is power, and in some ways, it could be seen that way. The power to buy something or someone, the power to influence another, and the power to achieve a goal.
So whose money is it anyway? Maybe money is something we lease from God, and not own. A lease with conditions.
When I leased my truck, I was told I could only drive it a certain number of miles, and after three years I was to return the truck in good condition and with the allowed number miles. Rules. So while, not a perfect parallel, we could think of money as a lease. At least that’s one way to look at it.
Psalm 24
Of David. A psalm.
1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
2 for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.
Well, that pretty much settles it. Nothing belongs to us. So if it is God’s money, then what does He expect from our money lease? A return is something that God can use. In the parable, the servant did wrong and did not meet the master’s expectations.
One danger of being so consumer-driven instead of investment-driven is the danger of greed. If as followers of the Christ, we only use our money for our pleasure, for our self-worth, then we are serving ourselves and not God. Because we are driven by self.
Monday through Friday, we are spending money on ourselves, but Sunday it’s time to give God His take. Or at least that’s the danger of being so consumer-driven and trying to follow Christ. What we walk into the church meeting the same way we walk into the store looking for shoes or jeans? If we don’t like something during the service, our attitude may affect what we give in the offering plate. Right? On the flip side, we love our church meeting because we are entertained. The lights, the cameras, the music, and those funny jokes the leadership tells, those are all good reasons to give. It’s always fun to go to church, never a problem. Our kids have a lot of fun, go on trips, have pizza every meeting. So that’s money well spent. Right? Either way it’s a self driven mentality.
But God doesn’t need our money. That is correct. But our money, just like our time, just like our words, shows God what is in our heart. Just like the servant that hid his talent, that showed he wasn’t obedient to his Master.
“Matthew 6:24 Common English Bible (CEB)
24 No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be loyal to the one and have contempt for the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
Growing up as a preacher’s kid, you hear a lot of church folk complain about your Dad. Sometimes they’d fuss and gripe right in front of us, no matter how young we were. It was impossible not to catch the collateral grief people aimed at your Dad. And no other subject caused church folk to become uncomfortable more than the subject of money. When my dad would speak on money you could watch people’s demeanor change, faces frown.
Some churches we pastored had a few people that were considered the pillars of the church. Which often meant, they gave most of the money to the church budget. So making them upset was risking the churches financial stability. And if you think I’m joking, I assure you I am not. Money was the power to influence, and if they couldn’t influence, several of them would just leave. Take their marbles money and go somewhere else. Unfortunately, it was the sheep trying to influence the shepherd. After all, they felt the money was theirs right?
So the subject of money is like playing with dynamite for a church leader. Some church folk consider the pastor or church leader talking about money, ‘meddling.’ In other words, none of anyone’s business. After all, it’s our life, and yes, it’s our money. At least that’s what the consumer Christian may feel. Sure, I’m a Christian, but I’m a consumer -first-. But nothing in Biblical Scripture gives us absolute authority over our money.
We give ten percent to God and the rest of our money we can do what we want with. I’ve heard that actual statement. The Tithing mentality would lead us to believe that after the ten percent, we are free to do anything we want with the rest without any consideration to God. But that’s not supported by scripture.
Ready?
1 Corinthians 10:31 New International Version (NIV)
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
So what did the master expect? An investment he would approve of. So if whatever we do, do it for the glory of God. That is the -return- He expects for our monetary investment. So what is the glory of God. It is an investment that we will not worry about when we have to answer for it.
2 Corinthians 5:10 Common English Bible (CEB)
10 We all must appear before Christ in court so that each person can be paid back for the things that were done while in the body, whether they were good or bad.
It really is that simple. We will answer to Christ for everything we do on earth. Should we buy that? Is that going to glorify God? Is the investment coming back as something that points back to God? That can be very tough to figure out. Money bounces all over the planet, so it’s pretty impossible to say the ten bucks at a store isn’t going to fund one of the workers purchasing drugs after they get paid. But there are closer to home ways we can determine if the money God gives us is going to a cause, person(s) or entity that either is neutral towards Christ or not-adverse. However, there are places, businesses, and entities that are hostile to Christ, and it is with that knowledge we have to ask ourselves, is this a good investment. Why are we spending that money? 
I know what you’re thinking. Yep, it’s true, Jesus hung out with sinners, but he never sinned. Which means Christ’s investments on earth were not contrary to God’s will for him.
Today, in a fallen world, it can be very difficult to spend money that won’t be reused for purposes that are contrary to God.
What are optional expenses? What are those things we need to live? It’s one of the few thoughtful considerations from which we can have some sanity in trying to figure out what to invest money in. And much of our investment should be covered in our prayers. We should ask God about life, which includes money.
So do I have a list of who to spend money with and who to boycott? Can we do a Vulcan Mind Meld to implant the list of God approved businesses? Nope. Should we consider how we spend the money God gave us to invest? Are there questionable investments that won’t bring us closer to God’s purpose in our lives? Should we always remember that one day the Master is going to come and demand an account for our investment? That’s how I read the Bible.
Steven Davis is a recovering social worker, overcooked preacher’s kid, musician, and media producer.
When I was very young. I watched my grandfather make this wooden truck, my eyes were wide open to every move he made. I’d never seen anyone make a toy car from wood before. I watched as he cut out the frame with the band saw. That saw was very sharp but I watched my grandfather move it around till the full-body took shape. Then he ran the main body through a wheel type grinder with to sand off the rough edges. I watched as he continued to put the pieces together. Finally, I had my truck. Albeit it’s missing a fender or two over the past several decades of moving, it’s still one of my favorite possessions. It was a gift from my grandfather that started out as a block of wood but was something that I could never buy from a store. It was all mine.
And while it was extraordinary to watch someone make a toy truck from wood, as I grew up and my brain matured, I came to appreciate the talent and skill of not only a carpenter who happened to by my grandfather, but one who made me a priceless toy just for me, and him being blind didn’t stop him a bit.
So what’s my excuse for not giving, for not acting? I don’t think I have any.
sel·fie /ˈselfē/ noun INFORMAL a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and shared via social media.
As followers of the Christ, what are we to say about selfies?
Jesus tells us “Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5
So what about Selfies? Why do we do it? Is it a way we share, or is it a way to get attention? Is it a way for us to boast about ‘us?’ What could possibly be wrong with them? Selfies bring people together right! It’s a way to stay in touch. What did Christ do when the attention was on him? In Mark 10, when someone called Christ ‘good,’ Jesus responded that no one is good except God his Father. When someone calls us good, do we point to God? Do we say, we have no ability to boast, and give God credit for us? Like most social behavior, the Christ-follower is to resemble the life of Christ.
So what about selfies?
“The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
-Matthew 23:2-12
Matthew 6 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
What is behind the selfie? Are selfies an expression of pride? Maybe. Is the rest of our life self-centered as well? Or do we think about other’s more than ourselves as Christ directs us to in Matthew 23? Do we act with pride in other areas of our lives? Or does our speech and actions express Christian humility? If our social media is full of self-pride instead, then our selfies are a continuation of a self-serving life and serve only to boast about us.
None of us are superhuman. If we are ‘awesome’ ‘great’ ‘successful’, we are only because God lets us be. Psalm 144:4 says that man is like a breath on this earth. Our life is temporal.
So are selfies bad? I venture that all depends on our motive and to whom we genually are boasting about not only online, but in real life as well.
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Steven Davis is a recovering social worker, well-done preacher’s kid, musician, and media producer.
I recently received an invitation to a church in our area. It was a very nice postcard that told me a lot of info about the church. It even had a little map of where the church is located. And then I saw it, the part that read, ‘Bring this card for a free gift.’ It was the one piece of info that didn’t fit. I really liked the card, and may even swing by there, but not because I want a free gift. And not to belabor the point or beat it to death, but shouldn’t it be Christ and his message, the one sustaining Hope for our lives that draws people to church? I have no idea what the free gift is, but I can only imagine it’s a welcome packet. But my mind instantly goes to the proverbial used car salesman that sends out a coupon for a hundred bucks off a car that is already a hundred dollars too much – gimmick. Is it the consumer mentality of church folk that requires church meetings to give out gifts so we’ll show up. Since I’m not a non-believer, I can’t really know what a free gift would impress on me. No idea.
“Acts 2:47 With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
In the book of Acts, when the church family met from house to house, breaking bread, people were saved and this is how God added numbers to His church. What’s interesting about this scripture is the ‘method’ if you will that Acts presents. It was a fellowship of people in their own houses that connected the church to new folk and increased the numbers in the church. This is more of a humble approach that is people-to-people and not one person to many.
As the church flock, we think it’s only the pastor’s job to get more people in the church. We interact as consumers of church stuff.
In large part, this is a by-product of the spectator church. Folk go to church once or twice a week, pay something in the offering plate (or not) and then go on about their week knowing they’ve paid their dues. Just like traffic court (not confessing I have any experience with traffic court), people go because they feel they have to go, they spend an hour or more a week, then they go on about their week. We think the pastor is a superhero with multiple selves that can do it all. So we don’t invite anyone to church, because after all, the pastor is getting paid, that’s his job eh? Our job is to attend. Or at least that’s what the spectator church is all about. And when the pastor asks for help, we immediately catalog all the things we have to do every week, and we just don’t have time for midweek church stuff. We are super busy.
The world is searching for one thing, Hope. And it’s more than fellowship because the bars have fellowship covered. There’s little in terms of entertainment or fellowship the church meeting can compete with. The difference in the church meeting fellowship is Message. A message of Jesus Christ and his salvation. That is the only difference between church meeting fellowship and let’s say a Moose Lodge.
So what should the church look like? If we take away from Acts that it is regular folk to connect other folks with the message of Jesus, then a humble fellowship where we realize that we are willing to help each other is closer to the church in Acts than a bunch of people sitting in seats once a week.
About the author: Steven Davis is well-done preacher’s kid, recovering social worker, musician, and media producer.
So I was calling around to find someone to mow my lawn, and everywhere I looked, it was the same company. I looked in the phone book, the internet, Angie’s List, everywhere everywhere, it was the same company. So I reluctantly called the company and left a message. After 8 days, they called me back to schedule my lawn. By this time, my lawn was over 14 inches tall. I asked them for a Monday cut, but they said they only had Thursday between 8am and 5pm available. So the guy shows up at 11am and it took him three hours longer than it should. He wasted so much of my time. He was pretty apathetic about the job, saying to me, “dude, I’m just trying to do my 8 hours and go home.” My grass was pretty much cut, but the guy showed no passion for his work. So I asked him, ‘Sir, don’t you like your job.’ He replied, “Well, my company doesn’t have any competition, so I just do my thing because I know customers can’t go anywhere else to get their lawn cut, so why should I care.’
The moral of the story? This is the difference between the government and the free market.
As I crawled over the human waste laying on the ground it was all I could do to drag the jackhammer. My boss was explaining where I needed to put the 70 lb jackhammer, which was at the base of the chimney. It was so tight under the house I had to lay flat on my back holding my head up, with moderate success, so it wouldn’t touch the muck underneath me. I started hammering at the base of the chimney so we could brace to move the house. I held the tip of the hammer between my feet. Each day I came home covered in soot, mud, and smelling of who knows what. But I was grateful to have that job. It was by far one of my favorite jobs. I can still remember the smell of the sewage. Someone once told me we need immigration because jobs such as the one I was doing can’t be filled by Americans. Hogwash.
Growing up part of that is struggling and when you take jobs on that you don’t want to do that’s part of growing up . So when you’re a teenager you may not like this job and he may not like that job but not liking something you can always learn from what you’re doing in that job .
The problem isn’t that there’s no jobs , the problem is that people think they just arrived do the best job without ever struggling in a job or jobs that they may not want . It’s a spoiled generation that won and was handed everything growing up that believes they are too good for jobs that are deemed less than their self-image.
Do you worship your church leadership? Don’t think so? Here’s how to find out.
Does your church team photo look like this? I’ve seen these photos on church websites (minus the hugging) promoting the church leadership and I always wonder what are they promoting? I almost went to a church that had a leadership picture like this on their website (minus the hugging.) But I kept looking at that leadership picture. And don’t get me wrong, everyone was smiling, everyone’s makeup was spot on, they even had coordinated outfits. But what I didn’t see was any significant diversity, not age or race. And this church wasn’t in a non-diverse location. I’m sure there were plenty of non-twenty-early-thirties somethings around. But the leadership wasn’t made up of any of them. So again, I asked myself, what are they promoting? Good question.
When Lebron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010, the residents of Cleveland didn’t react well. There were riots over Lebron leaving the town and even a man set himself on fire with Lebron’s jersey on. After all, Lebron promised Cleveland a championship, but he didn’t deliver. So fans were obviously upset about him leaving and expressed their disappointment with anger and violence. The person Cleveland fans worshiped, ‘King James’, was leaving for another team.
And as members of the Christ church, we often can take that same mentality to the church meeting. We have our own Lebrons, Michael Jordans, Mike Krzyzewski, Dean Smith’s at church. That one person who may be the reason we go to that church meeting.
In one
accord, Mold.When a church cast the team leadership from one mold, that leader is asking for one type of person to come to that church.
If we are to reach all people, then we can’t as a church, target certain groups for inclusion in our church meeting … Jesus said, go out into all the world. And that may require having church leadership that comes from the world we live in, not just the suburbs.
While visiting a local church, my wife and I were chatting up some church folk in the hallway. I asked their children’s pastor about the program for kids. She began describing the fun kids had during children’s church. Then she told me that children’s church was for grades kindergarten through third grade. I asked about kids ages four and was told those kids are in the nursery to play. Then two ladies standing nearby started telling us how wonderful the pastor was, that they were just ‘glued’ to his messages every Sunday. The pastor speaks very well continued one church lady. I said, ‘thank you,’ smiled politely and walked away ruminating on a couple of take-a-ways; 1) kids under the age of kindergarten don’t really need the message of Jesus and 2) the biggest thing this church has going is a great pastor who has great messages. While my thoughts were mildly sarcastic and somewhat inconsiderate, they did have some truth to them. But is that really what that church believes? That young kids don’t matter and the greatest thing about the church is the pastor? I doubt it, but if I wasn’t an over-seasoned-preachers-kid and instead was a non-Christian, those would have been my take-a-ways. Instead, I get it. They really like their pastor who is very popular. And their children’s program is really great, even though outdated. Because after all, if we know anything from the well-established science regarding the psychological and sociological development of children; learning, especially behavioral, happens at a very young age. So of course, children under the age of kindergarten can learn about Jesus and should be taught in their way at an age-appropriate method. But not at that church.
In Living Colour a rock band from the 1980s and 90s had a hit called, Cult of Personality. Which while on a grander philosophical plane, talked about how people follow others based on personality. Here are some of the lyrics.
“Look in my eyes, what do you see?
The cult of personality
I know your anger, I know your dreams
I’ve been everything you want to be
I’m the cult of personality
Like Mussolini and Kennedy
I’m the cult of personality
The cult of personality
The cult of personality”
Throughout human history, people have followed other people based on personality. In the church, we call it ‘charisma.’ Charisma is that ability or approach of a leader to connect emotionally with folk, to smile, to have a standout presence when in a room that is like a magnet for other people. So, when churches pick leaders, ministers, youth pastors, the personal trait of charisma is always important. Because it is important to connect with the church folk currently attending, but also connect with those who may visit. And in the grand scheme of church work, there’s nothing inherently non-biblical about having non-offensive church leaders or at least leaders that are non-offensive for the wrong reasons. The last thing the church body needs is a curt, abrasive, or intrusive personality. Or maybe it’s the first thing we need. Let’s examine scripture.
I like to start with Jesus and his approach because often in today’s church mainstream, Jesus has gotten a bad reputation. … The Jesus of scripture spoke the truth, got angry, was counter-cultural and lived a life of service ultimately dying on a cross in one of the most humiliating ways. And yet, it is that life that we are to use as a guide.
Let’s look at what Jesus said when asked about himself.
As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up and knelt before Him. “Good Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone. Mark 10:17-18
Jesus points to his Father. If Jesus teaches us that God the Father is to be the focus of our attention, then why do we put it on others? When we go to church, do our leaders point to God as Jesus does, or is their charisma based on flair, hairstyle/color, the clothes they wear, etc. Do our church leaders reflect any or all attention to God?
Unfortunately, sometimes in today’s post-postmodern church, Jesus is portrayed as loving everyone, not offending anyone, and not representing the reason he came, which was to save man from sin. Why is that? In some churches, sin isn’t even mentioned. When is the last time your church leader spoke about the cross, sin, and forgiveness? If they do, be sure that someone, maybe even you or me, will get offended. At least that’s what some people call it. Biblically speaking, that offense is actually the Holy Spirit’s conviction or pointing out our sin telling us we need to change. That’s what Jesus does to us in the face of our sin, we get convicted spiritually because of our wrongdoing. That’s also what Jesus said while on earth. But today, if people get offended, they just leave the church. Like leaving a movie early because we don’t like the subject matter.
So if we can’t use personality as a draw for churchgoers, then what’s the solution to keep the church meeting popular? One solution is to take the focus off of God and put it on programs, great music, well-thought messages. And that requires church leaders to take the focus off God and put it on church leadership, have a popular leadership. Have lots of programs that rest on generating ‘likes’ if you will by leaders that are very popular. What did Jesus say about his mission? He came to divide, to separate, to cause people to be at odds with each other. That was his program. That goes against every happy-go-lucky-Jesus-loves and hugs-doesn’t offend post-postmodern church’s message on the planet. Our church meetings ought to a place of personal change, we shouldn’t be comfortable in our day to day lives. We should be challenged by church leaders at our church meeting to change. Church leaders should put the gospel first and not worry about losing personal popularity.
-‘That popular youth program is awesome! Our church band is the best in town, the music is so memorable, our pastor tells some amazing jokes, did you know our pastor has a Ph.D.?’- And so on it goes. But what we should hear is; ‘people’s lives are being changed because our church loves on hurting folk. Did you hear how many people in need we are helping this month? I’m better because my life is challenged and changed each week. Let me tell you about Christ, I hear about him every week at church. Our leaders are so busy taking groups out to love on the elderly.’-
Big difference.
21 But now, apart from the Law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets. 22And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:21-24
We are all sinners. We are either still sinners and not following God, we are sinners saved by Grace and have turned from our sinful ways. But we are all sinners in need of saving, and as Paul points out, saving not by ourselves but through the grace of God. So why do we look up to those leaders in the church? Well, we’d like to think they’re perfect maybe. Or we hope they have an answer we are looking for. Or do we just like the way they look, sound, act. Whatever the reason we look up to them, they as leaders should be looking up to God in such a way that when we look at them, we see God. That comes from true humility and leaders always pointing to God for help and salvation in their messages, actions, methods, programs.
I often wonder about messages from pulpit that don’t directly explain how to reach to God for an answer. Back in the day, we call them altar calls. This is a special time after a sermon-message where everyone prays for help and those who need special prayer get a special prayer. Where did the altar call go? That’s probably another blog post all to itself, but suffice to say, if leaders who speak from the pulpit aren’t wrapping their messages up in a way for folk to have a connection with God, then what’s the point? If your church leader isn’t consistently and constantly pointing to God for everyone’s help, then the question arises, who is the focus? Who is the object for our help?
So the next time you see your church leader, remember, they are sinners just like everyone else. And they are either pointing you to God for help or pointing to themselves as the object for your affection.
His personality and following, in the millions. Very true. And there have been countless patriarchs of the Way since Jesus that have had large followings. But about Billy Graham; his message followed one line of thought, salvation through Christ. His message always pointed to Christ, he always pointed to Christ. And God worked through the efforts of Billy Graham to bring millions to Christ. Billy Graham called for those to receive Christ at the end of his messages. So a large defacto following is not a symptom of a cult of personality or worship, it’s a large following. Today, Billy Graham has moved on from this life but his works are still here, his messages still watched, his following hasn’t fallen away, but kept moving on because Billy Graham followers, unlike Jim Jones’s followers, always knew it was about God and the message of Jesus through Salvation and the works of Billy Graham were ultimately the works of Christ.
It’s easy to find with one mental exercise. Pick a leader in your church. If they were to leave y our church, would you go elsewhere? What about two leaders, what about the youth pastor? If they leave, will you stay? If your answer is ‘Yes’, then who is being worshiped? Throughout history, people have followed people. And the church is no different. When a pastor or other church leader leaves a physical church, some people love/worship him or her so much, they leave with him. It happens all the time. Certainly, there are good reasons people leave a church meeting group, heresy, God calling people elsewhere and so on. But what if God was actually the most important Person in all our churches. What if humility was the claim to fame for a church meeting leadership. What if people were so busy doing the work of Christ, that if a leader left, no one else did. Possible? A worthy goal and one that Jesus himself gave us. The disciples were sad when Jesus left, but he told them to go and continue working for God.
What is your/mine/a church focus all about? What is the draw for people to belong? The ‘pseudo-friends church team picture’ I saw at the church website left me out because I only saw a nondiverse twenties-early-thirties something team. I just kept thinking of the Friends image cast over and over. And good-intentioned people can do the wrong things for the right reasons. Like having a church leadership made up of one demographic can send the wrong message to anyone visiting or wanting to visit. In fact, there is nothing Biblically-based about it. Regarding diversity, Jesus chose his church leadership from a wide socio-economic base. And Jesus chose his company from even a wider range of demographics. So much that he was even socially maligned by the church for hanging out with the sinners of his day, something very unpopular in his day.
It’s unfortunate that we as human and Christians use our visual perception to choose where to go and not go to church, but that’s the way it is. We like this person, so we go there. We don’t like the way this person is dressed, so we don’t go to that church. Growing up, we had people leave our church meeting because the music minister’s wife wore too much makeup.
The Solution is to have the main focus not be the leaders themselves, but God’s works through that leadership. This is how we should live as well. Our trumpet in life should not be about ourselves, but Christ. Practice humility in the church that puts leaders on the back burner and the service, dependence, and worship to God at the forefront. This requires a radical refocusing of the ‘grand’ point of the church.
When the man focused on Jesus, Jesus pointed to his Father, why should we be so different.
Great video from John Christ
About the author:
Steven Davis is a long time well-seasoned-preachers kid, recovering social worker, musician, and media producer.