Underwood Unplugged

"What is your church like?" "What do you like about your church?:" "My church rocks!"

Okay, so I'm guilty of it. Guilty of looking at church from the viewpoint of what it can do for me. I can't help but sing louder when I like the song or the style. I can't help but feel better or more inspired if the speaker really challenged me. I can't help but feel great when church.. um... makes me feel great?

But what about when it doesn't?

What about when they don't sing a song I like? When they ask for yet another commitment. When someone prays or says something I don't agree with. When the guy in front of me raises his hands during worship, and I wonder if he knows he's blocking my view...

I'm guilty of making church about ME. Maybe we all are. I guess it's human nature to have our own preferences, respond to certain approaches, and have a secret list of likes and dislikes about our church.

Aren't we all "consumers"? If we don't like the "product," we leave and go somewhere else. We stay and criticize. We keep score - good and bad - about church just like anything else.

Hey, if the Pastor struggles with these thoughts, I suppose all of us do. I think I've had my most passionate conversations about church with people who have a keen awareness that their local church "ain't what she should be."

What would it look like for God to join the discussion? For God himself to share the things he loves about your church? To point out his own "secret list" on how you should be doing it...

I bet God's list would look much different... His list has little to do with music styles, how well the pastor tells a story, or how friendly the ushers are.

God looks at the house - and He really doesn't care about all the externals. He looks right at the core of my heart and asks me a very pointed question... "Who owns this house?"

Strip all the externals away, and the church is about God, for God, and experiencing God.

Regardless of what happens tomorrow morning (Sunday), I hope I remember whose house it is, and give an undivided heart to Him. If I personally feel good or get a spiritual buzz from it, that's fine. But it's all about honoring God and spending time with Him in His house.

Today in class we talked about the longest of Jesus' sermons recorded in the Bible, his "Sermon on the Mount" in Matthew 5-7. Our discussion made me wonder a couple of things when it comes to what the church is all about.

What is the church? When God said, "Let there be 'church,'" what did He mean?

Did God mean big buildings, fun camps for kids, and a place for me to feel loved? Probably. Did He have in mind specific groups of people in certain places at pre-determined times? Probably.

But today, my definition of "church" got an upgrade. I already believed that God's church is made up of people who are grateful for His calling on their lives, salvation by grace through faith. We are certainly called to love God and love people. For whatever reason, it seemed new to hear thoughts about the Sermon on the Mount as it relates to what we should be doing in church....

That the church is to offer God's blessing to the poor in spirit, and embody and offer participation of the Kingdom of Heaven (5:1-10). Can we read those verses and be that blessed? Are we part of God's blessing towards others mentioned in that passage? Do those descriptions "poor in spirit" or "meek" or "peacemaker" apply to me?

That the church is to be "salt and light" with good deeds that draw the attention and admiration of those around us (5:13-16). How did our "light" come to be about shows we don't watch and words we don't say? Why did Jesus hang out with the poor and the sinners in the community?

That Jesus longs for church to NOT be a place of rules, but a place where our hearts THIRST for God, and we seek to get rid of things like hatred, lust, deceit, and revenge (5:17-42).

That God calls us to LOVE even our enemies because we have a greater goal in mind than our earthly sense of justice or comfort (the rest of Matthew 5). I must re-focus my entire way of thinking around heavenly rewards and God's Kingdom, not just on the here and now.

If you get a moment today, I'd urge you to start reading through Matthew 5-7. Am I that kind of Christian? Are we becoming that kind of church?

A major focus of our class so far has been getting us back to God's real purposes for the church. Too many churches have blown it, as human-led organizations do tend to have their flaws. But let's not miss out on letting God set the stage, define His church, and let you and me humbly take our places in following His design...

I believe that God wants us to bring our physical needs and desires to Him in prayer. But He never promised to make life easy. In fact, if anything, Jesus promised that life on earth would be very difficult. Consider just these two verses:

John 16:33 - "In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!"

2 Timothy 3:12 - "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

Seems like there's a higher priority to God than my personal comfort. Something is more important than my safety, my sense of security, or my self-preservation.

Yet it's easy to live as a "Christian" who retreats from danger, protects myself, and convinces my soul that God wouldn't want me to confront, risk, advance, or sacrifice in a way that sets me back. I don't want to offend or hurt anyone else either, "for heaven's sake!"

As I read Colossians, I am confronted with the "prison-bound" heart of the Apostle Paul. Stuck behind bars in Rome, Paul could care less about his own situation. Instead, the man struggles in prayer for Christ-followers around the globe. With great energy, he writes letters, talks with church leaders, prays until exhaustion, and gives every ounce of his body and soul toward advancing the gospel.

In another letter, Paul writes, "I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles, in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked." (2 Corinthians 11:26-27).

How many American's would have given up their faith BEFORE facing any of those obstacles? How many times have I done the same?

Following Christ is not the route to safety, comfort, and happiness during your life on earth. The voice inside calling you to play it safe? It's probably not God.

God calls each one of us to something greater. Something eternal. Something and Someone worth fighting for, suffering for, and risking everything for.

Has the church lost its influence in the world?

Jesus repeatedly called and inspired his friends to not just talk about love, but do it. "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16)

People today are tired of talk. Tired of religion. Tired of organized church. 80% of the Delaware community chooses not to attend church.

After reading Robert Lewis's book about how a church (and individual Christians) can really succeed at demonstrating the love of Christ to others in their communities, I am inspired to want to do that myself. To quote the author, a church should be defined or described as "a community of people who are committed to being living proof of a loving God to a watching world."

Does that sound like your church?

Living proof of a loving God to a watching world?