Playing Church

Now all who believed were together, and had all thngs in common, and sold their possesions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.  So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2: 44 - 47 NKJV

I read a comment on social media the other day which proclaimed, "I cannot support a church where the pastor is one of Americas millionares!"  Sadly, I would have to agree with this statement.  Now, I've done more than my share of bashing the modern church in the past, but my dislike is not directed at the people, but merely at the very system we have created for ourselves.  Yes, friends, we are responsible for what our Lords church has become.  I've often refered to the local Sunday church service as a "Dog and pony show."  I'm sure that there may be thos ewho disagree, but I do not see the need for a elaborate service, a loud praise and worship band nor the ornate buildings which house these weekly performances done in the name of God.  With calls of Getting closer to Jesus and give until it hurts, the local pulpit pounder often will lay guilt and shame upon people in order to keep his pews filled to capacity.  A full house means money in the bank.  Through my friend Dennis, I have had the opportunity to see this system from a pastors perspective.  I truly appreciate Dennis, for his heart for Christ Jesus is evident to all who have come to know him.  I remember how my mother would look forward to his gentle, straight to the heart sermons when he was still active in the church.  It is with this perspective that I view many of our modern churches.  When did church become more about putting on a show than teaching God and Jesus?  When did a pastor become more of a business man and less of a shepherd and teacher of Gods children?

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.  All things were created through Him and for Him.  And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.  And He is the head of the body, the church,who is the begining, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Colossions 1: 13 - 18 NKJV

One of the reasons which I have become a bit of a critic of our modern church is because of what we have made it.  Do you think that the early church of the followers of Jesus had glorified praise and worship rock bands?  Do you assume that they all gathered in some ornate palace to worship Jesus?  No, for as we're told in Acts 2, the early followers of Christ gathered in their homes.  As the disciples of Jesus themselves had done, they shared life together in the company of those who worshiped God.  Now, granted, things were different then, and the early followers of Jesus were persecuted by the Romans as Jesus had been.  This is one reason they did not meet in public.  However, my point is that their worship was not about the loudest band, the biggest tithe nor the most ornate building, it was about God and those around them.  This was about community, and we've lost this true vision of church over time.  It seems now that the importance lies in the "Perception" of worship and not the actual practice of such.  For along with that big modern church come the responsibilities given to any modern business.  Weekly staff meetings become board room meetings, seeking how to keep the pews, and coffers, filled.  Is it no wonder that many have grown disenchanted with the weekly dog and pony show?  We long for the days of the community of believers, of gathering together in one accord.  I hate to admit it, but I feel the days of the little country church are long gone.  It has been replaced by the ornate mega church building.  We do well to remember that our focus is not on the building, the hip band or the feel good pastor.  For the true head of our Lords church is Christ Jesus.  For by Him all things were created, and who loved each of us enough to redeem us.

~Scott~