Jump Start # 1469

1 Corinthians 11:18 “For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it.”

  Our verse today comes from the section of Corinthian letter where Paul addresses the Lord’s Supper. Great and powerful lessons are found here. The Corinthians were missing the point. Their divisive spirit had now spilled over into worship and into the Lord’s Supper. Some were eating the meal like a common meal. They were pigging out. Some were not allowed to participate in it at all. The very thing that ought to connect them to Jesus and His compassionate ways was becoming a source of trouble. There was a lot of work to be done in changing things and Paul slowly shows them the proper attitude that they ought to have.

In this verse we find this expression, “when you come together as a church.” That principle is sprinkled throughout the next few verses. Paul will say, “When you come together…”  There is a coming together as a church. This is interesting. The latest Pew Report shows that a majority of Americans still believe in God but less than 20% attend worship services. Many churches are dying. The megachurch fad is fading out. Places are scrambling to find new ways to get their own people to come. The Pew Report listed four main reasons why people don’t go to church services:

• They don’t like being lectured to
• They view the church as judgmental
• They view the church as hypocritical
• They do not see the relevance of church services in their lives

In another report, a common view that many have is that “God cannot be confined to a church. I don’t need a church to worship God.” So among many, particularly millennials, they are staying with God but have given up on church. There are other factors as well. Some state that they get nothing out of church services. Some feel the songs are too old fashioned. Some admit that they don’t have the right clothes to wear. And a few, admitting honestly, “Sunday is the only day I have to sleep in.” So the coming together as a church is on the way out. I met a man yesterday who claimed that he finds sermons on the internet and that’s his way of learning and worshipping God. Stay at home. Stay in the ‘jammies. Pull out the tablet, get on line and worship in bed. The coming together as a church isn’t happening.

This is all disturbing. This trend of not needing the church reflects a growing disconnect many have. Consider a few thoughts:

First, in these Pew Reports, they are surveying a very broad spectrum of what is considered mainstream “Christianity.” Every dog in town is considered. For generations, many places have given up on the Biblical model of what worship is. Entertainment has replaced doctrine. Feelings have replaced faith. Pick and choose where you go based upon what a place offers you. Folks have never learned that worship is personal and yet must be shared “as we come together.” Worship is not about me, but God. Worship is honoring and praising the Lord. Worship is one way of telling the Lord “Thank You.” Worship is about moving God to the top of the list. Worship pulls our attention to the greatness and holiness of the Lord. It’s not food. It’s not making me feel good. It’s not laughter, sports, and a good time. Worship is about God. It’s honoring God the way He wants to be honored. It’s not about being creative, different, new and cutting edge. God has always told man how to worship Him.

So, when the Pew Report issues these startling findings about people not going to church services, it’s not surprising. What were they getting in the first place? What value was it? Indeed, there was little relevance in their lives. Modern preachers are afraid to use the word sin. They fear more a dropping budget than the God that they are supposed to be preaching about. The goal is larger attendance. Big makes right in the eyes of some. So as many as are coming in the front door, the same number are leaving out the back door. There is no sticking. Fellowship is meaningless. There is no substance to faith. It’s like going to a movie. It’s fun for a short while, but then we must return to life and the real world. That’s why many churches are clueless about what is going on. Instead of preaching the Bible, the audience is given cotton-candy theology. Looks great. Tastes wonderful. But there’s nothing to it. And when the dark storm clouds gather, there is nothing that will keep them going. Cotton candy is all fluff. Too much modern preaching is just the same.

Second, across this country, and especially across the world, many, many congregations are growing. They are growing because thought is being put into worship. Excellence is being demonstrated in what is being preached, in prayers, in classes, in songs and especially in fellowship. Congregations are becoming one huge family. Folks love to be with one another. Smiles and hugs are the norm. The Bible is actually being taught. People see the connection and are making changes in their lives. Marriages are shaping up. Parents are engaging spiritually with their kids. Meaningful conversations are taking place. Young couples are excited and growing spiritually. There is a relevance and a practicality in worship. God is real and meaningful in their lives. The Pew Report doesn’t mention this side of things. It leads us to believing that “For Sale” signs will be popping up in front of church buildings across this land. In some places, that would probably be a good thing.

Third, something good happens when we “come together as a church.” Here are a few thoughts:

• With others, I am reminded of God. I may forget.
• With others, the singing,  praying and preaching is just better.
• With others, I see that I am not the only one. Alone is a terrible place to be. Alone we get discouraged. Alone we tend to quit. Alone we become vulnerable to Satan.
• With others, I learn things, see things, that I may not on my own.
• With others, there is support, encouragement and the kick in the pants when I need it.
• With others, there is love.
• With others, more can be done.

Coming together as a church. God wants that. We need that. We need to kill the excuses that keep us away. “I don’t have the right clothes.” Really? It’s not a fashion show. You are going for God. “The songs are  old.” So. We like old movies. We like antiques. Learn them. Old songs don’t have to be sung pitifully slow. Put some fire into them, song leaders. Put your foot on the accelerator. Don’t let “old songs,” be the reason that you stay away from what God wants you to do. “It’s my only day to sleep in.” That’s easy to fix. Go to be early on Saturday night. Get all the sleeping that you need and get up on Sunday morning and worship God with His people. What folks really mean is that, “I want to stay up to one or two in the morning and then sleep in.” That’s the problem. Get to bed and get up to worship. Are we going to allow our sleep to keep us from God? Really? In the words of ESPN, “COM’ ON MAN!” You can do better than that. God deserves better than that.

Much of this is just a matter of “want to.” We don’t because we “don’t want to.” That’s the problem. That’s the issue. It’s not the songs. It’s not sleeping in. It’s not relevance. It’s a matter of wanting to. I’ve known folks who got up very early on their day off to drive and drive to go hunting, get to a ball game, or go golfing. They did it because they wanted to. They’d do it every week if they could. It’s a matter of want to.

Coming together as a church…it will be happening in a few days. Will you be one of those coming together? Maybe you ought to share this with someone who has a problem with the “want to.”

God sure is good to us. He treats us better than we deserve. He thinks of us more than we think of Him. He loves you and He wants you to come and worship Him.

Will you be there?

Roger