SUPER COMMERCIAL SUNDAY

Written by

Christopher Mentzer

I always look forward to the last Sunday of January. It’s the one day every year that companies come out with new and original commercials. They spend millions of dollars to create little television programs to sell their merchandise. There is some sort of football game that interrupts the commercials but for me the focus is these little shows.

The mainstream religions use a similar concept to get people to attend their churches or join their religion. Everything from pancake breakfasts, softball teams, and Youth Ministry these churches will provide every function to make you feel comfortable in the spiritual world. Is there any scriptural authority for these programs? According to them, yes in Col. 3:17, “And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, `do' all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” They figure, regardless of the activities, if you are with other church members you are glorifying God. But where in the Bible does it mention the apostles held a pancake breakfast in Christ’s name? Nowhere. Neither is there mentioned softball or a Youth Ministry.

Many people do not realize that when you are in the assembly you are in the Kingdom of God. The church and the kingdom are interchangeable (Matt. 16:13-18; 2 Thess. 1:4-5). With that in mind I turn your attention to Rom. 14:17 in which Paul writes, “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” If that doesn’t convince you Paul made a similar comment to the church in Corinth, 22.“What, have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? Or despise ye the church of God, and put them to shame that have not? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I praise you not. 34.If any man is hungry, let him eat at home; that your coming together be not unto judgment. And the rest will I set in order whensoever I come.” (1 Cor. 11:22, 34)

We are to worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Is playing softball worshipping God in spirit and truth? NO! Even if you should decide to pray before the game begins, that still does not constitute it as worship. All too often people want to sanctify worldly programs as spiritual fellowship and it isn’t possible. Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matt. 6:24)

Too many people try to have one foot in the kingdom and one foot in the real world. You can’t do both. It’s one or the other.

Worship itself consists of five basic elements:

1. Singing hymns of Praise (Eph. 5:19)

2. Speaking to God in Prayer (1 Tim. 2:1-5)

3. Partaking of the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7; Matt. 26: 26-29)

4. Give back a portion of our earnings (1 Cor.16: 1-2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7)

5. Hear the Word of God (2 Tim. 3: 16-17)

That’s it! All too often though people just can’t accept the fact it’s that simple. They want more and to do that is going beyond the scriptures (1 Cor. 4:6). The first century worship service was this simple so should it be some two thousand years later.