Part II

The User-Friendly Church

Written by Christopher Mentzer

A couple years ago a friend of mine, who attends a community church, came up and told me what his church was doing for Mother’s Day. He told me they were having donuts from Krispy Kreme, coffee from Starbucks, and that they were handing out carnations to every mother. Plus they were having a guest speaker, a Hollywood celebrity talk about his religious experience. Since we were at work I didn’t get much chance to ask him about it but I wondered who was paying for all of this? The answer, most likely, was the church. How does the church pay for it? Through the contributions of course.

This is just one example of how some churches are drawing people in. Another example is dramatizations. Christmas Pageants telling the story of the birth of Christ and Easter Pageants describing the last week of Christ. And one final example is called the “High-touch” praise. When you come into the church building, members will either hug your neck or pat your on the shoulder and tell you how great it is for you to be here. How lucky you are to share in this religious experience.

All three of these examples, believe it or not, are found in the scriptures. Here’s what the apostle John says about them, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1 John 2: 16-17) This kind of problem goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. When the serpent tempted Eve with the forbidden fruit. Here’s Eve decision on the matter, “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food (lust of the flesh), and that it was a delight to the eyes (lust of the eye), and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise (vain glory of life), she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.” (Gen. 3: 6)

People will say this is the future of the church, the way to get people to come and worship. But are they really worshipping God or just their bellies? Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall bring to nought both it and them. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.” (1 Cor. 6: 13) And again, Paul wrote to the Romans saying, “For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and fair speech they beguile the hearts of the innocent.” (Rom. 16: 18) And once more to the church at Philippi, “whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and `whose' glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.” (Phil. 3: 19)

The 21^st Century church should be no different than the church of the First Century. We should give our selves to the Lord (2 Cor. 8: 5), we should worship God in spirit and in truth (Jn. 4: 24), “and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.” (Mk. 12: 30) And to Love the Lord is to obey His commandments (Jn. 14: 15, 21, 24). All the rest of the things mentioned above should not be done in the assembly. “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 14: 17) As Paul warned the church in Corinth, “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.” (1 Cor. 11: 22) Likewise, Jesus will not praise you either, “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

The question to ask yourself is: Are the donuts, coffee, and entertainment worth the cost of your soul? Here’s some help with your answer: Jesus said, “26. For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life? 27. For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds.” (Matt. 16: 26-27)

Part III: Cotton Candy Theology

July 30, 2006