Four People Who Will Ruin Any Church

1 Comment

There are four very dangerous members of every church I have ever seen. Admittedly, sometimes I have invoked their names myself, thinking that they were my friends and that they were on “my side.” But every time, I soon found out they were snakes in the grass – not my friends, but very dangerous adversaries.

Somehow, they manage to get appointed to every committee or ministry group in the church. They are the most faithful members of the church; they NEVER miss, NEVER get sick, NEVER take a vacation, and NEVER play hooky. They fill their pew every time the church doors open. At first glance, they seemed to be pillars of the church, but now I realize, they are pure poison.

Some of you reading may know them; you may be their kin. In fact, you may be them. At times, I have to confess that sometimes, I am “them.” Who are these four members? I, Me, My, and Mine. I call them “The Quartet.”

One of the most dangerous things that can happen in a church is for any one of the body parts to become overly “self-aware.” Church does not belong to me. It is not my church. In fact, it is not even “our” church. The church has been bought and paid for and is under singular management – we are the body of Jesus Christ. In Ephesians 4, Paul warned us that unity would be a chore to maintain.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. – Ephesians 4:3

Paul calls the task of maintaining unity an “effort.” It does not come naturally, easily, or automatically. Notice the hub around which the wheel of unity rolls – the Holy Spirit. We cannot have unity around the Quartet. Unity is not achieved by either unanimity or majority opinion. There has to be ONE singular central place where the buck stops, and in Jesus’ church the buck stops with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Soloist in the church’s performance. He is the Superstar. The best The Quartet can hope for is to be the backup singers, the supporting cast. The Quartet has to take a back seat to the Soloist. Church only works when you and I seek the will of the Holy Spirit even to the exclusion of our own desires and preferences.

In the ensuing verses of Ephesians 4, Paul goes on to use the word “one” seven times referring to God and His work in and through us. That is the basis for our unity. Not a preacher, not a deacon, not a class, committee, ministry, and certainly not The Quartet.

It’s not about Me… or I… or… My… or Mine.

He [Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease. – John 3:30

 

Challenge #3 – What Is the Church to Do with ME?

2 Comments

The consumer mentality that drives our culture has seeped into the church as well.  In every facet of culture, we expect entitlement.  We have learned to assert our rights and to demand that we receive what we have coming to us…and more.  We expect others to give us more than we are willing to invest ourselves.

One of the first questions people ask as they consider joining a church is “how can the church meet my needs,” and one of the last statements disgruntled church people utter as they leave is “this church isn’t meeting my needs.”  We want music that suits, programs that entertain, preaching that tickles, and fellowship that affirms.  We want benefit without cost, blessing without effort, and gain without sacrifice.  We shop for church experience like shopping for a new car.  We search until we find one we think we will likes, then we dicker for membership at the lowest possible interest rate.

The problem with such a self-centered mindset is that it is not really the center.  Church isn’t about me, it’s about Jesus.  It’s HIS church.  Church is not about what I can get, but how I can invest and serve Him.

John 3:30 – He must increase, and I must decrease.

Matthew 16:18 (the words of Jesus) – …I will build MY church… (emphasis added)

Ephesians 3:21 – …to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 2:9-11 – Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Colossians 1:18 – …and He is the head of the body, the church.

In Matthew 25, Jesus told a parable of a man who went on a journey and entrusted portions of his possessions to his servants.  Two of his servants invested their master’s goods and gained him even more.  The master praised them and rewarded them for their investment.  The third servant played it safe and hid his master’s money, and the master chided the servant and punished him for his laziness and apathy.

Jesus has entrusted His most precious treasure to us – His Church.  He is not pleased when I hijack His precious possession and assert my preferences and wants.  He is not please with my desires to conform church to my image, but rather He is please with my determination to invest my time, resources, and efforts in His Church.

We will begin to experience the winds of revival when we die to ourselves and return Jesus to His rightful highest place in His Church.