Church: A Great plaace to Meet Babes

I just returned from a month's vacation. I spent much of the time in Southern California. When ever I am away I like to visit other churches so I went to four large churches in the O.C. One of the churches had the church "thing" down pat. They had obviously studied the current trends in "ecclesiology" and had aptly applied them. The church setting was dark, ominous. with special lighting for effect. The stage was lit drawing a worshipers attention to the stage. The music was high powered, fantastic! After it was over, a pastor gave what I determined to be, was an "alright" message. But the church was huge! What was it that drew them to this place? I can't say for sure but what I noticed before and after the service was people broke quickly into small groups or huddles and laughed and talked with their friends. It was as if the teaching was secondary. In fact all through the service people trickled into to hear the teaching, most reluctant to break from the fellowship.

After the service I spoke to the pastor and said, "You've got a big thing here man!" where did all these people come from and what keeps them here?". Sadly, the pastor said, "what brings these people here is the fellowship and the music. They just tolerate the sermon. " Then he said something I found very disturbing. "Where do they all come from (long pause)? From other churches". He obviously wasn't happy about it.

Is that what the church in America has been reduced to...social activities clubs?

In Matthew 20 Jesus approaches two blind beggars at the gates of Jericho with this question: "What is it you want from Me?" Sounds like a dumb question really. I mean it's obvious what these men need. But I suggest the question was the right one to ask these men because they had become accustomed to their blindness, the smirks, the pity by passersby, and begging hoping for a few coins to get them thru the day and the next and the next. "What do you really want from Me" is how I would rephrase the question. "Just a few bones or do you want more from yourself and from Me?"

As you know one of the men, Bartimaeus stepped out of his boxed thinking and said, "master we want to see" and both men were healed and followed Jesus.

Why are you a follower of Christ? Why do you go to church? For the fellowship? The great music? Because your friends go there? Because it's the hot happening show in town? What do you want from your Christian experience, yourself, and from God?

Are you under the false delusion that all that is expected of you is to pray a prayer of salvation and wait and make the most of this life until you die or Christ returns?

I hope not. We are called to serve, to make disciples, to make a stand for him, to grow for the purpose of reaching out to others.

I remember an old Jeff Foxworthy joke that said rednecks love family reunions because it was a great place to meet babes. If Church and Christianity has become is nothing more than a social club then maybe I ought to join 24 hour fitness or something. I don't know about you but I expect more from myself, my church expereince, and especially from God.