Are You Playing?
22/01/09 17:34
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Every week, people make the pilgrimage to the location where whatever organization they worship with on the Sabbath meet, and make their appearance. They faithfully occupy the same seats and sing the same songs. They pride themselves on their punctuality and attendance record. They sit and listen to a sermon that they may, or may not pay any attention to and take notes that they will never bother to read, or go over when they return home. In fact, their bibles see very little action other than the times that they are liberated at services on the Sabbath.
They make the same small talk with the same people. After services, they go out for a meal to enjoy their “blessings”. Later, their obligation met for the week, they return to their homes feeling very satisfied with themselves and occupy their time with whatever they do to fill out the rest of the Sabbath. As the sun sets on another Sabbath day, they quickly return to their normal routines and lives.
The description above sounds very cynical, yet that is exactly the scenario that is played out week after week by many who claim to be God’s people. They are uninspired, unmotivated and uninterested. They have lost the fire and the zeal and the first love that they once possessed for God’s word. They are in a routine and a rut and go through the same motions every week. They are playing church!
Being a Christian involves so much more than just the outward appearance and profession of faith in Christ. Our Christian lives require active, engaged participation. When people are gathered in God’s name for worship it should be a caring and sharing community of spirit filled and spirit led believers! Are we not told to have love for one another?
John 13:34-35
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Are we not told to pray for one another?
James 5:16
16 Confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
God intended for us to be concerned and loving and to care for one another, to exhort and encourage one another and to comfort and grieve with one another. Being a Christian involves a lifestyle...an active and involved lifestyle. We are to be known by our fruits and God gives each one of us spiritual gifts that He expects us to use and exercise within the body of Christ. Are you playing Church?
Until next time...
Every week, people make the pilgrimage to the location where whatever organization they worship with on the Sabbath meet, and make their appearance. They faithfully occupy the same seats and sing the same songs. They pride themselves on their punctuality and attendance record. They sit and listen to a sermon that they may, or may not pay any attention to and take notes that they will never bother to read, or go over when they return home. In fact, their bibles see very little action other than the times that they are liberated at services on the Sabbath.
They make the same small talk with the same people. After services, they go out for a meal to enjoy their “blessings”. Later, their obligation met for the week, they return to their homes feeling very satisfied with themselves and occupy their time with whatever they do to fill out the rest of the Sabbath. As the sun sets on another Sabbath day, they quickly return to their normal routines and lives.
The description above sounds very cynical, yet that is exactly the scenario that is played out week after week by many who claim to be God’s people. They are uninspired, unmotivated and uninterested. They have lost the fire and the zeal and the first love that they once possessed for God’s word. They are in a routine and a rut and go through the same motions every week. They are playing church!
Being a Christian involves so much more than just the outward appearance and profession of faith in Christ. Our Christian lives require active, engaged participation. When people are gathered in God’s name for worship it should be a caring and sharing community of spirit filled and spirit led believers! Are we not told to have love for one another?
John 13:34-35
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Are we not told to pray for one another?
James 5:16
16 Confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
God intended for us to be concerned and loving and to care for one another, to exhort and encourage one another and to comfort and grieve with one another. Being a Christian involves a lifestyle...an active and involved lifestyle. We are to be known by our fruits and God gives each one of us spiritual gifts that He expects us to use and exercise within the body of Christ. Are you playing Church?
Until next time...