We’ve all heard the condescending comments about “the Western church” in comparison to exploding churches with miraculous happenings in other areas of the globe. Yes, occasionally different churches across our nation have experienced revival, but by the time these exciting, life-changing events slip away, there seems to be evidence of some damage or ill repute in the wake of great healings and the testimonies of many.
Most of the time it seems American Christians attend church for “x” amount of minutes on Sunday mornings and expect a routine that’s clocked down to the seconds. There are always exceptions, but they’re not the norm. If there are multiple services, the congregation is obligated to restrict their overlap by doing the courteous musical chairs and making sure the “fellowship” is conducted out of the hearing range of the sanctuary where the repeat service will begin as close to on time as possible. Somehow it's become as formulaic and predictable as many of the novels I discuss here.
“Cafés” selling Lattes and other coffee drinks hold court before and after services in the various atriums or fellowship halls. Drinks can be carted into sanctuaries and sipped on during services.
It’s all about being “comfortable”.
When did worshipping God Almighty shift from the importance of true worship to the comfort of mankind? When did true worship move to making sure no one is offended? When did it happen that we care more about making visitors comfortable than making sure we’re giving everything we’ve got to corporate worship? When did man’s structure and tight schedule replace God’s order which is far less rigid than man’s version of it? When did God’s order which encompasses time spent waiting on the Spirit of God change to pastors hurrying worship leaders and apologizing for going two minutes over his “allotted” time to preach? When did it happen?
What happened to:
He [Jesus] said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes . . . will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Mark 16:15-18 (NIV) ?
Father, forgive us for our “routine” worship. Fill us up with your Spirit. Help us to worship you in Spirit and in Truth. Lord, we live because of you. We are desperate for you, yet some of us don’t even know it. We need. We need you. We need so deeply to partake of your living water. We settle for so little of you and call it “good”, but it’s not even close. It’s lukewarm. It’s putrid. God, draw us nearer to you and let us not falter in our pursuit of everything you are and everything you have for us. Help us in our desperate states to give ourselves wholly to you. We are not our own. The price paid for us is incalculable. Help us to realize that apart from you, we can do nothing. Help us not to be satisfied with “nothing”. Oh God. Lead us and help us to follow. Please. Spirit of God, convict our hearts of our negligence and fill them with your power and the desire to surrender to you and serve you only. Jesus, you’ve done so much for us. How can we forget? Please, Lord, forgive us for abandonment. Help us to serve you without reservation. We ask it all in the powerful Name, Authority, and Blood of Jesus. Amen.