The Difference
Good Morning,
Many different philosophies exist in churches today. The biggest difference is in one simple thought: “Is it for me or is it for others?”
We tend to ask ourselves, “Is my church ministry all about making me feel good? Is it all about how to have a happy home and good children? Or is the church ministry about souls being saved and lives being changed for the glory of God?”
We should ask ourselves, "What do I like about my church?" Is it that the baptistry waters are stirred weekly or that you feel so good when you leave the service? Do you like your church because you can relax and enjoy the music or because you have learned to teach the Bible to others and help others in their Christian lives? Do you like your church and school because the children grow up and find good jobs and succeed in college and secular jobs? Or, do you like it because there are young people out serving God as pastors and missionaries, as well as others who come back to serve in your church after they marry and start careers?
Mark 8:34 “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
The idea of passionately clinging to our homes and families and carefully guarding them so there is no harm or risk is far from biblical Christianity. In fact, Jesus taught about forsaking the warm ties of home for the ministry as honorable and pleasing to God.
Matthew 19:29 “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.”
Some people have the church philosophy of sitting together in church with the whole family, guarding every moment of their child's life, protecting their children from anything with gluten, sugar or preservatives. Yet, all the while, the children grow up never pushing themselves or doing anything difficult. They never learn to care about other children or to sing in a children's choir. As these perfectly protected children grow up, they are never allowed to go to rest homes, to go soul winning with their youth department, or to work on buses. This selfish philosophy of living is far from biblical.
Yes, care for your children physically, and guard who has influence on them, but every soul belongs to God, and all should learn to serve Him. Danger and risk is difficult to avoid when we follow the steps of a Savior Who was hated, abused, and crucified.
Romans 14:7 “For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.”
vs. 8 “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.”
What missionary do you know who did not leave home? Serving God as a missionary usually means grandparents are going to miss grandchildren at holidays and birthdays. Who do you know who started a church and did not sacrifice comfort, financial security, and often basic supplies of food and family provision? Church is to make God happy not men. Church is to glorify the King of Glory not help families live in a no-risk world of perfect security and walk a smooth path without injustice or risk.
Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
God is looking for surrendered, sacrificial vessels, not securely-protected families. The very purpose of our Christian lives is clear:
2 Corinthians 5:15 “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”
We are not to live for ourselves but for Him! Life is not about me, but about others; and I matter very little.
Philippians 2:4 “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”
Many believers think that if they are in the will of God, they will be happy and healthy, and their children will be fine; yet that is so far from Bible truth.
Philippians 1:20 “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.”
vs. 21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Paul said that he wanted God to be glorified in life or in death. His desire was not to be safe and secure and to avoid death. Death is gain; life is a place of service — this ends the subject of “life’s purpose.”
The song, How Firm a Foundation tells us…
When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
What is the difference in churches or in family values? The answer is easy; self or others, Christ or comfort and health.
Christ came to lose His life, and we should do no less.
Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Acts 5:41 “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”
2 Timothy 2:12 “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:”
Philippians 1:29 “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;”
May the words, "It makes me feel good" be erased from our vocabulary. May safety and security be drowned under the words of self-sacrifice and surrender.
Pastor