I have found that most times many people think that churches are for church people. Many times if we evaluate our churches, that is exactly what we will find. Sadly, we as church people expect to be served at church; while looking for what the church can give me. This is selfish and not even close to being Biblical.
Two points I'd like to make about churches:
1. Churches were not started for church people!
Think about it. The first church could not have been for church people because church people didn't exist. Churches were started to bring lost people to Christ; then to baptize them, disciple them, and teach them to tell others about Jesus. Churches during Paul's day; had a majority of new believers and lost people. The early church catered to the true needs of the people; their salvation. They did not worry about the church building, church traditions (after all, there were no traditions), other people's sins or how another person worshiped God, or the many other things that church people fight over.
It is sad how many stories over the years that I have collected on how church people get so focused on their "needs" that they push lost people right back out the front doors of the church! We as followers of Jesus, need to get back to mission of the church and forget our "comfort zones," "traditions," "our needs/wants," and realize that the church is not for church people.
2. Churches were started for lost people!
The early church was started for all the new converts that were putting their faith in the Way. They met many times as small groups in homes or in large groups at their city's synagogues. According to Acts 2:42; they had great fellowship, time reading and talking about the apostle's teaching, communion, and prayer. Guess what happened in these churches? They grew! People got saved! Life change happened! Churches were doing what churches were started for.
Closing Thoughts
Now think about this thought, when was the last time your church experienced a person coming to the saving grace of Jesus Christ? When was the last time you saw a person being baptized? When was the last time you saw your church pulling together to reach the community within a block of the church? If these things are not happening, it might be a good sign that your church is designed for church people. And this should be a warning sign to you; that you need to be part of the change in that church. Churches that fight over music "preferences," Bible interpretations "preferences," church tradition "preferences," etc. has been distracted by the enemy with their "preferences" and have been led away from what the church is supposed to be doing! A church that is not reaching out to the lost and not growing; is either a declining church or a dead church.
What are you going to do about it?
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