Recently I had a preacher write me and gently reprimanded me for using the term "entertainment" when describing some of the outreach programs and worship experiences in different congregations. It motivated me to the following thoughts...
The holiness of God and the power of the gospel seem to be slowly fading into a religion that seems to have 'tamed' God while focusing on our human wants and service. Instead of hearing God's call to holiness, we call on Him to give us peace of mind in our stress-filled world. Instead of hearing our Father call us to servanthood, we call on Him to assist us in our pursuit of health, wealth and success. Instead of hearing our Lord and Savior call us to worship, we call on Him to build our self esteem and charged emotions through our ideas of what we call worship. The bottom line - God has become our great assistant who aids us in our self-chosen ways. Today, with all the religious talk and pursuits, many are trying to shape God into man's agendas and set the terms on how He is to approach us!
Have we forgotten the God who spoke: "By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, and before all the people I will be honored." (Lev. 10:2)? Have we forgotten that Jesus spoke plainly that "no one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him." (John 6:44)? Have we forgotten where God's power to save anyone is only in the gospel, not some form of entertaining worship, schemes to draw people in and outreaches that are little more than 'government commodities'?
Too many have turned God's holiness and power into a gospel of pop psychology and self help. We have become a people "holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power." (II Tim. 3:5) The people of God grows weaker and weaker spiritually only to gain strength in self-centeredness, self maintained and self serving ways. One can see this when you try to direct them away from self and back to God. It upsets many!
The gospel is God power to save! It is founded in Christ, not in man's ways or manipulations. The gospel expresses the holiness of God and guides us into the grace of God (Col. 1:5-6). The grace of God is what instructs us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires so we will live righteously, sensibly and godly in our day and time (Titus 2:11-12). The result: "If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of stay on earth." (I Pet. 1:17) Reuel Lemmons said it right back in Jan. 1987: "Jesus said we should be the salt of the earth. But I see very few salty churches. We have drawn so heavy upon our culture...that there is little about us that is unique except in our own eyes."
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