Life-spark: Life-giving church. (John 2:12-16)
There are millions of de-churched people in America, former church-goers who have quit attending church. Some are upset with a particular church, others are upset with churches in general.
Did you know Jesus got upset with church? He went to the temple and got so upset that He upset a bunch of tables. One guy described it as a ‘temple tantrum.’ Jesus made a whip of ropes, lashed out at sacred cows, and shut down Coscto-church.
The Message paraphrase says He “upended the tables of the loan sharks.” (John 2:15, MSG) What are sharks doing in church? They’re doing what sharks do. They’re looking for someone to take a bite out of. They’re takers – life-takers. I wonder if one of the saddest sights on the planet, in God’s eyes, is when church gatherings that were meant to give people life actually begin to chomp life out of people.
Confession time. I’ve caught myself thinking during a church service about what people can do for me rather than what I can do for people. I should say the Holy Spirit has caught me. I’m glad the Spirit convicts me when I think that way.
Jesus wasn’t that way. He was and is a perfect minister. One day when He went to the synagogue, He stood up and read His mission statement from the scriptures. It was all about Him. About Him giving freedom, hope, relief and life. (Luke 4:18-21)
Jesus hates life-depleting situations and institutions. Jesus wants churches to be life-giving, not life-taking, places. I’m glad our church, a very giving church, has set a goal of giving ten times as much away in ten years as we do now.
It makes me nervous (and a little bit mad) when church leaders make long, emotional appeals before the offering. Sure, giving is proof of love. You can’t separate finances and faith. But when the top of a preacher’s head starts looking like a shark fin, I get worried
Life-action: The next time you head for a church meeting, ask the Holy Spirit to show you two specific opportunities to give love and life to someone, then notice what God gives you.