Hi to all my Forum Friends,
In the discussion begun by VP titled "Question For Bill" Max tells us, "I think some churches put more effort into activities than teaching the Bible. I mean having events just so they can count the numbers. But instilling the Word is secondary."
Max, there are many churches (pastors) who will purposely avoid any words or teachings which will make people sitting in the congregation, or watching on television, feel uncomfortable. Several years ago, I found a ministry which was new to me, a church in the Mid West, and I could not find their Statement of Beliefs on their web site.
I sent them an e-mail asking why they do not post this very important information on their site. For me personally, the very first thing I look for when I visit a ministry web site for the first time -- is their Statement of Beliefs. This will tell me if, and how, I should continue reading the rest of their web site.
This church responded, telling me, "We do not post our Statement of Beliefs because we do not want to offend anyone." Whoa! A church which will not tell people the Biblical principles and doctrines they teach -- for fear of offending people? Frankly, I was very offended. And, I feel comfortable saying that God was also offended.
Why do "Feel Good" churches not want to offend anyone? Because that is how they grow to having overflowing crowds each week. Many people, realizing they need to, at least on the surface, pay tribute to God -- but, not wanting to give up many of their wordily pleasures and pursuits -- will seek out the "Feel Good" churches.
This way, they can feel that they have met their obligation to God by going to church for at least an hour each Sunday -- and they still have lots of time to pursue their worldly ambitions. This is sort of a "one shoe fits all" kind of church which they seek. And, because there are many pastors and churches who will accommodate them -- we have "Feel Good" megachurches.
Max, looking again at what you wrote, "I think some churches put more effort into activities than teaching the Bible. I mean having events just so they can count the numbers. But instilling the Word is secondary."
While the churches you describe are not necessarily "Feel Good" churches, they do waste a lot of time "spinning their wheels." Some years ago, I was in a church, a very solid Baptist church, and was one of the Sunday School leaders. One week, Sunday School was canceled so that church members could discuss plans for their Summer Camp. The next week, it was canceled for some other meeting. And, this I am not making up, nor am I kidding -- six months later I went to our pastor and told him, "Do you realize that we have not had Sunday School for six months?"
He was shocked, but, knew this was true, He and our church had gotten so involved in planning activities -- we seem to have forgotten that our main purpose in church is to worship God, fellowship with Christian brothers and sisters, AND teach the Word of God in Sunday School and Bible study. Somehow, we had let that last one slip through the cracks.
While I enjoy the sermon, the worship, and the fellowship -- to me, the most important function of any church is Bible Studies and Sunday Schools -- teaching God's Word through interaction and discussions. Our pastor and our members did not do this activity planning and other meetings to grow the church numerically; but, we failed to realize that this was hindering the church spiritually.
Max, there are many ways that Satan can interfere with the maturing of God's people. One which we have highlighted in this discussion is the "Feel Good" churches; who, God forbid, do not want to make anyone uncomfortable by fully teaching God's Word.
Another is the churches which focus on a "Social Theology" -- spending 98% of their time doing good deeds and maybe 2% of their time teaching God's Word and helping believers to grow and mature in knowledge of God's Word.
And, a third, such as the solid Baptist church I mentioned -- who, though doing all things right -- still allowed ourselves to be side-tracked by outside activities.
Even well intentioned churches, pastors, elders, and other solid Christian believers can sometimes fall into the trap of what is often called Satan's BUSY Plan. What is this? Well, read this web site story and see if you, or your church, have fallen into this seductive plan: Satan's BUSY Plan: http://www.moytura.com/reflections/busy.htm
Another major failure of most all megachurches is the fact that they do not have Sunday School classes -- and, many do not have Bible Studies. Folks have told me, "Bill, they are too big to be able to do these things." Well, if any church is "too big" to give God's people more than a weekly one hour "quick fix" sermon on God's Word -- then, someone needs to do some rethinking.
If the church is "too big" to do what is needed for God's people -- then, split it into smaller churches which can fill these needs. But, that will never happen. Do you know why? Because small churches cannot fund the pastors to be on national television -- or to preach the Gospel at major venues such as ball parks and large auditoriums. In other words, many pastors need a large megachurch to make it possible to fulfill "his or her" agenda of being in the national spotlight.
Several years ago, a Friend mentioned that a popular television pastor from Texas was going to be in town for an event. I went online to get more information -- and I found that tickets were being sold by major ticket web sites -- for $140. I contacted the ministry and asked why they are selling ticket for $140 -- to hear the Gospel. They quickly told me that they do not charge $140, they only charge $10. Well, my goodness -- they only charge folks $10 to hear the Gospel which God freely gave to them.
When I asked about the $140 tickets being sold on the popular ticket web site; I was told, "We cannot control what ticket sellers do."
Yes, you can! Since the ministry is selling blocks of tickets to these web sites and ticket outlets -- they can control the prices. If a ticket outlet is determined to scalp sincere believers who only want to hear the Gospel -- by taking a $10 ticket and selling it for $140 -- that ministry can refuse to sell blocks of tickets to that organization. But, if they do that -- how will they fill the stadium?
And, my final question to this ministry was, "Who set the price of your tickets at $10 -- you or God?" Jesus freely went to the cross and shed His blood, we read in the Gospel, to offer the "free gift" of salvation to all people -- and this ministry has put a $10 fee on that precious blood. And, they allow others to jack up the price of that precious blood to $140. What Would Jesus Say about this?
Max, what America and the world needs is a Christian church modeled after the one begun on the Day of Pentecost -- a church such as we find in Act 2:42, 46, "They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' (pastors and elders) teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. . . Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart."
In this church they were meeting in the temple, i.e., church, and in homes -- for what? To be taught God's Word, to fellowship with fellow believers to strengthen one another, and to have food fellowship and prayer as the body of Christ.
And, we find, in Acts 2:47, that God blessed their activities and He grew the church, the body of believers -- daily.
Acts 2:47, "Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved."
This, my Friends, is the kind of church so badly needed today -- no name, no denomination, no strange theologies -- just the body of Christian believers worshiping God, in Christian fellowship, and teaching one another through the study and application of what is truly taught in His Word, the Bible. I can assure you -- this was NOT a "Feel Good" church which only wanted to make folks feel comfortable.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
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