I saw this cartoon yesterday and was thinking about how we act in church. Some of those "messages" ring true in our churches in Montgomery, AL and all across the world. We are wanting the church to be a place to come and get away from the world(understandably)but we have become so exclusive and want to "consume" their services that we are forgetting what "the church" is all about. What does the Bible say to us today?
Acts 2:41-47says:
41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about
three thousand people were added. 42 They were devoting themselves to
the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and
to prayer. 43 Reverential awe came over everyone, and many wonders and
miraculous signs came about by the apostles. 44 All who believed were
together and held everything in common, 45 and they began selling their
property and possessions and distributing the proceeds to everyone, as
anyone had need. 46 Every day they continued to gather together by
common consent in the temple courts, breaking bread from house to house,
sharing their food with glad and humble hearts, 47 praising God and
having the good will of all the people. And the Lord was adding to their
number every day those who were being saved.1
1 John 3:17-18 New International Version (NIV)
17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
In both verses, God shows us what the church should be: giving, fellowshipping, sacrificing for other, praying, etc. I don't see anything in there about being "politically correct so we won't hurt feelings, being consumers and takers of what is offered, etc. That is what I see often in churches that I visit.
Who are you? Are you a follower of Christ or a Consumer Christian? There is a difference. As we seek to serve the Lord, let us not become one who takes and consumes all the time. Let us be like those in the book of Acts, let's turn all we have over to the Lord and give to help others.....
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