Our Turn

  

Ritual

noun

1. A ceremony in which the actions and wording follow a prescribed form and order.

2. The body of ceremonies or rites used in a place of worship or by an organization.

3. A book of rites or ceremonial forms.

(The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.)

Picture this: every Sunday morning, all across the western world, people gather and listen to a person preach, teach, cajole, scream, shame, and manipulate the word of God. The word of God is shredded, processed, and packaged into small bite-sized uncontextualized verbal goo slathered over with music, lights, and, sometimes, fog machines. Congregations, by and large, sit contentedly and will do it all again next Sunday, thinking they're good with God. Sound like your church? Non-believers see the same thing and want nothing to do with it. Is that you?

So why are most churches like this? Some will say that the church is a business, defined by money, personal agendas, power, and fame. All true, in some instances. Now, to be fair, the vast majority of Overseers (Pastors, Priests, Elders, and Deacons) are genuinely sincere about bringing the lost to Jesus. But what changes? What gets twisted, overlooked? There's only one reason the church of today is the way it is...You. Believers are the church, not the Overseer, not the building; it's you and me. This is what many churchgoers want from their church. They want something quick, easy to digest, nothing challenging or convicting, an event they can schedule and move on to the rest of their day. It makes them feel good about themselves. It is a ritual with no thought, no soul-searching, nothing genuine or sincere, and most importantly, no personal life changes.

Many Overseers walk a fine line between getting people in the seats just to hear the word of God and keeping them returning. Hence the compromise. I hasten to add that there is nothing wrong with the music, the lights, or even the fog machines per se, as long as they are subordinate to the word of God! When the ritual becomes the event, in my opinion, it's time to leave, and I did.

So what are we believers and non-believers left with? God wants us to fellowship.

Hebrews 10:24-25 is one of the most direct verses encouraging fellowship:

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Also check out Acts 2:42, 1 John 1:3, Galatians 6:2, and Proverbs 27:17. Our loving Father wants us to gather. It is a vital, transformative practice in our Christian life. Are there churches that are true to the word of God? Yes, there are! But you have to look diligently. You have change your mindset, attitude, and genuinely seek a church and a fellowship that teaches the whole word of God, in context. That means book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. Some of you may object to that, tough. Take it up with God. That's how the Bible was written, and that's how it should be taught.

But first and foremost, pray. Pray and find out where God wants you. Pray and ask for forgiveness for your attitude. Pray to go deeper in your walk with Him.

God will meet you wherever you are at, right now, today. We'll get into it next time.

Walk in the guidance of the Lord.

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