A Customer of Church?

So, I was in Walmart the other day buying some salad dressing for a salad my wife packed in my lunch.

When I got up to check out I was immediately annoyed by some lady talking on her cell phone during check-out.

You know the types... you see 'em all the time.

Talking on their cell phones while driving...

ordering fast food...

at the grocery store...

The cashier said nothing to her, that is, while she was standing there. As soon as she was out of range she described in no uncertain terms how rude she was.

I, of course, agreed and piled on.

I said, "Yeah, in our society we worship the customer so the retailer won't say anything to 'those' kind of people."

See, businesses won't risk the potential loss of revenue by drawing lines in the sand when it comes to appropriate etiquette. They are so afraid the 'competition' will get the money instead.

Sound familiar?

After kinda mulling that whole event over in my mind, I came to a realization.

The American church treats people like customers rather than treat them like lost souls in desperate need of a Savior.

That's not the way it's supposed to work. Like my friend Tim York said after floating this realization past him. "We look at what we can get 'out' of them rather than what we can 'offer' them.

Think about how we have everything set up.

We want a great worship experience...

Cool decor with great atmosphere....

Awesome video and powerpoint...

Flow...

A warm greeting...

Programs, visions, strategies...

All for what? A bigger church.

To what end? uhmmmm I'm afraid to answer that one.

And where does it get us?

People leave one church, for whatever reason, in search of another like shopping for a new pair of shoes.

Paul said this.

"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10 NIV

Ouch!

Makes me want to weep and repent in shame.

Of course I want to be "...all things to all men so that by all means some might be saved".

But where do we draw the lines?

I mean, c'mon. Enough already.

Jesus said "If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me."

Where is Jesus in all this?

Did I leave Him behind like his mom and dad did in Jerusalem thinking He was in our company?

Programs are great and all but they are just programs without the power of the Holy Spirit.

Sermons are just lectures without the power of the Holy Spirit.

Worship is just noise without the power of the Holy Spirit.

Elders are just leaders without the power of the Holy Spirit.

I need to decide who it is I'm serving...and to what end.

Do I seek to please Christ or do I try to please a 'consumer Christian'?

I know what I want.

I want to be a Spirit driven leader who desires to please Christ first.

Everything else will follow.

Priorities.

RP