Rich churches, camels and such (redux)
January 20, 2011 | 
Author I have been thinking a lot lately how grossly rich our churches are here in America – and how we are ok with that. We are driven to the next novelty and the next programmatic push, simply because we can. We have redeemed our tickets at Pleasure Island and we do not even know what we have made of ourselves – mainly because most everyone else looks just like us.
We want.
That is the nature of us – we want.
more lights
more electronics
more leather
more space
more numbers
more control
more praise
more me
I am reminded that Jesus said, “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Then, I wonder about a whole caravan of them . . .
Yeah, we need to be done already with the grandiose us – the success of our methods and mannerism, our pragmatic, results driven crowd-herding churchianity. How much time do we spend fluffing the pillows of the masses so each of us Christians will be as comfortable as we can be? How much of our own mega-models is us doing our will in Father’s name?
How many bibles will a flat-screen monitor buy? How many missionaries will a $40 million new wing support? What naked and hungry and thirsty and imprisoned and sick stranger is being overlooked for another banner; another marketing campaign; another management tool that could only relate to the Gospel if you played a “6 Degrees from Jesus” game?
What are we doing?
Jesus called us to make disciples. How much does it cost to do that?
Let’s see:
The wages of sin is death.
The free gift of God is eternal life.
It was by grace you were saved, through faith – not by works.
You were bought with a price.
Sin= $.death
Salvation= $.Christ’s death
Life= priceless
Well, I rant . . . but I fear that we will one day (soon) come to the Lord and look back on our edifices of hollow bricks and crystal; our glossy card stock; our Ralph Lauren faux-suede paint jobs and say, “Look, Lord. We did all that for you.” I tremble to think that He might show us His scars and say, “Look, I already did all that needed to be done and I did it for them. Why would you give them anything else – especially something that would compete with that?”
I am tired of following the Christian-American-Dream-Machine. I just want to follow the Christ.
Will you follow Him with me?
Posted in "Ruminations", Paradigm Shift, Sovereign Christ Church | 
Tags: Chief End, Christianity, Churchianity, God, Humility, Pride, salvation, Worship
Thank you, dear brother, for your thoughts. I agree 100%. I daily pray for wisdom in this arena because it so hard for me to apply. Let me give you an example. A few years ago we renovated my class room. According to cultural standards, it looked pretty bad (marks on walls, needed to be repainted, a few damaged ceiling tiles, squeaky plastic chairs, etc.). However, even though the room was an eyesore, it wasn’t endangering any of my attendees. We ended up spending around $5,000 to renovate the room (new paint, replaced ceiling tiles, pull down screen, projector, sound system, new stage, new chairs, new carpet). I felt justified in all my decisions concerning the renovation because I perceived the chairs would keep the students from getting distracted (due to the squeaks), the fresh look would motivate them to conduct themselves like they were in a respectable class room (as opposed to a gymnasium), the screen and projector would enhance my sermons and lessons, and the sound system would enable me to record my lessons and benefit our ensemble. A distrustful heart beats within my chest; yet, looking back, I can’t tell if my motives were materialistic. Maybe I was just misinformed about what really matters? Would it have been more beneficial to invest the money in a overseas church plant? I think I was genuinely being motivated by a passion for my teens to learn more effectively. On top of this motive (to increase ministry effectiveness), now I hear people echoing the sentiments of the builders of medieval and gothic cathedrals by saying that they need the nicest carpet, the most comfortable chairs, the best lighting, the finest stained glass because “everything should be done to the glory of God.” In your opinion, do you think this applies to church edifices and technology? Maybe we can talk more about this at T4G. To conclude, I again pray, “Lord, give me wisdom and discernment.”
Yes I will, Lord help me to.
The Holy Spirit recently confronted me with this in a real way. I was being shown pictures of a missions trip to a Central American country by a group of old friends and acquaintances. I saw the typical pictures of poverty, people and scenery but I was more saddened by what I saw when it came to where the missionaries lived. The person showing me the pictures talked so delightedly about how nice the house was. It was 1700 sq ft of ceramic tiles, arched doorways, columned porches, verandas and air conditioning – mind you, all in a poverty and despair-filled city. Then the comment was made, “Can you believe they get all that for $400 per month?!” I was expecting them to tag a “Praise the Lord” on to the end of their statement, but thankfully, they didn’t. I was saddened because the attitude was one of opportunism. It was a “Wow, what a bargain!” statement. The Holy Spirit struck my heart with “What are we (collectively) doing?!”
I couldn’t get it out of my head. I don’t want to be judgmental, but what could have $300 or $200 a month have bought? How many other dwellings could be paid for and made available to those around them with the extra $? How many med supplies or food could that buy? How many concrete floors could that pay for? It then confronted me with my own selfishness and materialism. So often we are all too worried about creating our own little “resorts” (home & church), and then we show it off to the world around us as we voraciously consume what could be meeting their most basic of needs?
Lord, help me desire and see what is good and right and only what brings You glory.
“We Will Worchip You”
Carlos Whittaker
We fix our eyes on You, You are God alone
We fix our eyes on You, You’re our only hope
For all we have to lose is our very souls
Save us from these comforts
Break us of our need for the familiar
Spare us any joy that’s not of You
And we will worship You
Yeah we will worship You
Satisfy us Lord in Your unfailing love
Satisfy us Lord that You would be enough
We have nothing here let Your kingdom come
Hallelujah hallelujah
Hallelujah hallelujah