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American Churches - Inspiring or Entertaining
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By Rev Michael Bresciani
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Once while traveling rural Alabama some years past I decided tovisit a local church for the mid-week Wednesday night service. Ican't remember the name of the little town I was in but I willnever forget that church and what happened there. It was a trueexperience but to this day I still think that what I found thereis what church is all about.
I almost stopped first at a larger church only a block from awayfrom the little church I visited. The large brick church had aparking lot fairly full of cars and several people were going inas I drove by. I can't say what made me keep driving but only ablock away was a little white church with two people sitting onthe front steps. As I slowed down to look at the church the twopeople waved to me and smiled. They beckoned for me to come in.I did.
When I entered that church there were only four people alreadythere and no more came in throughout the entire service. I madethe fifth person but then I noticed beyond a doubt that therewas a sixth presence there also, it was the Lord. One way I knewhe was there was because of Christ's own promise...For where twoor three are gathered together in my name, there am I in themidst of them. Matthew 18:20. The other way seems much moresubjective but to me was no less reliable. I could feel thepresence of the Lord there; in fact it was so powerful I wasnearly overwhelmed.
The power and sweetness of the Spirit I found in that littlechurch was for me one of my greatest experiences and it became alitmus test for me later in life. I have been to few churchessince then where the Spirit of God has moved so mightily.
I've attended churches where thousands of voices rang out insong and flag dancers whirled around the room. Soloists withclarion voices and perfect pitch sang special music and thepreaching was polished to the nines. But often I went awayun-inspired and very sure that God was not as pleased with allthe fanfare as the people who attended were.
The late Vance Havner was a grand old-time evangelist whopreached around the country until his late seventies. He pulledno punches and spoke as a prophet to those who had ears to hear.He said that today's church offered people an experience butonly delivered a performance. In my experiences in the church Ihave tested Havner's statement and rarely have I found it to befaulty.
Entertainment is a multi-billion dollar business in Americatoday. It is like a fix or an aphrodisiac to almost allAmericans. Witness the tens of thousands of contestants who showup city by city to audition for things like American Idol.Everyone must either be sucking the spectaculars into theirsenses or helping to produce them in some way. In the secularworld this could all be understood by just considering thesource but when it leaks or in some cases pours into the church,it should raise some serious questions.
The idea of Christian Rap music, dancers and performers inchurch services, touring gospel choirs, and a myriad of otherHollywood style fluff is proof that there is more of the worldin the church than there is church in the world. Somecontemporary theology might find a way to justify all this butthe bible does not. If the church needs to borrow a vehicle topresent the gospel to the world then the power of the gospel isnot supplemented but it is supplanted. Adding the flash of theworldly to the gospel weakens it and is probably displeasing toGod after all...for that which is highly esteemed among men isabomination in the sight of God. Luke 16:15
Jesus said that if we lifted him up and simply proclaimed hisgospel it would bring out the sheep. If we have to make itentertaining and gild it in gold and adorn it with buttons andbows then it is most likely not the gospel of Christ in itspurest form. Jesus said he was the Rock and the whole world wassinking sand so why then would we present him with a media thatwill be blown away just like the sinking sands in a flood?
When we borrow from the world to present his gospel we insultits power to stand by itself and do exactly what Jesus said itwould do. It is still the old time gospel that saves men andnothing more. Yes, it can be adorned with every kind of flashypresentation available today but it is most likely to be buriedby it instead. The Holy Spirit convicts men of sin and leadsthem to the door of grace he does not entertain their senses andlead them to the back door of the church with praises for thepresentation. And if the presence of God in a church is any testat all, then it may be that in many cases he doesn't even showup in such places.
It is best said by the use of an old analogy I heard about anold man who tried to worship in the big church but wasconstantly turned away. He was abjectly poor and that was seenin his shabby appearance. All who entered the church were welldressed and their culturally based congregation looked sharpeach person reflecting the same level of success as their peersin that neighborhood. The services were filled with praises sangfrom the projected songs from the computer displayed song sheetreplete with moving images of ocean waves and mighty waterfallsagainst golden sunsets. Theatre productions, dancers,professionally trained and well rehearsed musicians played insymphonic perfection the contemporary songs of the day. But forthe old gentlemen there was no entrance. He simply looked badand was so shabby he was repeatedly turned away at the doors.
One Sunday morning after being turned away yet once more he wentbehind the church and sat under a tree and wept. As he wassobbing Jesus Christ appeared to him and with a gentle voicesaid..." why are you crying so sadly my son." He said, "BecauseI have been trying to get into that church for a long time justto worship you my Lord but they will never let me in." Jesusreplied, "Don't be too sad my son, I have been trying to get inthat church also, and they have not let me in either."
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