For those of us who have spent twenty-five years or more of our lives as a Christian actively involved in the life of a church, we have probably noticed some major differences of how often in the past we came to church to worship and fellowship compared to today. The life of the church and how much time a week we spent at Church was much different then than it is today.
Christians who have not known Christ as their Savior and Lord for a quarter century or more cannot compare the differences of the church life experienceof today with the church life of yesterday. How things are today in relation to the life of the church, is for the most part their normal.
The Church life and experience of the past that I can only refer to is my own, which was no different from most other congregations anywhere else in the country. In the past there was much more opportunity and it seemed much more desire from those of the congregation to be actively involved with what was going on at Church.
In almost all churches, no matter what the denomination, the week started out with Sunday School at 9:00 a.m. then right after there was the Sunday morning service which ended around noon. That evening we were back at church usually at 6:00 p.m. and we typically did not leave until 9:00 p.m. In addition, if there was a visiting evangelist or missionary, the service was not considered long if finished at 9:30 or 10:00 p.m. At my church, once a month, there was a Men’s ministry burrito dinner to raise money for missions. After the food, fellowship and the cleaning of the kitchen were over, we did not leave until 10:30 p.m. or later. Leaving church at 9:00 p.m. or later was not considered a burden even though the families had to send their kids to school early the next morning and or we had to be at work 8:00 a.m. or earlier, which is no different than today.
Then there was also all the events that happened at the church the rest of the week. There was Youth choir practice on Tuesday’s, Adult choir practice on Thursday’s and Youth and Adult Bible study on Wednesday’s. And once a month the Women’s and Men’s breakfast on different Saturday mornings. And if you were on the Church Council there was a monthly council meeting on Saturday nights.
Back then, most kids were involved with Pop Warner football and or Little league baseball, Brownies or Girl scouts, Cub or Boy Scouts, after school sports, band and extra-curricular school activities. Yet most of the families still were actively committed and involved with all that was happing in the life of the Church.
Am I bringing this all up because I am reminiscing about the past or want to bring back the good old days of church life, no, I am not. But I am concerned about our church’s love and commitment for Christ and to each other and how that reflects to the life of our Hope Chapel family.
The apostle Paul asks the Church in Rome a question that we should all ask ourselves. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Romans 8:35a NLT. The answer is clearly no. Christ will always love us no matter what. But are there activities and commitments in our lives that have become more important that we are allowing to come in between us and our love for Christ?
Some might believe that our families are doing more things, have more commitments and have less time than the generations of yesterday. But are we as Christians in error by believing this? We will always be committed to do things that we believe are important to us. What has changed? If our activities and the commitments in our lives have become more important than Christ, what are the consequences?
Please understand my point, I am not saying you cannot be involved or committed in other activities other than what happens at Church. Nor am I saying if you are involved or committed in other activities, you do not love God. My concern is this, are there things in our lives that are taking priority over our love, relationship and commitment to Christ? And even to the point that we have become complacent believing that all we need is just 1½ hours a week of Jesus in our lives and we will be good with God and have a good relationship with the body of Christ, the Church.
In Revelation 3:14-22, is Jesus addressing the Christians of the Church in the city of Laodicea about the same relationship characteristics of many Christians today?
The commentator Warren Wiersbe states the following. The Laodicean church was blind to its own needs and unwilling to face the truth. Yet honesty is the beginning of true blessing, as we admit what we are, confess our sins, and receive from God all that we need. If we want God’s best for our lives and churches, we must be honest with God and let God be honest with us.
When we allow activities and other commitments in our lives to become more important than Christ we become venerable to the characteristics in our relationship as did the Laodicean believers.
Revelation 3:14-22, 14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!
How Jesus saw them – they had lost their vigor in their relationship and commitment with Christ.
16 So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
They were spiritually blind; they did not see themselves as Christ did.
17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
They needed to apply what only Christ provides to remedy their deprived spiritual state. (v. 18)
18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Jesus’ love and solution.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Jesus’ call to renew the lacking intimate fellowship.
20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
The Future result for those who prevail
21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Jesus’ advice to us today
22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Pastor John
