Losing Focus

Losing Focus I think that many people have lost focus when it comes to church. They all too often get focused on building these enormous worship halls that seat hundreds, even thousands. They spend millions on elaborate stained glass windows, ornate ceiling cornice, huge white columns, chandeliers, track lighting, sculptures, paintings, and so on. Just a couple of questions; is that what God wants? Jesus gave his sermons standing on a hillside, so why do today's ministers need these palaces to preach in? Also, is it a tribute to God or an ego trip? How many homeless could have been clothed and fed with the millions spent on these cathedrals? How many counciling sessions could have been provided for troubled marriages, abused women and children, suicidal teens, drug addicts, alchoholics, and rape victims? How many school supplies could have been purchased for needy children or college scholarships for older ones? How many unemployed could have been helped with job training? All of these are much more helpful to our fellow Christians than building bigger, fancier, worship halls. Besides, the building isn't even the church, the people are. Remember this scripture: Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. When we gather together to discuss or worship our Lord, he is there with us. In other words, we're having church! We could be standing in a wheat field, driving in our car, standing on a street corner, or standing on a hillside like a certain Jewish Carpenter about 2000 years ago! Also, remember not to put the ministers up on a pedestal and think they deserve these palacial settings to bring the word of God or start giving the praise to them instead of our Lord. We owe them respect as servants of God, but all too often people start idolizing them. That's not the way it's meant to be. Think of this scripture: Romans 12:3-5 (New King James Version) 3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. We are all the body of Christ and are not set one above another. Do not let your focus get on the person bringing the word instead of the word itself. That's when you start thinking that the multi-million dollar cathedrals, private jets, limosines, and rockstar lifestyles of many of these ministers is okay, or even 'right'. Remember that Jesus served his apostles when he walked with them. He even washed their feet to show humility amongst them. Would any of the tele-evangelists you saw on cable or satellite yesterday do that for their congregation? I'm not trying to be negative, I'm just trying to open some people's eyes to these things. Just ask yourself this the next time you walk into one of these mega-churches or see one on tv: Is this really necessary? How many people could have been helped with the millions spent on this place? Your brother in Christ, Pete. Pete 8-17-09