Be The Church
Yesterday someone read a quote from my message on Sunday which Jenni had put on her blog. The quote was,
“We need to stop playing church and start being the church.”
This person contacted me and asked me what I really meant. A quote of that nature probably deserves further clarification.
It means we need to stop arguing about style of worship and get concerned about the poor and hungry around the world.
It means we need to spend less time gossiping about others and more time allowing God to break our hearts over the people in our cities who are facing an eternity apart from Christ.
It means we need to stop whining about what programs our church has or doesn’t have and we need to learn what it means to abide in Jesus from one moment to the next.
Listen, it’s got to stop. We’ve got to stop showing up on Sunday mornings and playing church. The New testament never calls us to just go to church, but to be the church.
It seems far to often we’ve reduced church down to spiritual masturbation. We’ve made it all about us. We’ve turned it into something we do to stroke our ego-driven, self-centered, materialistic lives. It gives us momentary pleasure, but we’ve failed to give, serve, or sacrifice of ourselves. It leads to false intimacy with our creator God.
We play church.
I’m done with that.
Be the church.
(sound of me stepping off my soap box)
How do you think we “play church”? How do you think we can “be the church”?
95 Comments:
Wow…LOVE this post Pete! I teach 4th grade religious ed and last Sunday’s class was very interesting when one of my kids challenged me about some new scrolls that were recently found that predated the bible. He’s questioned who was right, the Jews or us (his words.) And since I didn’t (and still don’t know what scrolls he was referring to) I just tried to explain to the class that it ultimately doesn’t come down to whose right and whose wrong, which church you belong to, or which religion you believe. We are all worshiping the same creator, just in our own different ways. And we shouldn’t focus on those differences, but on the people around us that need our help, and service, and compassion. The world doesn’t have to be such a cold, hard, lonely place for so many people. If only more people would reach out and share their time, their hearts, and their blessings.
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Patty Dolan Tervo
8:53 am
Playing the church ,when our words/actions too closely resemble those of the Phaisees/Saducees, constantly spending time fretting over issues that are outward only issues.
Being the church when we try to reach out to the people with the outward issues the religious leaders are constantly pointing out!
We need to become INVOLVED in the lives of those that don’t look like the traditional “church”.
Those were the ones that Jesus “hung” with.
He never played anything.
He just was.
( And is. And is to come.)
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SHerri
9:00 am
amen to that.
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Gina
9:07 am
Hi Pete,
Happy New Year to you and your family.
To everything you have written on this last post, I say a big AMEN. May I encourage you to read my last post entitled “Let those who have ears, hear” which contains a very relevant prophetic broadcast recently given by John Paul Jackson, Director and Founder of Streams Ministries.
Please read and listen to it and test it. I am personally taking this prophetic word very seriously and have therefore inserted it on my blog to give it as much coverage as possible.
The church, the Body of Christ, was formed and equipped for such a time as this.
Do leave a comment on my blog, if you so wish, and if the Spirit of God speaks to you through that prophetic word, be sure to pass it on to all those who need to hear it and to all those who would like to pray about it.
Many thanks.
Blessings,
ransom33 @ http://www.ransom33.wordpress.com
[Reply]
ransom33
9:12 am
Spiritual masturbation.
Wow.
That’s a shocker of a statement but I think the analogy fits perfectly. Amazing post Pete.
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bradruggles
9:18 am
Masturbation isn’t all bad!
(liked this post, btw.)
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mpt
9:25 am
@Patty, 4th grade???? Oh holy cow I’m going to have to go back to seminary.
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Pete Wilson
9:26 am
BAM! Pete’s showing his inner Emeril this morning. Great stuff… now excuse me while I go walk backwards on a treadmill.
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DubHow
9:27 am
Great post, Pete. [trying to think of something to add here, but words won't do it]
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Dawn Nicole Baldwin
9:30 am
That’s what it all boils down to. When the crud has boiled away and all that left is who God made you. That’s the church.
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archie rhines
9:34 am
A. your best post ever.
B. as a pastor, i’m cautious of creating an environment of entertainment vs. gathering people together to love God and others. i think we have just as much blame to take on playing church than being the church.
C. 3 points for “spiritual masturbation.”
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jason salamun
9:34 am
Bring the heat bro! Thanks for the inspiration this morning. Love your heart man.
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adam herod
9:37 am
I like it when you get fired up!
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amy colon
9:39 am
Yeah, bring it. Come on. Amen.
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Curtis Honeycutt
9:39 am
We recently completed a series on this very topic called, “Do”. We were challenged to live a life of giving (in all areas) not just around the holidays or when people are in crisis – but as an integrated lifestyle.
Take for instance the local rescue mission. Around Thanksgiving and Christmas you can’t get in the door to volunteer, but come January they are begging for help.
How about tithing and giving offerings? When we hear something we agree with we’re all about supporting it with our wallet, but what happens when we hear something that convicts us? It becomes about offense rather than vision.
How about the simple command to “love our neighbor”? When someone cuts you off driving or treats you harshly, what is your response?
We need to “Do” and “be the church” all of the time – not just when it makes us feel good.
Great post!
[Reply]
chackler
9:40 am
You go man!! We have done 2 days last year that we call “Don’t GO To Church…BE The Church” where we take Sunday morning off (no services) and serve in the community (not totally original, others have done it too), but you’d be amazed (likely you wouldn’t!) how many other churches…and some traditional backgrounded people in our own…just didn’t know what to do with that. Amazing impact on the community though. People were blown away that we, the church, would give up our Sunday morning to serve them! For us though, keeping that attitude of service and taking the gospel TO people is a challenge to maintain day in and day out. Good post! Keep it up!
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stevewhip
9:45 am
I think being the church has to do with serving others with no strings attached.
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Curtis Honeycutt
9:46 am
“It seems far to often we’ve reduced church down to spiritual masturbation.” – well, I don’t know what else to say. That’s heavy and hits right between the eyes. (great title for a book!)
But yes, this is something I really do struggle with as a minister. I actually had this discussion yesterday – we argue about minute points of doctrine, we argue about who can and cannot proclaim the Good News, and we argue about philosophy of ministry instead of JUST DOING IT.
Here’s a personal confession: It’s easier to talk about it than it is to do it. It’s easier to read books and blogs and think deep thoughts than it is to be on my face before God and let my life flow out of that communion with Him.
It’s easier to “shop” and argue than to love.
We must begin to choose to do the hard thing once again.
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Jan Owen
9:49 am
Totally agree, Pete… (But dude I laughed out loud that you said “stroke” in the explanation… Intentional pun? Sorry, I think like a middle schooler sometimes)
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Shane
9:53 am
Now that sermon will preach! Obviously it already did.
I am worn out with the “business” of church. Church is not a business. In my mind it’s this simple … go stand next to Jesus and then follow John 2:5 … “whatever He says, do it.” Thanks for that great post. WOW!
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Debra
9:55 am
Great post! AMEN!
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Melissa Garcia
9:55 am
Pete, Thank you for this post! I have a huge, AMEN for every word. We get stuck in our ways so often and forget the reason we are here. Thank you for reminder and encouragement! Praying for you and your leadership!
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Tabitha Abele
9:58 am
SO nicely done. You’re speaking my language, my friend!
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Tal Prince
9:59 am
@Jason Salamun, We struggle with the same thing here at Cross Point. It’s possible for the church to become the spiritual porn that encourages the spiritual masturbation in people.
I would say I’ve been guilt of producing spiritual porn at times.
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Pete Wilson
10:05 am
You go P. Dub!
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Jonathan
10:09 am
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Holly
10:10 am
Pete. Wow. Yes. Amen.
In-your-face words we need.
Your comments say as much as the post. Thanks for transparency.
Wow.Yeah. Wow.
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Faye
10:17 am
I’m so grateful to be a part of a place that’s willing to challenge the spiritual status quo. It’s definitely uncomfortable but necessary. Thanks Pete!
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Jenni Catron
10:18 am
My boyfriend Chrisopher and I met you at dicovering crosspoint on monday. (he’s the one getting baptized in Feb now). I think I judged crosspoint to quickly because of the big production ( Im pretty sure I told my friend I felt like i was at a dixie chicks concert). But once I was there I reallized that Crosspoint was about the people in the seats. I think the church is doing a great job.
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Anna
10:22 am
OK. “In-your-face words we need.” That description is interesting considering the nature of the post.
Yes, I know; I’m going to hell.
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mpt
10:32 am
Only know you through Twitter and your blog and now I begin to know your heart. Successful church service is not about music, graphics, programs or are finishing on time. Church service has no beginning and end time, at least not according to God’s plan.
You are right on, if we face reality in our economy and work lives, then it is ever more important to face the reality of true service by the Church.
Thanks and I look forward to meeting you and visiting Cross Point Church.
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Jim Hunt
10:33 am
I love thinking outside the box of what is good, normal, and proper… to us… what matters is what is pleasing to the Lord. GREAT post Pete.
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Scott Fillmer
10:39 am
Great post! It’s so easy to get comfortable in our little Christian cocoons. I think it’s sometimes easier to “be the church” when you’re a little start up church plant. For me, you work a little harder to establish real community in an intimate setting, and you rely on Christ because you are acutely aware of just how much you need Him. I know I’ve said this before, but one really grasps the concept of “being the church” when there don’t “be no building” to meet in.
You’ve inspired me…I feel another prosperity gospel post coming on…
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katdish
10:41 am
Amen brother. Let’s live it.
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kenny sipes
10:45 am
I agree with you 100%. I do not attend Cross-Point, but I really get bothered how people label different ‘ways’ of worshipping the lord. The post I commented on a few days back relates to this. I hate how people classify denominations and such to whine about the way people worship. It isn’t about if we sing accapella, use instruments or the way we take communion. If every church put the little things aside and focused on the main priority, imagine the possibilities we could accomplish…
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Landon Hampton
10:52 am
Patty Dolan your post scares me…….So all religions worship the same God?
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Ray
11:07 am
Ok, I have to give another few points for the new catch-phrase of the week… spiritual masturbation.
On the point of “being the church” I generally find that the phrase quickly becomes one of two things:
1. “We need to be the church” means that we, my local church body, need to become more like the NT version of the church and less selfish, whiny, etc. I think this is a good step, but tends to still be too small in its focus and forget THE church universal.
2. “We need to be the church” also gets interpreted as everyone who believes in God needs to be more loving and less judgemental and care for those less fortunate. This version has a large-group mindset but tends to be very unfocused, forgetting that it DOES matter who you serve because the one you serve directs what you do.
I look forward to the day when “We need to be the church” means that all of our local bodies realize that they are ALL under authority of the same Head, and that Jesus actually has some plans He wants to accomplish in this world. On that day you will see thousands of local bodies working in harmony with one another to physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually change their communities.
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Jeff Johnson
11:09 am
Pete, I’m a college minister in East TN and so appreciate your words of wisdom and how God speaks to you, and how you use it to encourage those of us here in blogland.
First and foremost- let me say AMEN to your thoughts on being the church instead of playing church. A personal experience has come to mind that my family has been dealing with recently.
My parents are devote believers, members of a local community of faith for most of their lives. They are leaders in the church, love God, and attempt to live out Phil 2 humbly. For me, I serve at another local church in the community where I grew up. Over the last few weeks and due to my dad having emergency surgery, my family has found ourselves in a hospital waiting room for 12+ hours each day for almost 2 weeks now, visiting dad on posted hours, talking with doctors, as well as getting to know the other families -many of who are not believers- in the waiting areas. We’ve all become like a support group for one another and I’ve seen Jesus show up in the most unexpected places. It’s stirred my heart continually and given me “fuel for fire” on this one topic.
While Im thanking God for these new friends, those of whom my family have shared life with for nearly 40 years are no where to be found. Sure a few have called and said, “let me know if you need anything”, and while that’s a good response-it’s not one that really has potential to do anything much for the cause of Christ.
For those who are sitting with dying loved ones, trying to provide comfort, the last thing a family member wants to do is find the energy to find help………a ministry of presence could be given by many church families that probably they aren’t even aware they could provide. The funny thing is…even those who are responsible for “pastoral care” in both of our churches havent showed up. To me, this is a time when the church needs to be the church- provide encouragement, help and support when it’s needed most. Funny thing was- the hardest day for our family was this past Sunday morning…while all of our other Christian friends were in church, we were trying to find comfort in all that was happening in hospital crazyness. I found my family finding faith in the midst of that waiting room, and people were encouraged. Jesus was present.
It’s opened my eyes to opportunities outside of a Sunday morning worship time or Sunday School. You can better believe you might find me, or some of the students from the ministry at our church, outside the church walls some Sunday morning. I am definitely not here to judge, but am thankful for your wisdom.
And, sorry for my ramblings!
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Nancy Hamilton
11:15 am
We need to start being real with each other about our brokenness (and not just the sins we think are acceptable to talk about) and get down on our knees and pray together. Break down the walls that isolate us and keep us in shame and from each other and from Jesus. Be intentional about community. Get in each others’ messes.
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ally
11:22 am
in the local context, “Playing Church” to me is when you hear a Pastor talking bad about another Pastor. You can see all these in Youtube. No names were mentioned but you can tell who he is talking about if you know these Ministers. As for ‘Being Church’ to me is simply when you hear a Pastor does nothing but preach on the Beauty of the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. How he gave his life for the redemption of all our sins so that we may have life and have it more abundantly!
[Reply]
sgdavid
11:25 am
WOW Pete!!
Standing ovation from this side of the screen… as long as that doesn’t cross over to spiritual masturbation.
I agree with the earlier poster… this is my favorite post of yours EVER. That same poster used the magic words ‘creating an experience’. We have such a 4-wall mentality about church – we confuse the building an the activities that occur there as the church so we end up trying to create this great experience so that other people will agree we have a great church.
Man.. I want to preach. Christ called us lost and broken people to be the body … His Church. He wanted us to love each other and to belong to each other. And He knew when we did that authentically that the people around us that didn’t know Him would want to find out what was going on… because they want the same thing too. We all want to be loved by the somebody or something bigger than ourselves. We try to find it in so many places but are so afraid to put it where its the riskiest – in the hands and hearts of our brothers and sisters in Christ. And truth be told… we tend to think we have to earn Christ’s love – that all our activities will show that we are worthy of His love. We struggle with the idea that He loved us unconditionally, no strings attached, deeply, and forever. And because that first love thought is broke – we struggle with that connection to the real church – the body of believers.
Think this is just empty words? Read Acts chapter 2 and look what happened when the Holy Spirit got a hold on those people – it was Revolutionary. Look at what Paul has to say in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 about being part of the body.
Yesterday when you asked what our greatest fear was… this is what I was speaking about… Can I overcome my fear to love the body of Christ like the bible teaches me to?
Its not about the building… Its not about what we call ‘worship service’ or even how we conduct that… Its about being the Church Body every day where we are at. Its about being connected to the Vine… and seeking God’s will in each moment of our lives.
Its about the Love! Loving God and Loving People.
I am just about to go back to my pentecostal roots.. so I better sign off for now.. but I will be watching this post throughout the day.
[Reply]
Tony York
11:26 am
KILLER POST, PETE… Thank you so much for this!!!
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murphy24p
11:30 am
@Jeff Johnson and others, you guys are making some valid points. Thanks for participating in the conversation.
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Pete Wilson
11:30 am
Pete,
I think Pastors play church by sitting behind a desk, working through volunteers too much or working from email instead of getting in the trenches and being the church too!
By the way…’Spiritual Masturbation’… Wow! I don’t think I’ve ever heard a strong word picture for playing church! Nice one.
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Doug C
11:35 am
Come on! Preach it!
Thank you for being real and for Jenny affirming.
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Kristi O
11:36 am
@Doug C. Ouch! That hurt. But very true. I’ve been behind the desk before.
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Pete Wilson
11:52 am
That is one reason why I go to the church I do – they are hugely community oriented and get out in the middle of it to serve this town. Also, there is a group of pastors from several differnt churches that meet regularly and work together to be a presence in the community. It’s pretty simple really…Love God and love people.
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Annie K
12:00 pm
Thanks for reminding me of why I love your posts…you knocked it out of the park with your thoughts today, Pete!
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Nolan Bobbitt
12:00 pm
Thanks for reminding me of why I love your posts…you knocked it out of the park with your thoughts today, Pete!
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Nolan Bobbitt
12:01 pm
Thanks for an awesome sermon on this beautiful Wednesday morn!!! Awesome!!!
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bluegoose
12:03 pm
I am going to be laughing about “spiritual masturbation” for a while and I plan on working it into a conversation sometime this week.
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Chris
12:04 pm
Style over substance, there is a need for education in Christian growth, that draws away from style into substance. Small groups are one part of this, educational classes are another part of this. Cross Point draws in the unchurched, spiritual growth is very important for new or renewed believers.
If Cross Point is ‘playing church’ do you feel that it is a reflection the church itself? Sometimes if there is a problem that develops it is reflective of the direction of the church leadership, that my friend happens with growth.
You said 700 was a good size, now that Cross Point has eclipsed that membership needs will become greater. Style over substance. If Cross Point wants to be more, then missions and education will have to grow in ministry as well. People need to apply themselves for the greater good with their energies, opportunities for participation will need to be expanded.
Cross Point will experience a few growing pains, all of those do not reflect upon you personally, but will mirror pains other churches have experienced as well. Reach into your contacts for information to make this next season more substantive and less about what you wish to distance yourself from.
This is a good thing though to realize that Cross Point is now experiencing this season, now use your resources to direct it.
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Lance
12:07 pm
I think we all need to meet for coffee or something. Pete you have definitely struck a chord.
Nancy H. – You have been given a marvelous opportunity to learn and I can see you are. That is great! The problem is caring for one another has been assigned to a certain ministry in so many churches that most of us don’t know how to “be the church” in those situations because we have never witnessed it before. It is our job to model it for them. Not offer a seminar with an accompanying DVD and handouts. Just extend God’s love to those in need. How hard we can make it. Know this dear lady. I am praying and I know God will hear those prays. Stay strong and rest in His grace.
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Harold
12:13 pm
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees!
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Joni
12:32 pm
Yeah, so today in the mail we got a fatty envelop from a bunch of kids we spoke to when we were there in the States…thanking us for coming and speaking to them. In it was also a letter from the Sunday school teacher thanking us for what we were doing. All that “stuff” – [paper and crayons] weren’t that important (even though to me it was like she mailed gold) but what she really sent was encouragement and LOVE and that is what the church is all about these days to us.
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kristiapplesauce
12:55 pm
Nail on the head Pete, you are so right. We consume church and don’t contribute. It gets old hearing about needing this program or why don’t we do that, my question to those people are, is it up to the building to show people the love that Christ has shown you or is it up to the people that proclaim Him?
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jason
1:02 pm
Sometimes I feel guilty when I hear stuff like this because I feel already overwhelmed with being a new mother and breastfeeding her infant and leaving the house for me is just a big production then on top of it I feel guilty for not being more involved in church.
But then I think of this couple we met at Cross Point 2 or 3 weeks after our son was born. They had a 5 month old and were basically us 5 months later. They approached us and even though we were not that outgoing because we were so tired and I was still in so much pain, they found us again the next Sunday and gave us so much encouragement without judging us at all.
They gave us parenting advice but more importantly served as an example of a strong Christian marriage. Knowing them has made a drastic impact on our lives and we love them.
They, too, are too busy to get out and do much volunteer work to help with the starving children. But they have helped us tremendously by helping us to feel connected to some kind of a church family. We feel less alone and can look to them for encouragement when things get rough and we might need guidance in our relationship with God.
To me, they were being the church. They didn’t decide they didn’t like us because of the mistakes we’ve made or our differences…they just loved us and were there for us because we are God’s children and so are they.
So, instead of making excuses for myself about being so busy and tired with the baby (and really I haven’t slept through a night in more than 6 months) the best goal I can have is to be that family to someone else. If I can to that, I will feel like I am being the church. It may not seem like you are giving back that much to everyone else around you, but to us this couple meant the world. They may not get much recognition from anyone else for what they’ve done (and continue to do) for us, but we can see God through the way they have reached out to us and, to me, embody what a church should be.
If everyone did what they have done for us for just one other family, imagine the impact that would make on our community.
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Jamie
1:46 pm
@jason – good point.
Hubby & I recently spent time with Larry Brey @ Elevation Church in Charlotte. When asked how they have so many people working so passionately so early on a Sunday morning, he told me that he never says, “We need volunteers” Instead, he tells them, “Here is an opportunity for you to be who Christ died for you to be.” THOSE are the people they pour time and energy into.
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Faye
1:47 pm
So I have been lurking around here for a while but this is my first comment, so Hi! The first thing I thought of when I read your post was a t-shirt my pastor back home(im away at nursing school) had made. On the front it says “Don’t go to church” and when he turns around it says “Be the church”. It always throws people off but sure does get them thinking!
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Emily
1:56 pm
I am PLAYING church when I only care about what I get out of the Sunday morning experience.
I AM the church when I deliberately work to put as much as I can into making the Sunday morning experience a transformational event for everyone else.
I am PLAYING church when God nudges me to do the right thing by loving the people around me and I ignore the prompt.
I AM the church when I pray God would give me opportunities to serve those around me in ways that would lead others to feel his love and come to know him.
I am PLAYING church when I place more emphasis on task completion. I AM the church when I focus on people’s needs first, tasks second. (Thanks go to my bride for this one especially, I really struggle with this!
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Mike in Milwaukee
2:10 pm
Nailed it dude!
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dave
2:12 pm
You make me want to cry!
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Robbie Russell
2:16 pm
Ah Pete.. I could bend your ears for ours. I won’t
Looking forward to the live encounter on Feb 1!
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jim drake
2:21 pm
“a ministry of presence” Great line in a comment.
Great, great post. The only thing that will bring change to people’s lives is when we live out the reality of what it means to be the body of Christ beyond Sunday morning. We must be His hands, feet, eyes and ears every day of the week… and not just when we are in a small group, a prayer meeting, or a ministry team gathering.
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apgood
2:24 pm
@Mike in Milwaukee, Great points!
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Pete Wilson
2:24 pm
pete,
great thoughts. great example. SO true.
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danielle
2:30 pm
Dang!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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DTurn
2:33 pm
Ouch…toes were stepped on but I must say thank you! I think we are so caught up in doing what looks right i.e. going to church that we forget to think about what we are doing and why we should do it. This was seriously an awesome post!!!!
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Julie
2:41 pm
Pete,
Thank you for having the intestinal fortitude to not be afraid of using masturbation in your analogy. The only other time that’s happened is when a pastor in a Mennonite Brethren church had a can of Bud Light on the pulpit the whole sermon. Or, the time one pastor spoke on the OT prophet that was told to live with a prostitute. Only in the Message it comes out as whore, hooker and other fun terms. It made for an interesting message.
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Anthony Epp
2:49 pm
I just blogged about protecting our husbands from lust, but even I am not bold enough to post the word “masturbation”! I am so excited about the hits you are going to get from this post (mostly due to our repeating THE word in our comments. LOL)!
Anyway….yeah, what you said. Amen!
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Sarah Valente (kingdom twindom)
2:58 pm
Great stuff Pete – I work with pastors across the country and it is interesting to see how often I see the focus of activity at the churches I visit being self serving with little outward focus. No wonder so many pastors are burning out, what they got into ministry to do and be part of (advancing the Kingdom) has degenerated into keeping plates spinning for their own congregation. Thanks for the post Pete – Jim
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Jim Watters
3:25 pm
I like the fire in the belly, Pete! When I used to be really involved in the day-to-day workings at our church and the liturgies… it would get so frustrating paying sooo much attention to the rules of what could be sung, when it could be sung, where it was allowable to stand, responses we had sung for years were no longer ok because someone changed jobs in Rome and decided sitting or standing should be done differently.
It felt like we were spending more time teaching people when to stand than we were teaching them the love of God. I’m sure I wouldn’t have noticed it so much if I was just showing up on Sunday, but being “behind the scenes” was quite disheartening at times. I’ve had friends be beautiful examples of church to me, even though I haven’t stepped foot in the building in years. We just need to get our perspective shaken up a bit.
Way to shake it up.
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gitz
3:25 pm
So True! Thanks Pete. Myself and my community group feel the same way!
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Melissa Irwin
3:59 pm
…agreed. Now to implement – serve, give, hurt – for souls in God’s Kingdom.
What steps are you and Cross Point taking for Nashville area? Would like to hear the “wins.”
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D.Lake
4:27 pm
AMEN PETE!
God break us to be humble before You. Break us to be humble, real and true before our brothers and sisters. Break us so that we are humble before all we meet. There is no place for playing church before the LORD. He sees all, knows all and nothing goes unnoticed by Him. We are only fooling ourselves. It isn’t called sacrifical love for nothing. Christ died, paid the price for our lives and the least we can do it give it fully back to Him and not ask why or put limits on how we are used because it is NOT how we want to be used. Not all are called to be Pastors. Not all are called to be teachers. Not all are called to be parents, adopt, foster, etc. But we are ALL called to be doers of the word – spread the gospel message, shine His love, truth and life everywhere we go and make it about Him, His way – ALL of the time!
Where does it say come to me and be lazy? I sure haven’t seen that in my bible. Where does it say gossip about how that Pastor doesn’t do it right or they are too this or that? Where does it say label others who pray differently than you do or not enough like you or read their bible enough like you? It says clearly take the log out of your eye before picking the fleck from another. We need to stop judging and START LOVING!
We need to exhort one another in love to His feet, His way, His truth – ALL OF THE TIME!
Our agenda doesn’t matter. How fancy you dress and cute your hair might be doesn’t matter. In the end what he cares about is what did you do with my flock? Lead my sheep to Me. How many Pastors and churches are less concerned with that message and how big their church is growing? What does the number in the seats have to do with the number of hearts sold out for Christ? Seat warmers don’t make church builders and prayer warriors! Showing up may feel good for ego – but without true worship, prayer and time with Him – you ar just wasting everybodies time.
Praise God for how He is speaking to your heart Pete! Praying for your new teachings. May the reveal deep truths into your life before they are ever spoken to your congregation.
Blesssings! In His amazing grace,
Jill
[Reply]
Jill
4:37 pm
Being the Church. Hmm. Really, it is about loving one another. Love as an action,not a feeling. Years ago I went to Confession (yes, I am Catholic) and I confessed that I “did not love” my mom the way I should. He asked me to explain. What it came down to is that mom had been sick for more than a week, and she needed me to help her get up again in the middle of the night. I confessed that I was not feeling love. The priest asked me if I helped my mom. He asked me if I was kind to her when helping her, and gentle, and respectful. I answered of course, she is my mother. He said that then l had loved her. He said that love is not a warm fuzzy feeling. Love is action. Love is helping when we don’t feel like it. That is what it means to love. To be Church means to love all our neighbors that way. Not easy. Without God, not even possible. But through Christ, all things are possible.
Sorry for the long comment.
[Reply]
Helen
4:42 pm
Love this post…thanks for lighting some fire and preachin’ it!
[Reply]
Bonky's Mama
4:51 pm
I think I heard Pete **fall** off that soapbox! This was a great post and explains now in my heart why we are drifting from our church “house” to another church “home” down the road. I see Jesus more in this new place – people being like Jesus and not just liturgy and old school hymns and canned sermons that become rote. I like the weekend service to be “frosting” to my faith walk, and not the ONLY thing. I worried that I was expecting too much out of my old church, that’s why I just wasn’t “feeling it,” until we went down the road and found a whole new culture – one that is indeed “being the church.” One that embraces my desire to serve and give. Thanks for alleviating my (senseless) guilt over drifting from the old one. Now, if I just get the nerve to tell the pastor…cluck cluck. If I mention spiritual masturbation, the problem will take care of itself, I’m sure.
[Reply]
Candy
4:51 pm
Hmmm…God’s got a lot of us here I think…dealing with this very subject…I think there are a lot of well intended people “playing church” or “doing church” instead of realizing…we are the church…it’s not that building we visit or the programs you’ve mentioned etc…I think focusing on getting with God, getting close to God…following his example…truly, honestly doing what He has told us to in the bible…to LOVE…we would infect the world…people would look at our lives and see Christ…we would truely stand out and look different than this world…I think we make it too difficult a lot of the time…we become distracted with all the programs…we forget the we are the church were ever we are…were ever we go…get to know the people around you…what are their needs…how can you show them Christ’s love and hope…look for the opportunities to share your life with people…be willing to get messy and inconvenienced…it will be worth it…
[Reply]
Brandi P.
5:24 pm
Can I also add that I don’t think I’ve read the word masturbation on the blogs I read… : )
Nice word-smithing. : )
[Reply]
Bonky's Mama
5:37 pm
Amen brother. Preach it.
Never thought of the concept of spiritual masturbation but man is it so true. Focused more on pleasing ourselves than pleasing God.
I think our culture has a lot to do with this too. The age of convenience, the “have it your way right away” factor, etc. It all contributes to the focus on ME. But that is even greater reason why believers need to be the example and not norm.
I think another part of the reason is that many are seeking church for what God can do for them. The sugar coated gospel has people looking for God with a messed up lens. It’s become more about what He can do for us instead of what He already did and what we need to do for Him.
There’s also an element for pastors. Pastors need to speak truth and do so with the authority and conviction of scripture. Not in a dogmatic way but in a way that causes people to think. They need to speak to the issues and things that people are really skirting and dealing with. Messages that are comfortable, nonconfrontational, or politically correct are just not going to cut it. Jesus turned it upside down and challenged people. Pastors must do the same when preaching the Word so that people can be better equipped to move from doing church with head knowledge to embracing Christ and letting Him transform their hearts.
[Reply]
daniel d
5:40 pm
I all I have to say is “It has been brought!” Thanks for being a man of God and leadership.
[Reply]
Scott Bloyer
6:45 pm
Ok so I got the twitter hours ago about this post while I was at work. I could not wait to get home to see what you had written about. And all I can say is Wow, I am in full agreement with what you said. I wish I had the guts to say when we were at our last church.
Thankfully we are part of a body of believers that truly does, for the most part, get what being the church is all about. I praise the Lord daily that I get to be a part of the church we are now in.
[Reply]
Stacy
7:14 pm
Pete,
At the beginning of 2008 my wife heard those words whispered into her heart, “Jamie, I want you to BE the church.” She thought she knew what this meant. We’ve been in the full-time ministry most of our married lives.
But to be honest, it wasn’t till we no longer had that role, where we didn’t have the position, the functions, the expectations, and dare I say, the paycheck, that we really started considering what it meant to BE and not to DO or GO.
I’m not suggesting that people need to leave the institution of the local church, but I am learning that it is certainly not the same thing as BEing a part of the “Big C” Church. When we confuse the two it is spiritual adultry.
[Reply]
Chad
7:40 pm
amen to that. i need a community that feels this as strongly as i do. it’s so hard not having that anywhere physically around me. i’m so thankful for a blogging community that feels the same way.
[Reply]
Kayla Grace
8:25 pm
Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)
Christ Has No Body
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
[Reply]
Jan Connair
10:04 pm
Bro…..You rock. I am going to repost this on my blog with your credit and permission. Let me know dude. Thanks for being brash and honest. Thanks for giving me some of your time today. Later dude.
[Reply]
Michael Robison
10:04 pm
Yeah. Going to church or claiming that you “know” God more does not make one higher/greater than those who don’t. It does not give one the entitlement to mock/belittle others. It’s like playing “pharisee”. Sad, but it does happen. Instead, the more you know, the more it is your responsibility to share and practice such.
“Be the Church” Yup. The word Church goes beyond the structure/building itself. Where ever there are people gathering and praising God then there’s your Church.
[Reply]
MyThoughtsMyVoice
7:09 am
For me, if I had to stop doing everything “for church” and only focus on one thing…
It would be hanging out at Starbucks. It is my heart’s discontent.
I strongly believe that I am being church when I am hugging the Muslim co-worker woman who just had a miscarriage this week.
I am being church when I am listening to the lonely transvestite (waiting for sex change surgery) cry over how much hatred is spewed at her/him.
I am being the church when I hold hands with a gal at work who had an affair; as she and her husband are struggling to put their marriage back together.
Everything I do “at church” is done with the same purpose. Again…
Entice the skeptic, challenge the lukewarm and spark passion in the believer to reach out to His lost children…
It is everything I am for Him…
[Reply]
dorothy (vicar of vibe)
11:41 am
“Listen, it’s got to stop. We’ve got to stop showing up on Sunday mornings and playing church…” I’ve been pondering that a lot lately. Now some of you may think I’ve jumped off the deep-end and will surely quote scripture where it speaks of not neglecting to gather together, but hear me out. Would I be more beneficial to the Kingdom if I didn’t spend 6-7 hours a week on Sunday doing the “church thing”? Would I see more clearly the things around me and be available if I weren’t spending 3 hours of my time each week preping from “church programming”? Before you go and flog me, please know I’ve spent my share of time in the heart of church ministry (13+) and have a great respect for many aspects. I just want to always be open to the possiblility that God might want to do things differently in me. Being out full-time ministry for over a year now has really given me a new (and yes maybe tainted at times) perspective. I can’t wait for what God has planned each day and I sure wouldn’t want to miss something, because I was busy playing church. I believe there’s a healthy balance out there. May we all find that balance… where we love one another in truth and fight together to make a GREAT difference in the world in which we live.
[Reply]
Michelle Parker
1:35 pm
Amen! I think everyone’s said everything I can think to say, so I’ll leave it at that.
[Reply]
jenn
4:10 pm
It’s so true. I am reading through Wurmbrand’s Tortured For Christ and it’s stabbing a knife through the heart most of my “Christian world view.” He speaks of the difference of the Underground church of Romania and the Western church. He notes that the Western church argues theology and who can do what when, the Underground church has no theology, as they barely have a bible to get it from. They simply have a love for the Father, and those the Father loves.
We are baby Einsteins in the US. Tons of knowledge, little maturity.
[Reply]
mooney
12:05 am
I am new to your blog. I stumbled onto your message on Streaming Faith website. I love be the church. It smacked me right where I live and right where I believe. Churches cab be such scary places..all theology and judgments. I know the little bracelets that said what would Jesus do became a little trite, but I don’t see us questioning ourselves in that realm nearly enough. Less church and more love seems to be where we actually need to be. It sounds like you address we Christians in a real and loving way. I love the attitude of your blog and the human touch of your reach. Reading and responding to this made my day richer. The people I see the rest of the day will surely agree.
[Reply]
Donna Workman
2:01 pm
Amen, I say, Amen. As someone raised Jewish, now baptized Christian and worshiping at a liturgical church, I grow ever more dismayed by false divisions. I’m also dismayed by the so-called real (i.e., doctrinal) divisions. Is this how we’re fulfilling The Great Commission? I think not.
Pharisees and Sadducees? More like the Corinthians!
[Reply]
Meredith Gould
6:23 pm
Thank you so much for these thoughts … I am late to read them but could not agree with you more.
[Reply]
Tara Livesay
8:21 am
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