Less entertainment and more engagement…

Generally speaking… wait, I hate generalities.  They are condemning.  They do not produce fruit.  So I will say that in my experience and through my observation I have witnessed the below.  That being said… if the Spirit will come with conviction to those who have experienced the same thing… then there will be fruit.

With the advent of the internet, mega-churches, satellite TV, and surround-sound systems you would think that the gospel would he HEARD.  But is seems that it isn’t.  It seems that, while we might be impressed with the quality of the preaching and availability of hearing it whenever we want, there isn’t much evidence of us living it.  It seems that we often have celebrities (people who are celebrated) on the pulpit, but not the Celebrity that should be… the One who truly should be celebrated.

When did the goal of the gospel become entertainment and not engagement?  When did the cross simply become the symbol for a group of generally moral people who meet together on Sundays?  When did building a church replace adding to the church?  When did we start looking at the church building as our shop window?  And what is it we are trying to sell?  Is the gift of the Holy Spirit something that can be bought for a price?  Hasn’t Christ already paid the price?  Haven’t we already been bought by the blood of the Lamb?  Doesn’t the scripture tell us that the church “was added unto” daily?  Who did the adding?  Was it not the Holy Spirit?  When we till the ground, sow the seed, or water… we are done.  He will give the increase.  Not us. 

We need engaged preachers and engaged preaching.

I believe that the words “preacher” and “preaching” are conjugations.  They are built from the combination of two words: People and Reach.  It is people-reachers that are people-reaching.  Preachers when they are preaching must have at their hearts the motive of reaching people.  And not just relating to them.  Not just making them feel good.  It must be preaching the Gospel.  It must be reaching people with the good news of Jesus Christ. 

Speakers speak.  Preachers reach.

We need less speaking and more reaching.

Turn off the sound system.  Speak softly.  Carry a big stick… in fact, carry two… in the form of a cross.  Show the world what Christ has done.  It is good news.

SDG