I heard a great quote, and it's something to think about as we approach Easter Sunday. "Those who will not worship will need to be entertained."
What is your attitude towards this Sunday (and every Sunday)? Are you seeking to worship? Or are you seeking to be entertained? Your answer to this question may completely reveal why Sundays are good or bad, relevant or irrelevant. Sunday worship is irrelevant to someone seeking entertainment; Sunday entertainment is irrelevant to someone seeking worship.
Unfortunately, our culture has prepped us to desire entertainment. There will always be more people seeking entertainment than worship.
Pastors and church-growth gurus have seen this trend and have responded- that's why the Willow Creek model of the megachurch in the 90's was so successful. They removed crosses, stopped talking about sin and hell, decked out sanctuaries with cool lights and fog machines, preached "Five Steps to A Happy Life" messages, and struck into niche of people seeking entertainment. Sunday mornings became less about worship and more about growing and maintaining a certain number of people in attendance.
Several years ago, Willow Creek announced to the nation that it had made a mistake. Their model was a failure- they had failed to make disciples. I give them major props for that. To admit that you're wrong on that big a scale takes major character and humility. While they had drawn big crowds and entertained the heck out of people, they had not seen anyone walking closer with Christ.
So, what are you seeking this Sunday?
If you come to church this Sunday and will not worship God (meaning that you walk in unprepared to glorify the Name of God, unprepared to surrender your life to Him, unprepared to commit to His ways, unwilling to turn your attention to the One greater than you, unwilling to acknowledge everything that He is, ungrateful for the cross, ungrateful for His sacrifice for you), then Sunday morning will be completely irrelevant for you unless you are entertained by funny videos, cool music, lights, fog machine, and a slick message, because you want to be entertained.
However, if you come to church this Sunday and want to worship God, the funny videos, cool music, lights, fog machine, and slick message will be most likely boring and irrelevant to you because you want to worship.
Jesus didn't entertain.
Jesus provided an encounter with God.
Jesus specifically turned away people wanting entertainment.
In Luke 23:8-9, Jesus is sent before Herod for a trial. Herod was eager to see Him, because he had heard a lot about Jesus and was hoping that Jesus would perform for him. Jesus said nothing, did nothing, and refused to entertain. Herod was disappointed.
Any king Herods in our churches today?
Anyone seeking to be entertained by Jesus? Anyone wanting a great show, a great miracle, a great fun time, but unwilling to worship Jesus as Lord and Savior? Unfortunately, yes. Our churches are full of king Herods, and unless the king Herods are entertained, they will leave.
So, this weekend, ask yourself if you are going to worship or going to be entertained. Those who will not worship will need to be entertained.
What is your attitude towards this Sunday (and every Sunday)? Are you seeking to worship? Or are you seeking to be entertained? Your answer to this question may completely reveal why Sundays are good or bad, relevant or irrelevant. Sunday worship is irrelevant to someone seeking entertainment; Sunday entertainment is irrelevant to someone seeking worship.
Unfortunately, our culture has prepped us to desire entertainment. There will always be more people seeking entertainment than worship.
Pastors and church-growth gurus have seen this trend and have responded- that's why the Willow Creek model of the megachurch in the 90's was so successful. They removed crosses, stopped talking about sin and hell, decked out sanctuaries with cool lights and fog machines, preached "Five Steps to A Happy Life" messages, and struck into niche of people seeking entertainment. Sunday mornings became less about worship and more about growing and maintaining a certain number of people in attendance.
Several years ago, Willow Creek announced to the nation that it had made a mistake. Their model was a failure- they had failed to make disciples. I give them major props for that. To admit that you're wrong on that big a scale takes major character and humility. While they had drawn big crowds and entertained the heck out of people, they had not seen anyone walking closer with Christ.
So, what are you seeking this Sunday?
If you come to church this Sunday and will not worship God (meaning that you walk in unprepared to glorify the Name of God, unprepared to surrender your life to Him, unprepared to commit to His ways, unwilling to turn your attention to the One greater than you, unwilling to acknowledge everything that He is, ungrateful for the cross, ungrateful for His sacrifice for you), then Sunday morning will be completely irrelevant for you unless you are entertained by funny videos, cool music, lights, fog machine, and a slick message, because you want to be entertained.
However, if you come to church this Sunday and want to worship God, the funny videos, cool music, lights, fog machine, and slick message will be most likely boring and irrelevant to you because you want to worship.
Jesus didn't entertain.
Jesus provided an encounter with God.
Jesus specifically turned away people wanting entertainment.
In Luke 23:8-9, Jesus is sent before Herod for a trial. Herod was eager to see Him, because he had heard a lot about Jesus and was hoping that Jesus would perform for him. Jesus said nothing, did nothing, and refused to entertain. Herod was disappointed.
Any king Herods in our churches today?
Anyone seeking to be entertained by Jesus? Anyone wanting a great show, a great miracle, a great fun time, but unwilling to worship Jesus as Lord and Savior? Unfortunately, yes. Our churches are full of king Herods, and unless the king Herods are entertained, they will leave.
So, this weekend, ask yourself if you are going to worship or going to be entertained. Those who will not worship will need to be entertained.
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