Is Bigger & Faster Really Better?
- lm2014
- Feb 23, 2015
- 5 min read
The bigger, The faster – The better?
1 John 3:16-18 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
I recently attended a training seminar, for teachers, about how students have change over the years, leading to how educating them must change to meet the challenges faced by teachers, in the modern classroom. As I sat through the class, I constantly heard things that reminded me of the challenges met within the modern church.
There has been much research as to what societal changes have taken place over the last 50 years.
Technology topped the list of changes.
This was followed by changes in the way we view life around us.
Years ago, a French author was sent to America, to travel around, work various jobs, and take note of the American culture.
Upon returning to France, he wrote about his experiences and he wrote the book in English, so as to try to capture the experience more accurately.
From the book American Vertigo by Bernard Henri-Levy, I present the following quote: “The obesity of the body is a metaphor for another obesity.
In America, there is a tendency to believe ‘the bigger- the better’ for everything – for schools, malls, campaign budgets…There is an idolatry of bigness.”
He went on to say “The bigger, the faster – the better”
As this was presented, to me, I jotted down the following note: “We admit that obesity of want is detrimental, yet we desire to help students attain the tools to enter into the want-driven society we disdain. Why not teach the opposite.
The instructor commented that “Every large religion in America teaches that the opposite is necessary to be closer to the one they worship.” This is true…the teachings of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, etc. all emphasize a move away from the obesity of want.
There are some, within these religions, who teach just the opposite, though.
I see, in scripture, that it is perfectly ok to be rich.
It is neither a sign of spiritual bigness to be wealthy or financially poor.
There are scriptures that teach that God has blessed some with wealth and coupled that with the task of using that wealth to help others.
Mark 8:36 ESV For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
Proverbs 10:4 ESV A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
Luke 16:13 ESV No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Luke 6:38 ESV Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Proverbs 30:8-9 ESV Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.
I have observed, in America, that we, in the church, often also think that “the bigger, the faster – the better.”
This is why pastors, when together is groups of 2 or more, will compare their churches with comments about how large their church is, how many members they have, how large their offerings are, etc. Denominational churches are rewarded based on size.
Church services are designed to be consumer friendly.
Songs are chosen for entertainment value
Sermons are scrutinized for anything considered offensive.
Service length is determined, based on attention span, per national average.
How is it that sermons can only be 18-25 minutes long or “you will lose people’s attention”, but those same people can sit through a movie without a problem?
One pastor told me “I’ll tell you what I tell all visiting preachers…’Preach as long as you want, but if you go over 30 minutes, you will never preach in my pulpit again.”
A pastor asked me to fill in for him, one Sunday morning, because he was going to be out of town. I asked him how long his sermon usually lasted. He startled me, when he told me “About 18 minutes.” I thought to myself that I can hardly get my introduction out in that amount of time.
Its not just churches…its also attenders
Some church cater to “seekers” who are actually “church shoppers”
How would the landscape of the church change if people stopped trying to find a church that met their needs and instead tried to find a church were they, the seeker, could meet the needs of others?
I heard a wise preacher say “Take a piece of paper and on one side, describe what the early church looked like. On the other side, describe what your church looks like.
The early church looked much different than the modern church.
Then-They got together to study and learn from the apostles’ teachings
Now-We get to hear a preacher who may or may not use scripture, may just preach about his social/societal agenda, and may not be in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Then-They would spend time together, to fellowship and share their lives.
Now- people can’t wait for church to be over, so they can rush out to get on with their real lives. People check their watches to make sure the pastor keeps to the schedule.
When was the last time you heard someone, at a resturaunt, complain that they had been eating too long and they wish someone would stop serving food so everyone could go home?
Now this is understandable if the food isn’t worth eating (at a restaurant or church).
It is time for the church to be the church.
Time is short and we need to be doing kingdom work
I may have years, months, days or even hours to reach people.
The people I am trying to reach my only have years, months, days, or hours before it’s too late for them to hear the gospel.
What am I going to do with the little time I have left?
What will be my Legacy?
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