God is the first priority of the church.Not people.
Not ministry.
Not growth.
Not success.
Not buildings.
God alone must hold absolute priority in the church.
In your church.
In my church.
But, I wonder, is that true? Will that be true today as we gather today for worship in the four-walled buildings we call a church building? Or, will other things garner first place in what we do? Will the focus be on the pastor? On music? On candles, stained glass, organs, pianos? On projection screens, bands, choirs, hymnals? Our small group class? Our friends? Our family?
Unfortunately, the standard found in the Bible, of God being the priority in worship, doesn’t always receive much attention in our people-centered, growth-dominated, success-oriented American church today.
From our preaching, our meeting together, our writing, our lifestyle, our conversations, and everything else we do, it often appears that today’s church is preoccupied with other matters. Unfortunately, God doesn’t always hold priority for us nor our church.
How shameful is that!
The priority of God is not an option in Scripture. The priority of God cannot be anything but the very heart of a Christ follower and today’s church. If our church expects to be all that it is intended to be, God must be first. If our church is to accomplish its great mission in the world, God must be priority. If our church is to be salt and light, it must recover the priority of God.
Listen. The greatest need we have today is not to do what we’ve always done in worship. Nor is the greatest need to create something that has never been tried before. Our church’s greatest need today is to make God priority of our worship and our entire life.
So, where does the priority of God rank for you? Your church? Your friends?
I would like to believe Steve that worship is a top priority for me-not just on Sunday but throughout the week. I know it isn't always though. The struggle to put God first in all things is a daily struggle, one that I more often lost than win. But when I do put Him first, there is a sweet communion that I experience.
ReplyDeleteBill...what causes Christ followers to struggle with putting God first?
ReplyDeleteIt sounds heretical, but the biggest disagreement most churches have with you is that our primary concern during "worship" is non-Christians.
ReplyDeleteAre they impressed? Are we meeting their needs? Are we making the gospel appealing to them? Will they come back? How can we convince them to believe? How can we trick them into coming to the altar?
Some of that is a very good motive, so I wonder how we delineate.
Steve, I'm ashamed to say. selahV
ReplyDeleteWhat causes the struggle? The nature of the beast I think. Flesh vs. spirit in conflict.
ReplyDeleteBernard...what a good observation!
ReplyDeleteIt is a delicate balance, isn't it? Trying to reach non-Christians and pacificing those who are already "believers."
However, if that is our attitude about worship, I'm not really sure we are Christ followers...
Mrs. V...I understand...
ReplyDeleteBill...I agree...our carnal nature all too often wins out...when we should be abiding in the Spirit...
ReplyDelete