Does He Look Comfortable?
Living the Christian life means different things to different people (although it shouldn’t). I dare say it seems most “church goers” these days require (strange using the term require – keep reading…) several key elements for worship. The Music should be of the genre they enjoy at a volume they are comfortable with. Same spot in same pew each week – check! The room temperature just right- not too hot or cold – Check! Sermon make you feel good about your Savior and the fact that you can call yourself a Christian – Check! Oh, don’t forget, the media should be of the best quality with good camera shots, the proper legible font on for the lyric slide and good house lighting so we can see our bible – check! Lets go to lunch…
Don’t get me wrong here, I believe in perfection and using modern technology when it comes to worship, I just don’t believe we were called to design cookie cutter services and set programming to “not upset any specific group”. The problem with this current (dare I say) secular definition of Christian worship is that Jesus never called us to be comfortable. Jesus used several illustrations and stories to explain his ministry. Everything from a stormy sea to multitudes of hungry people came to know him through radical events. Paul went through unspeakable trials for the gospel. I doubt those prisons were climate controlled or had 60″ Plasma’s.
Back in the 90’s our family was communicating with a missionary couple from Brazil. When they furloughed to the US for a few weeks they came to ATL to visit our family and attended church. I’ll never forget the comment the husband made after Sunday church. ”That is the first time we ever went to church to watch it on TV.” They were used to having church on a picnic table in the hot brazilian sun with a bible and an interpreter.
I’m asking here… Is today’s church prepared to be radical for Jesus? (Radical might be a but uncomfortable.) Worship and accompanying media should be designed to usher in the Holy Spirit and gently move the worshiper into an uncomfortable (yes – life changing) experience with Christ. As my friend Phil Cooke stated at Echo – Christian Media should not be designed for Christians but to reach the lost culture looking for answers and a relationship. There – I said it… comfortable?
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