Recently, dropping into Facebook meant seeing a string (almost seems like a never ending one) of posts regarding the halftime show of the Super Bowl. I still have no idea what the Super Bowl is about (don’t stone me if you’re a fan!) but it seemed like that half time show was essentially the highlight of the whole programme.
Christians were not hesitant about sharing their opinions about what they saw:
A horrifying satanic ritual.
A fantastic cultural performance.
Sexual bondage.
Women liberated.
Lust.
Pride.
…and the list goes on. Apart from seeing photos of the show as I scrolled through Facebook, I did not waste my time watching any videos of it. The comments on these posts are always more interesting, no?
One comment that caught my attention was how Christians are going to reach the world if they consider every little thing worldly and shun it? I’m not going to interpret one person’s one sentence comment and make up what I think his or her thoughts are. But my opinion is that the comment does hit home for some churches and Christians today.
Are we selling the church?
Talk about current celebrities or you’ll never reach the youth.
Bring in that latest Disney movie to attract all those young kids.
Old hymns are not going to attract the younger generation. Let’s rock up the music!
Don’t talk about LGBTs, abortion or politics from the pulpit, least you condemn someone.
Sin? Don’t even think about it. Let the mention of a kind, embracing Saviour be the only thing that leaves your mouth.
Am I saying that the church needs to be stuck in the last century? Am I saying showing a movie or a halftime show in church is wrong? Far from it. But what we show, say or do should always align with the Word of God.
We can do things that interest people. Believe it or not, fun is not a taboo word in ministry. We can draw people in without compromising the truth of the Gospel and the holiness of our God.
The church was able to reach out to unbelievers a hundred years ago. The church is able to do that today. And I say without a doubt that the church will be able to reach out to people a hundred years from now.
Because the truth is the hearts of people are not seeking for a temporary hype. Our hearts yearn for everlasting hope. We want assurance that grace is available, mercy is overflowing and forgiveness is present. We long for something more than this earth could offer. We long for the sweet promise of eternal life.
Jesus came to offer us that promise. So don’t offer something else to the world when they walk in through the church doors.
Maybe we should be like that table flipping Jesus.
I wonder how Jesus felt seeing the temple become a marketplace. The sacred temple of God was no different than what the world look like.
Was he angry? Upset? Oh, let’s include that ever popular word when it comes to Christians – judgmental. How could Jesus be so judgmental?
Maybe those people needed the money from all their sales. Maybe they had kids to feed. And really, people still could go pray and perform any rituals they needed to get through. Who did this Jew think He was, flipping tables in people’s faces? Scattering coins all over the place. He took time to make a whip out of chords to drive cattle out of the temple? Didn’t he have anything better to do than to throw a tantrum?
He made a statement.
“Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” (John chapter 19, verse 18) He was speaking of his body (John chapter 19, verse 20). That very same body which he offered up to be crucified just for you and me. Yes, that very same body that rose again on the third day and defeated the darkness of death. So mere humans like us can now cross that bridge and be with Him eternally.
He sure didn’t need to offer the world or be like the world to save the world. It’s time we follow the example of that table flipping Jesus. Get rid of all the veil and offer Him.