Articles
What do I get
What Do I Get Out of It?
Unfortunately, many “occasional church-goers” have a rather one-sided view of the whole idea. To them, the church is a “place they go” to receive something. It might be to “enjoy” a good sermon or beautiful singing; others occasionally feel the need to “receive communion” or hear a good Bible study. Some need recognition – to be seen by others, or to have the preacher pat them on the back. And some are in low spirits, and want to be lifted up.
While some of these are indeed blessings from our collective worship times, such an attitude allows our time in the public worship to quickly spiral into selfishness. We are prone to sit in the pew and criticize in our minds every aspect of the assembly. If the singing is “off”, I don’t get much out of it. If the preacher has a style I don’t like, I feel cheated. If certain people don’t speak to me, I am offended. If the Bible class is on a topic I already know [which is most everything], or if the teacher is not skilled and polished, then it is a waste of my time. If the men leading the worship wander from any of my cherished traditions, I am uncomfortable and suspicious about their soundness. And if I am looking to be cheered up, it is really a bummer to sit by someone in worse shape than I am. “Nah, I’m not going back any more – I don’t get anything out of it.”
Is this the right view of the church? Are we only in it for ourselves? Do we ever think of others? Do we ever think of HIM? If we are just there for what we get out of it, there is no commitment to God’s people [his body] and thus no commitment to HIM!
Jesus purchased the church with his own blood (Acts 20:28); He cleansed it so that “He might present it to himself a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:27). He designed our working together in local churches so that we could be “built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Eph 2:22). THAT is what we will receive if we will let Him have His way with us. He is working in his church to purify us, cleanse us, make us holy by his precious blood, make us collectively the dwelling place of God on this earth. But it is not an easy job. He has to fight against our stubborn wills – to slay our selfish attitudes that always ask “What’s in it for me?”
The radical idea of the church of Christ in New Testament times was just the opposite. “What can I sacrifice for his body’s sake?” Hear what Paul says: “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church”, Col 1:24
Next time you “go to church”, go armed with a new attitude. Have this mind in you that was also in Christ Jesus – to count others better than self, and to take the form of a servant. “What can I sacrifice for the sake of his body, the church?” “What can I contribute, whom can I help, what can I endure, where can I suffer?” “How can I give the glory to HIM to whom it belongs?” You will receive things you did not seek, and understand things you never imagined!
Larry Walker
December 2008
- What_Do_I_Get.doc (62.98 kB)
