"WITNESSES UNTO ME"

As believers, it is sometimes to be feared that our church related "witness" in terms of trite billboard cliches, catch phrase slogans and the like (e.g., "If you are looking for a sign from God, this is it," ad nauseam) tend more to a perception of immaturity than to meaningful qualification for confronting life and its issues. Simply put: Given the character of that being extended to the outside world, why should anyone of a sincere or hungry heart desire that being offered inside? Having previously commented on this matter, we shall herewith cease and desist - at least for the present.

There is, nonetheless, another promotional practice seemingly gaining in popularity that somewhat bothers us. This involves yard signs reading: "I love (here symbolized by a red heart) my Brand X (or Y or Z) Church." While not wishing to impugn the motive oftentimes involved, we would yet suggest that if not careful, one can go awry here as well.

First of all, neither denomination X nor its representative congregation within our community is God. It is we who comprise the local church's constituent membership. Furthermore, it is Christ that the Church is called to promote (John 16:14; Acts 1:8, etc.). When we stand before God, He will not ask if we were Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal or Lutheran. (Will there be Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals and Lutherans in heaven? Of course - along with those of other affiliations having known Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We would point out, however, that at such point in time, appelations of this nature will no longer apply.)

The first of various errors within the Corinthian church was that of its having become a self-centered body wherein focus revolved around a sectarian oriented, "who and what I (or we) am (or are)" - as opposed to others within the believing community. Are we then to split off into a "non-sectarian sectarianism?" While sometimes tried, such merely compounds the problem.

It is interesting that in his ensuing polemic against sectarianism, Paul included those identifying themselves as being "of Christ" (I Cor. 1:11-13) - not that Christ is not foundational to the faith, but that these members were "using" Christ as means to self serving ends: "WE are the ones who are of Christ." It was still self promoting.

One final observation: Despite claims of "loving my Brand X church," one can little avoid noticing that these signs (at least those we have seen) are otherwise identical. In other words, someone is making a bundle producing them. Now if the sign's designers will just create one reading, "I love Jesus," or perhaps one bearing the early Christian fish symbol, I will gladly purchase one and proundly display it along with other Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals and Lutherans doing the same.

It is, after all, about Him - not us.

Burl Ratzsch

(Agree? why not forward this post to a friend?)

"MINISTERING TO THE LORD"

"As they ministered to the Lord... the Holy Spirit said..."

Somewhat like Peter at Christ's arraignment, our speech frequently "gives us away" in terms of cultural or regional background (Matt. 26:72). Having moved to the South some years ago from "up North," we were once engaged in conversation by a congenial young man who remarked, "You folks are not from around here, are you?" Upon our acknowledgement of the fact he continued, "I thought so, because you talk funny." His observation struck us quite humorously inasmuch as we had been much aware of the "funny" dialect heard in our new setting.

Somewhat similarly, one can - to at least some degree and within a general sense of perception - sometimes ascertain another's religious background by the way concepts, objectives and concerns are expressed. Within the faith setting wherein we were reared, for example, church services often began with the highly spirited query: "How many came to receive a blessing?" It required little discernment to ascertain that one was not at First Presbyterian or All Saints Episcopal - commendable churches though they might have been. If nothing else, the service's opening emphasis on "receiving a blessing" offered a rather reliable indication as to our being of a "full Gospel" orientation.

Objectively, efforts to so "prime" the service tended oftentimes to evidence a philosophy focused more on "receiving" in terms of spiritual uplift and inspiration than to "giving" (ministering) to the heavenly Father in terms of the offering of oneself attended by praise, adoration and thanksgiving.

This is neither to ignore nor discount those "times of refreshing... from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:29) that serve to nurture and strengthen both believer and believing community (note, for example, the stated outworking of "the joy of the Lord" in Neh. 8:10). It is, however, to point out a common lack of distinction between - and recognition of order in relation to - "blessing" in terms of that which one receives from the Lord, and "worship" as that which we render to Him. As to the latter (i.e., worshippers and meaningful worship), Jesus advises that "The Father seeks such" (John 4:23).

An important example of the relationship of worship to blessing appears in Luke's account of the New Testament church at Antioch. While "ministering to the Lord" with fasting (Acts 13:1-2), the leadership of the church is moved upon by God's Spirit in confirming the calling of Paul and Barnabas to greater ministry. This "moving of the Spirit" was not in consequence of some frantic pursuit of the latest "church growth" program or endeavor to emulate the methodology of some other congregation - or even agonized seeking of God for blessing upon themselves and their endeavors, but rather within the context of "ministering to the Lord."

Have we not tended on occasion to miss something here - not in a sense of manipulative routine for the obtaining of "blessing" (e.g., the "Praise God for Everything" movement of some years ago), but rather of devotion to the Father simply for Who and What He is?

Burl Ratzsch