In His Name Devotionals
JESUS CHRIST—21ST CENTURY FOCUS
In His Name Devotionals
JESUS CHRIST—21ST CENTURY FOCUS
Many churches are in love with their preachers. Others are occupied with building beautiful new structures. Activities and programs are the focus of many congregations. Most churches measure their worth by their numbers and their contributions.
Technology has transformed the potential for communication. The Internet opens doors for sharing all sorts of information about churches. As congregations begin developing Web sites some churches will probably carry over into the 21st century that growing trend toward seeking out ‘new’ and ‘improved’ human methods and human ways of increasing contribution and attendance, hoping that such human ideas and concepts will somehow strengthen loyalty and spirituality while increasing growth.
But isn’t this a recurring theme of "young dreams of old schemes?" Is it possible that by focusing so much on money and numbers we have inadvertently fostered a concept that "church" is more important than Jesus Christ and Him crucified?
A preacher was recently asked, "Do you think every sermon should focus on Jesus Christ and Him crucified?" He replied, "Wouldn’t that be boring?" Jesus Christ and Him crucified boring? Doesn’t the Bible focus on, emphasize and lead to Jesus Christ and the crucifixion? Yet, how many sermons have you heard lately that actually focused on Jesus Christ and Him crucified? How many church Web sites provide statistics and information about the church, but provide no teaching about Jesus?
The greatest evangelist of the first century declared, "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God...Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world...it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe...we preach Christ crucified" (1 Cor. 1:17,18 NKJV). "And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified...And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom...that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God (1Cor. 1:17-18 NKJV). What do you think the Apostle Paul would focus on in the 21st Century?
Kaiser wrote, "Every one of our preconditions and built-in limitations concerning what God can or cannot do or what He is likely or not likely to do in exact detail must be jettisoned if we are to learn anything..." from God’s Holy Word. Maybe ‘boring’ is exactly what God had in mind when He inspired Paul’s thoughts in the first chapter of 1 Corinthians, "...the message of the cross is foolishness..." and "...the foolishness of the message preached..." as well as in the second chapter, "...my preaching...not of human wisdom..."
Here’s a question for spiritual leaders in the body of Christ: because of constant focus on Jesus Christ and Him crucified are you thought of as foolish?
We are to preach the Gospel, and Jesus Christ and Him crucified IS the Gospel! Why do you think the end result of preaching the Gospel makes us seem "foolish" to the world? Could it be God’s way of taking human wisdom out of the spiritual picture? Could it be God’s way of taking human wisdom out of the increase? Thus making it His work— not ours? Is it possible that the 21st century church of Christ will be more spiritually productive by being more boring?
Someone insightfully wrote, "Changing the church from organism to institution had the unhealthy side-effect of changing being a Christian from spirit-renewed lifestyle to church membership; fellowship from loving involvement of believers into group inclusion or after-church eating events; leadership from spirit empowered giftedness to titles and offices; discipleship from self-denial and struggle to training seminars; accountability from a small group of caring people to a lone professional or nobody at all; worship from participation to critical inspection; evangelism from connecting with and confronting the world to inviting the lost to our preaching sessions; the Lord’s supper from an interactive meal to a ceremony in silence; and Bible study from life-changing obedience to listening sessions.
"Reformation is an idea whose time has come again. Restoration of the original and ancient order of things would be a good idea. But it will be deemed threatening by many, many people—for it will require change. It’s time for the church to be the living, breathing body of Christ again."
Before us is a marvelous opportunity and challenge to focus on the most powerful and compelling spiritual force of all time—the Gospel—Jesus Christ and Him crucified! "...I am ready to preach the gospel...it is the power of God..." (Rom. 1:15, 16 NKJV). What is your 21st century focus?
