(Sterling State Park, Lake Erie)
I like this little interview with Chuck Swindoll at christianitytoday.com. Swindoll says that, when church becomes an entertainment center, biblical literacy is the first casualty.
I'm so thankful we're not putting money into entertaining the people at Redeemer. A main goal of mine is to increase Jesus-literacy. So, we preached through the four gospels over a period of seven years. Now, we are finishing preaching and teaching through the book of Hebrews.
The world doesn't offer this. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, "When the church is absolutely different from the world, she invariably attracts it. It is then that the world is made to listen to her message, though it may hate it at first."
Church leaders don't want to be hated, so they focus on attracting more and more people. Swindoll says: "But if we're here to offer something the world can't provide, why would I want to copy the world? There is plenty of television. There are plenty of talk shows. There are plenty of comedians. But there is not plenty of worship of the true and living God."
Besides, "Jesus never suggested that crowds were the goal. He never addresses getting your church to grow. Never. So why is that the emphasis today?"
The world doesn't offer this. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, "When the church is absolutely different from the world, she invariably attracts it. It is then that the world is made to listen to her message, though it may hate it at first."
Church leaders don't want to be hated, so they focus on attracting more and more people. Swindoll says: "But if we're here to offer something the world can't provide, why would I want to copy the world? There is plenty of television. There are plenty of talk shows. There are plenty of comedians. But there is not plenty of worship of the true and living God."
Besides, "Jesus never suggested that crowds were the goal. He never addresses getting your church to grow. Never. So why is that the emphasis today?"
