News Archive
Lighten up
What's the funniest thing you've ever seen or heard in a church? I asked a class of Year 7s recently what they thought of when they heard the word church - many responded by saying things such as old building, boring people, dusty old bibles...
What have we done to God? I hope you're asking the same question as me. At what point did churches substitute fun for faith, laughter for love, good times for grace, and happiness for holiness? Did it ever occur to us that each can complement or enhance the other?
Matthew 21:15 says, 'But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they became indignant.' The Bible speaks a great deal of people who got carried away by God (in a good way!). People who 'delighted themselves in the Lord' (which by the way is an often forgotten command from God to his people).
As we approach the festive season of advent, let's do something which God desires us to do - God longs for us to be a light to all the world and to introduce his word (a light to all the generations). Could we make a start by shaping our churches in such a way so that Year 7s don't see church as merely an old building? Perhaps church could become a place where kids and families find faith through fun, great times through grace and holiness through happiness?
Have a look at this video
to see one example of a church that let a lively young lad become
'undignified' in the Lord's presence. (NB: If you're wondering
whether it was by 'full immersion' or not you've probably missed the
point of what I've just blogged.)