December 2017

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COMMON GROUND Coming back to worship by Jason Paugh Assistant Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Coral Springs Recently at the Values Voter Summit in Washington D.C., President Trump delivered a message that received a standing ovation and roaring applause from several of his conservative constituents: “We’re saying ‘Merry Christmas’ again.” As a Christian pastor, I was tempted to respond to this message with enthusiasm myself, chalking this up as a moral victory for “our side”– finally, the Christian voice will be heard once again. But then I asked myself, “Is pushing Christ onto our society and into our culture really a cause worth rallying for?” A recent study published by the Barna Group highlights what I believe is a much more alarming trend within the church today. More than worrying about whether the cashiers at Macy’s will be greeting their customers with a “Merry Christmas!” or “Happy Holidays!” or whether your Starbucks barista will be pouring your cappuccino into a red, yellow, orange, or blue cup (if it sounds like I don’t care about such trivialities, I don’t), what should be of greater concern than “putting Christ back into Christmas” is getting Christians back into church. Barna’s research reveals that while close to three-quarters (73 percent) of Americans identify themselves as Christians and claim their faith is “very important” to them, only about one in three (31 percent) of these self-identifying Christians attend church at least once a month. Of course, there are always exceptions—three of the most highly attended church services every year include Easter, Christmas Eve, and Mother’s Day. As a pastor, I am grateful whenever visitors step foot into a church that believes and faithfully teaches the Bible, especially during the Christmas season. Why? Because I know they will hear the gospel message. Because I believe that message is powerful enough to save anyone (Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 1:18; John. 3:16), I would therefore welcome everyone to come and hear it proclaimed. Part of faithfully preaching that message, however, involves warning not just unbelievers but self-proclaimed “non-practicing” believers as well. The forerunner to Jesus, John the Baptist, did that very thing himself with those who casually showed up one day to see what his ministry in the wilderness was all about. His message to them was one of warning: “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham” (Mt. 3:8-9). Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than visiting the zoo makes you an elephant. Neither does simply showing up on Sunday earn you any more favor with God than what is already promised to those who are trusting in Christ alone for salvation. And yet, any Christian who is cut off from the “body of Christ” (the church) will find it extremely difficult (if not impossible) to grow spiritually at all. “[Therefore] let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25). P Is it OK to Computer be a CEO? Coding by Pastor Andy Hagen, Advent Lutheran Church mother went to wake her son for church one Sunday A morning. When she knocked on his door, he said, “I’m not going!” “Why not?” she said. “I’ll give you two good reasons,” he said. “One, they don’t like me. Two, I don’t like them.” His mother replied, “I’ll give you two good reasons why you will go to church. One, you’re 47 years old. Two, you’re the pastor!” It never occurred to me when I was growing up that we wouldn’t go to church every week. On the rare occasions when my parents took a weekend trip, my sisters and I would put together a church service of our own. In college even hangovers didn’t keep me in bed. As a pastor, I look forward to vacation Sundays so that I can visit another church to worship. I don’t go to church because I have to go, or because my mom made me, or because I’m 47 plus years old, or because I’m the pastor. I go to church because I want to be there. I thank God that He put that attitude into my heart. Going to worship blesses me with more hope, strength, peace, and joy than anything else in my life. I think that is because we were made to worship and there is nothing better than doing what you were made for. I can understand that some don’t feel this way. For them going to worship is an activity best experienced rarely, like doing their taxes or jury duty. I’m not interested in judging them. In the end, each one of us has to work out our faith in God. Personally, I think He’s pretty clear about “honoring the Sabbath day,” but others may feel that it can be done on the golf course or at brunch. I just wish that they knew what they are missing. The music, the smiles, the beautiful scriptures, and the coffee and donuts are some of the wonderful blessings to be had. Hearing the strange idea that God loves you, Jesus died for you, and that there is hope for your life is uplifting. Every time I worship I find a blessing. That’s because God is somehow working through the detuned guitar, rude usher, and obtuse pastor, as well as through the bread and wine, the coo of the baby behind you, and the stained glass masterpiece bathing you in God’s grace. If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I just pray that God will open the eyes of those limiting their blessings by skipping church to wait in the car wash line or to trim the hedges. The door is always open. So, I can’t really say if it is OK to be a CEO (Christmas and Easter Only), worshipper. That’s above my pay grade. But I can say that I believe it will be a blessing to them, their lives, and their families if they added a few more Sundays in between. P 94 DECEMBER <strong>2017</strong>
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