PSALM 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.
What is the main attraction in today’s church? Now before you give me the “off the cuff” answer in fluent Christianese, really think about it. Is it the state-of-the-art building with all of the most recent and high tech “auditoriums” and round sound music theatres for the most contemporary and high-energy worship? Is it the pristine quality of the nursery and children’s church areas? Is it the café? The bookstore? The outside playground or ball fields? Or is it your favorite bible teacher?
May I suggest to you, beloved, that none of these things in and of themselves are necessarily bad, but they do pose one huge problem. The sole attraction absolutely necessary for coming to church and having a robust service should be the presence of The Lord as He is experienced in song and through the teaching of His Word, period. I fear that the church has gotten to the place where the attraction for church is based more on creature comforts and sensory overload than the simple presence of God Himself.
We live in the age of excitement and sensationalism. To sit still before God and worship Him in prayer and song is boring to most church people today. We have replaced the Acts 2:42-47 pattern of church life that revolves around God into a serve me, entertainment and convenience experience. I personally believe that it would benefit every American follower of Jesus to spend two weeks in a foreign land where they have none of the above exterior advantages, where the only attraction is God and the Spirit-anointed teaching of God’s Word, and see if you can say, “I was glad when they said unto me, ‘Let us go into the house of The Lord.’” Selah
