Not everyone who calls me their Lord will get into the kingdom of heaven…But I will tell them, “I will have nothing to do with you! Get out of my sight, you evil people.” –Jesus (CEV)
Last week the warehouse manager at the Sears in Florence, AL mentioned that he had a “seal test” on a truck load that came to his store a few days before my delivery. I asked what a seal test is. He said that the warehouse that loads the truck to be delivered to his store will sometimes put a seal on the truck doors but write down the wrong number on the delivery papers to see if the receiving store really checks to make sure that the number on the seal matches the number on the papers. If they don’t, it could mean that someone has broken the seal, taken some merchandise and put another seal on the door. It’s Sears’ way to control inventory and prevent thefts.
Then, a few hours later as I was leaving Florence, I passed a church building with this sign: “Obey the Lord or spend eternity in hell.” (That’s an inviting message, isn’t it?)
What if the Lord gave that church a “seal test” of its own? What if the Lord prepared some sort of test to see if his people are really doing what God says? Would they pass his seal test?
The answer to that question is, of course, No. No one would pass God’s seal test. He expects perfection and anything less means a failing grade. But shouldn’t his people be trying to get as close to passing as they can? It seems Christians are so absorbed with issues that God says very little about and pay so little attention to matters that he is passionate about.
One issue that God’s people are fixated on right now is worship. How to. When to. Who leads, who doesn’t, etc. In the full scheme of things, God says precious little about “worship” (as in, “Let’s go to worship.”). Contrary to what I have been taught nearly all my life, there is no secret, 5-step formula for what God’s people do when they get together. Yet these matters occupy so much of believers’ discussions.
Other issues, however, that permeate Scripture—injustice and care for the poor and disadvantaged—receive little attention from so many Christian communities. Even among believers, the gap between rich and poor is widening. Many wealthy churches are moving further away from the economic deserts of the city to settle in wealthier neighborhoods. And they’re spending millions to do so.
I’ll tell you what it really means to worship the Lord. Remove the chains of prisoners who are chained unjustly. Free those who are abused. Share your food with everyone who is hungry; share your home with the poor and homeless. Give clothes to those in need; don’t turn away from your relatives. Isaiah 58:6-8 (CEV)
Let’s pray that God doesn’t spring a seal test on us this week.
Kevin C said
oooof. I’ve fallen in that trap too much lately! Good post.
Wayne Holt said
Amen, Steve! Think what we could do if we did not spend so much time with these issues of preference that get raised to the level of scripture! Growing up in our fellowship I always remember being told: “We speak where the Bible speaks, and are silent where it is silent.” There are two things wrong with that statement. 1) We have never been silent; 2) The truth is we need to speak where the Bible speaks, and where it is silent we have freedom!
As a Shepherd, these issues are of no importance in the big scheme of attempting to be relevant in our communities, and yet take up so much energy and time. I was asked to lunch recently by a young man who was unhappy with some different approaches to our corporate worship. I heard him out as he went through his list, and then asked if there were some biblical references I needed to be aware of. “Well that’s a problem for me because I can’t find any scripture that is being violated.” So I asked,”Isn’t your brother going through some tough times?” “Yes” he replied, “divorced and kicked out, prison record, disabled due to health issues, and unable to draw disability income.” “So” I asked, “which of these issues you have mentioned today are going to impact his life?” “None” he replied. “So why aren’t you as angry about your brother’s life as you are about what you don’t like in worship?” Our community from 20 different languages and cultures don’t care a hill of beans about what we do in our assemblies…but they want their marriages to last, their children to be free from gangs and drugs, and to have a way to support their families. We must be relevant or we will cease to exist.
(Susan and Jim, and Rich….thanks for the encouragement wihile I was in Vanderbilt Hospital. I am disappointed in the results, but not discouraged, as God knows what I need (Ps 103). He is good all of the time! As the Stones used to say “You can’t always get what you want, but you get what you need.”
Amen!!)
Living by faith,
Wayne