October 9: Foundationless

Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words. ~Proverbs 23:9

Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. ~Matthew 7:6

The one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed, and its destruction was complete. ~Luke 6:49

Woe to the one who attends worship for the sake of appearance or tradition. Woe to the one for whom attending worship is merely a social event. Woe to the one who attends worship but does not attend to what is said there. Woe to the one who is in the presence of Biblical instruction, physically, and leaves unmoved or unchanged. Woe to the one who is Christian in name only. Woe to the one who has not attended to their foundation in Christ. When the storms of life come, they will be easily swayed, this way and that, and possibly even destroyed because they tended to the visible structure but had no foundation to secure it.

Bill Hybels, a well-known former founder and Pastor from the Chicago area who founded the now mega church, Willow Creek, made some interesting observations about his quick church growth. The church is, what we would call, “seeker friendly.” The idea was to remake church so that it would look different from the traditional church experience that especially the Baby Boomer generation would have been familiar with and had rejected.

Church services are offered throughout the weekend to accommodate busy schedules. Worship was to be entertaining, drama to illustrate the sermon, flashy music and a really lively, upbeat atmosphere. Fortunately, the teaching is solid, still, so that is not of concern. Growth and community are expected to take place in the many, ongoing small groups because it was recognized that a large church cannot be community for all.

About ten years into ministry, Bill did some evaluating to see how the church was really doing at being effective. What he learned was that while attendance was high, personal growth was low, causing Bill to coin a phrase that is often used to describe the American church in general today. He said of his own church that they were a mile wide and an inch deep. Meaning that there was a high attendance, but not much in the way of spiritual growth and Biblical literacy of those who attended. His response was to create discipleship opportunities for those already attending, to change that.

Interestingly, as the emphasis began to be placed on discipleship, attendance first plateaued and then declined as a result. It’s like with so many areas of life, people love to take what is free, but when hard work is required, interest wains. Just to review what discipleship is: Identify a skill.
Find others who want to learn that skill.
Demonstrate the skill.
Help them learn the skill.
Let them show you what they have learned.
Send them out to teach another.

Jesus used this technique with His disciples. He had skills and teachings that He knew the world needed to learn. He chose His followers. They walked and lived with Him for three years while He lived before them, teaching and demonstrating God’s love. He sent the twelve out to give it a try with His blessing and the help of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 10 & Luke 9) He sent out the 70 for a wider ministry opportunity. (Luke 10) Then, He sent them out to do it! (Acts 2)

“Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.” If you took a person to a banquet and they just sat at the table, arms crossed, doodling on the napkin and watching the clock, to mark the time until they could go home, but ignored all the delicious food, wouldn’t it be hard not to consider that person a fool for wasting their opportunity to enjoy all that is before them?

Sadly, however, this is how too many in our churches treat church. They may go because it is a social occasion, as a banquet may be, or for other reasons; to make an appearance, tradition, they always attend this gathering. Who knows? But the food is left untouched, the speaker is ignored and all they care about is getting out and getting on with the rest of their day.

“Do not give dogs what is sacred. Do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.” I’ve talked before about what if God’s Word is lost to us? If the church, His own bride, continues to ignore it, will God consider that He is casting His pearls before swine and stop, because all that is being done is trampling and rejecting it and not valuing it for what it is?

Then, how will we get through the hard times that are to come? How will we rely on God’s promises if we do not know them? How will we be guided in wisdom and truth if we don’t know what that is? Biblical truth is meant to be our foundation. It is meant to be the guidance for all we do, but if we lose it, or never had it because we didn’t pay attention, or weren’t interesting in learning, how then can we stand or endure?

The shifting sands of our opinions or what we want to hear will be no match for the storm that is brewing around us. Is there someone you can teach the Biblical truths that you know? Is there someone who can teach you? True, we can’t change the nation, but we must keep the light burning where we are. If each one does His or her part, it will keep the darkness, the storm, from winning.

Prayer: Father, You are my rock and my fortress. I love Your Truth. Help me to save it and share it. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Song: Praise You in the Storm