Show & Tell

We have all heard the phrase “Actions speak louder than words”. It is a largely accepted view of the majority of people living in America today. We buy into it because someone can say “I love you” but not act like it. Someone can say “I forgive you” but not act like it. The list goes on and on, you can say anything you want, but if you don’t back it up with your actions, then the words become hollow and meaningless.

There are two sides to this phrase and we must examine both as believers. When we say we forgive someone, we must act forgiving, when we say we love someone, we must act lovingly. When we say we love God, we must act like it through faithful obedience. “Christians” who claim to follow Jesus but then deny him by their lifestyle are nothing but hypocrites, liars, and plastic souls. If we do not allow the gospel of Jesus Christ to change the way that we live as well as the things that we say, then we do not really understand Jesus at all.

On the other hand, we believers have let this “actions speak louder than words” mentality slip too far into our minds. We think that simply “loving people to Jesus” is the best and only way to do evangelism. We think that if we do nice things for people, meet their physical needs, and give them money, we are doing enough. Even if there has been no verbal sharing of the gospel, what the bible says, or what it means to follow Jesus, we think we have done our job by loving them with our actions.

It will always be a good thing to meet people’s physical needs. In fact we have been called to help the poor and needy in tangible and practical ways. As believers, we must back up our words with our actions, but we must not neglect the power and importance of verbal proclamation of the gospel. What good are our actions if we do not explain to the people we are attempting to “love to Jesus”, why we are doing what we are doing, how Jesus has transformed our lives, and that he loves them and wants to transform them as well? The power of the gospel message comes from a beautiful blend of actions and words and we must not be too quick to rely only on one or the other. Love people with your actions, serve them, help them, feed them, clothe them. Love people with your words as well, tell them about the bible, tell them about Jesus, and tell them about his unbelievable love for them. Through our actions and our words, the Spirit will move in the hearts of those who hear the gospel message.

My Fellow Americans

How have you been serving in the church that you currently attend? With the kids? In the kitchen? Teaching a bible study? Cleaning the toilets? Have you been serving at all? If you aren’t regularly serving in your church, then are you really a member of the body? If you are not helping the body in some way, you’re really more like a tumor than a helpful, functioning body part aren’t you? If you just show up for the late service, enjoy the music and the sermon, shake a few hands, and then leave – you are not being an active part of the body like you have been called to.

President John F. Kennedy, in one of the most famous speeches in American history proclaimed these profound words:

My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.  - John F. Kennedy

The New Testament talks about how believers are all different parts of the body of Christ and each part needs the other (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 5). The eyes need the feet to move, the feet the need the eyes to see, only the nose can smell and only the ears can hear, and without any part of the body, no matter how seemingly small, trivial, or insignificant, the body would not be whole. But a tumor is a part of the body that is taking up nutrients and space in the body, but offering the body nothing in return. It doesn’t belong there. It isn’t really a part of the body if it does not serve or benefit the body in any way.

If you are not serving your church, and you just show up to the late service, sit back and enjoy the show, and then leave, you are not benefitting the body of Christ in any way. You are selfishly sucking up nutrients offered by the body without offering anything beneficial to everyone else in return. Its about time that the American church hears something like this: My fellow Americans, ask not what your church can do for you, ask what you can do for your church. To truly be a part of a church, THE Church, we must serve. Jesus himself did not come to be served, but to serve. We must share that heart and mindset. We must not come to be served, but to serve. We must offer the body what God has gifted us with. We must stop being selfish, lazy spectating, nutrient sucking tumors of a people, and become active members of the body of Christ that expect to serve and not be served. 

Church Consumerism

When you ask someone why they go to a certain church, almost always the answer is somehow related to how the church is benefitting them. “The pastor’s sermons really fill me up.” “I really enjoy the music and the band.” “If I don’t go to this church, I don’t get my fill of God for the week.” I have heard these answers over and over again and they are weak. Even people that are going to their church simply for relational purposes are missing out on what church is supposed to be. Yes, your church should rejuvenate you, it should fill you up, you should enjoy relationship with other believers, you should enjoy singing praises to God. But God intends church to be so much more than just music, speaking, and a rejuvenating experience.

Throughout the New Testament, Paul and Peter over and over again emphasize the importance and necessity of serving the church and serving other people. God has gifted all of his followers with unique abilities, gifts, experiences, talents, and passions. Each unique person is biblically required to use these to build up the church and advance the kingdom. If you are limiting your church experience to enjoying the sermon, the music, and the fellowship, you are missing out on the full beauty of God’s established church. Those are good things, but they should be perks, not the focus. Church is not about you. It is not about what you enjoy or how talented the musicians are. It is not about just making friends or hearing a gifted orator speak truth well. Church is about serving and worshipping in community so that God might be glorified and his kingdom increased.

So many people today choose which church they go to based on themselves, their preferences, and what they enjoy the most. Too many choose which church they go to based on the giftedness of the speaker. Too many choose which church they go to based on how good the music is and if they sing the songs they like. Stop making church about you and what you like and start making your church experience about serving, worshipping, and glorifying God in community. Look for ways to serve and to share life with others who are serving with you. Look for meaningful God centered relationships whose focus is to glorify God. Look for people who are genuinely worshipping God, and not the pastor, the music, or each other. Instead of comparing and contrasting churches like you would cars you want to buy, let God guide you to the body of believers that he has prepared for you. Serve, worship, and glorify God in the community that God has designed for you.