December 1, 2007
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Naphtali News: Reflections on the Journey-Part 2: "WHAT *I* WANT" in a Church
A while back I came across a website that listed "16 Things to Look for in a Church."[1] 9Marks has also formulated a list of nine marks (hence the name) which distinguish "churches that reflect the character of God." I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who have made their own lists of "Things to Look for in a Church." I know that I often find myself talking with people about the things they look for and value in a church.
We have been visiting various congregations for just over two months now, but I have been hesitant to write my own list of "Things to Look for in a Church."
For quite some time now, far before I knew we would be leaving our last church, I have been reflecting on what I consider non-negotiables or essentials in a church body, thinking through these things in my head and putting down scribbled thoughts hither and yon. Now that we are between church homes, this process has taken on a new hue. Over the course of the past few weeks, I have begun to write down my list of things to look for in a church.
As I began to make this list--initially in my head--and now in writing, it is all too easy to allow this whole process deteriorate into my dictating to God "WHAT *I* WANT" in a Church Body. I mean why shouldn't I be able to place my order with God for "WHAT *I* WANT" in a church in the same way I would place an order from a catalog such as the one on which those very words appeared?After all, that's the American way, isn't it? Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness and getting "WHAT *I* WANT," right? After all, "WHAT *I* WANT" would make me happy ...wouldn't it? And doesn't God want me to be happy?
Pursuing "WHAT *I* WANT" with disregard to what God wants is the way of the sinful self. "I'll do it my way." "Have it your way." "Me first." "Looking out for Numero Uno." "I've got a right to ... " "But I'm entitled to ..." When we find ourselves thinking or saying such things it is a stark reminder that indeed all we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way... We are all are prone to wander...and prone to sin. Prone to pursue and exalt our way over God's way. But we know what the Bible says about that: There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
James reminds us that each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. When I do not guard my mind, when I begin thinking too much about "WHAT *I* WANT," I am drawn away by those very desires and sin. In this case the sin would be for me to so want "WHAT *I* WANT" that I would refuse to submit to what God wants.
Seeking "WHAT *I* WANT" was not the way of Jesus. Jesus did not come to do His own will but the will of His Father who sent HIm. But not only that--but we see that our Savior delighted in doing His Father's will. Behold, I come; In the scroll of the Book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God. Psalm 40:7. Jesus steadfastly set His face to finish all the Father had given to Him, including drinking the cup which the Father placed before Him. The Son of God willingly submitted His will to the will of His Father. The life of Christ was (and still is) a continuous Gethsemane prayer of sweet submission to His Father: "Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done."
Seeking "WHAT *I* WANT" is not to be the way of a disciple of Jesus. Only by dying can we have true life. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me: and where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. John 12:24-26. We are called to submit our whole lives--our hearts, minds, souls and strength--to loving the LORD our God. That love manifests itself in submission to His will. As we grasp His love for us, we take up His call to no longer to live for ourselves but for Him who died for us and redeemed us with His precious blood. We are called to deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow Him. Like the life of Christ, our lives also ought to be a continuous Gethsemane prayer to God: "Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done."
When a friend saw the catalog on which the phrase "WHAT *I* WANT" was written, she commented, "The 'I' is so big."
Exactly. The "I" is so big. The advertisers know all about original sin. They know the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve are selfish and self-centered and out to please ourselves. We are all about getting our own way. It started back in the garden with the first Adam. We are all about "WHAT *WE* WANT." (I wonder if sometimes the advertisers have a better grasp on theology, at least as far as the fallen condition of man goes, than some churches out there.)
Time and again the will of man collides with the will of God. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. Apart from Christ, the will of man cannot be bent to the will of God, much as we may try. In our own strength we simply cannot will ourselves to do God's will. The *I* is so big. That's why Jesus had to come--to set us free from the power of that big *I*. So we could be empowered both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Only as we put on the Lord Jesus Christ, can we make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
In short, we become idolaters when we begin to pursue "WHAT *I* WANT" rather than what God wants. Let us pray along with John Wesley[2]:
Above all, deliver me, O my God, from all idolatrous self-love. I know O God (blessed be your infinite mercy for giving me this knowledge) that this is the root of all evil. I know you made me not to do my own will but yours. I know the very corruption of the devil is the having of a will contrary to yours. Oh, be my helper against this most dangerous of all idols, that I may both discern all its subtleties and withstand all its force. O you who have commanded me to renounce myself, give me strength, and I will obey your command. My choice and desire is to love myself, as all other creatures, in and for you. Oh let your almighty arm so stablish, strengthen, and settle me that you may ever be the ground and pillar of all my love.
By this love of you, my God, may my soul be fixed against its natural inconstancy; by this may it be reduced to an entire indifference as to all things else, and simply desire what is pleasing in your sight. May this holy flame ever warm my breast, that I may serve you with all my might; and let is consume in my heart all selfish desires, that I may in all things regard not myself but you.
Now with the Christmas shopping season in full force, our mailboxes (virtual and real), newspapers (I just about needed a crane to lift that Thanksgiving paper, didn't you?), and television sets are overflowing with messages telling us that we are entitled to have what we want. Advertisers dangle slick and enticing images, clever sayings, and catchy tunes and jingles in front of us along with the promise of "Bliss" in return for buying their product, thus appealing to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
This is nothing new. As we know Satan used a similar tactic quite successfully in Eden and continues to masquerade as an angel of light.[3]
Even as Christ followers we struggle with our old man, or old self, but through Christ we can put off the old man and its desires and put on the new man, as Paul's describes in Romans 6 and Galatians 5:
...reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law...And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.As I search for a new church home, it is too easy to become like one of those Drive Through Church customers. To make my list of "Things to Look for in a Church" an idol. I could make my list of non-negotiables and decide on a new church home solely on what would make me feel good and get me to that elusive state of bliss. My old self thinks I am entitled to place my order with God at the Drive Through Church, drive ahead to the pick-up window and expect to receive my "Bliss meal™"--a bag packed with "WHAT *I* WANT" in a church home, and maybe even a special holiday toy to boot--all in less than five minutes.
The tricky part of this is that the list of things I value in a church may be quite Scriptural, but if I pursue "WHAT *I* WANT," if I pursue my list rather than the will of God, I am making my list an idol. Making a list of what I consider essential in a church could tempt me to begin to play God and decide I know better than God about where I should be. I could begin to demand of God that I should be in a certain type of church and that He ought to kowtow to "WHAT *I* WANT" in a Church. Or my scheming nature might lead me to engage God in a theological discussion about the distinctives of the New Testament church in a clever attempt to get God to agree with "WHAT *I* WANT," to affirm my choice of a particular church. "You know, God, this particular church most resembles the New Testament Church, so You want me there, don't You?" And I imagine God would answer me with words similar to those He spoke to Job: "So, Karen, where were you when I formed the Church?" Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth.
Only through the Holy Spirit can I begin to put off my own desires, to cast off "WHAT *I* WANT," and wholeheartedly clothe my heart and mind with "WHAT *GOD* WANTS." I must present myself to God to allow Him to transform my mind and my desires so they might be more and more conformed to His perfect desires.
Perhaps God will lead me to a church that very much resembles the New Testament Church.
But perhaps not.
Perhaps God will lead me to a place that very much has many things on my list of things I consider essential in a Church.
But perhaps not.
At this point I don't know--so we continue the journey.
As I continue this journey I must keep in mind that it isn't about "WHAT *I* WANT," but "WHAT *GOD* WANTS." I must keep my eyes on Him rather than "WHAT *I* WANT" and I need to ask Him "WHAT *HE* WANTS" from me and really listen. Then I must be ready to offer myself to submit wholeheartedly to "WHAT *HE* WANTS," even if it might be a place that has only a few of the things on my list.
The Lord's prayer would be of great assistance to me in this process:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name
Your Kingdom come
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven...and Your will be done in my life...
When we look for a new church home on the basis of "WHAT *I* WANT," we forget that the we are members of the Church first and foremost to bring glory, honor, praise and blessing to God. God's sovereign hand places each one of His children in a particular part of His Body as it pleases Him. He is constructing His Church out of living stones and has a particular place for each every stone. God doesn't just haphazardly throw people together and call it His Church. He is building a habitation for His Spirit. He is constructing His Church with great care.
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.-Ephesians 2:19-22
You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.-I Peter 2:5Being part of the Church is not about what *we* get out of it. It's about God being lifted up, exalted and glorified. He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that is all things He may have the preeminence. Colossians 1:18. Everyone who is called by my name, Whom I have created for My glory. . . This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise. Isaiah 40:7a, 21.
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus.[4]It's all about You, Jesus. Help me remember that.
As a lump of clay I cannot direct the Potter how to mold me and kind of vessel I want to be.
As a creature, as a daughter of Eve, I cannot counsel or advise my Creator, the one who made Adam from dirt and Eve from Adam's rib.
As a member of the Body of Christ, I cannot tell the Head of the Body where in His Body I ought to be.
As a living stone, I cannot tell the one who builds His Church where to place me and how to build His holy temple.
As one redeemed by the slain Lamb's precious blood, I cannot dictate to the Suffering Servant where and how I ought to serve.
As a child, I must not pout, kick and scream, but I must be about my Father's business and trust my heavenly Father who knows what I need even before I ask.
As one bought out of slavery the only right I have is to willingly offer myself to my new Master and allow Him to send me where He wills.
As a citizen of the heavenly Kingdom, I must seek and serve my King and His Kingdom rather than my own.
As a partaker of the divine nature, help me, Holy Spirit, to live a life no longer enslaved to my own self and my own desires but set free to offer myself as a slave to God and His desires.I am no longer my own, but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for you or laid aside for you, exalted for you or brought low for you; let me be full, let me be empty; let me have all things, let me have nothing; I freely and heartily yield all things to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you are mine, and I am yours. So be it. And the Covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of the his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, now and ever.[5]...not My will, but Yours, be done.For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things,
to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:36"It's all about You, Jesus."
Coming soon: My list of "Things to look for in a church"...
Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.[1] HT: http://www.alittleleaven.com/2007/07/the-most-superf.html.
[2] John Wesley's A Collection of Forms of Prayer for Every Day in the Week, first printed in 1733, found in "John and Charles Wesley: Selected Writings and Hymns, ed. Frank Whaling (New York: Paulist Press, 1981), 81.
[3] By no means am I saying advertising is all of the devil, but we can see that it often utilizes techniques which appeal to our sinful, selfish nature. The intent of advertising is to get the consumer to look on the company favorably and ultimately to get the consumer to buy their product or service, thus increasing their bottom line. Hence the need to package the product or service offered as necessary, attractive, winsome, pleasing and inviting to the consumer. See "The Wiles of the Devil."
[4] From: "The Heart of Worship," Matt Redman. ©1999 Kingsway's Thankyou music.
Lyrics are subject to US Copyright Laws and are the property of their respective authors, artists and labels. Commercial use prohibited.[5] Excerpt from "A Service for Such as Would Make or Renew Their Covenant with God [A Modern Adaptation]" found in "John and Charles Wesley: Selected Writings and Hymns," 387.
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