Are You Dancing?

An Organ Grinder was someone who traveled around town and played a tune on a portable organ for money. Oftentimes the grinder would have a monkey with him who would dance to the music and would walk around and collect money from those observing.

I bring up Organ Grinders because the church often reminds me of the monkey who dances around when the music starts playing. The question is, “Who is playing the music?”

I think the music makers are those that are not Christians or those that leave you wondering if they are.

For some reason the church (Christians) think that they have to dance (keep in step, imitate, copy) those that are not Christians. We act like them, dress like them, talk like them, and have many, if not most, of the habits and ways of those who are not going to Heaven.

There is no holiness in the church just conformity. If it feels good, looks good or sounds good, do it.

“God loves all kinds of music because he invented it all – fast and slow, loud and soft, old and new. You probably don’t like it all, but God does” Purpose Driven Life, page 65

What if the music glorifies self, sex, or sin? God approves?

Some would say that the church just wants to be relevant and culturally in-touch. That seems to be what Rick Warren wants for the church. The social gospel is more important than preaching Christ and Him crucified. It seems that if your church is not drawing lost people to it then you are dead in the water. That's why you need to buy this product or that subscription to boost your numbers and get'em comin'.

But how are you going to draw lost people to church without entertaining them? If church is not entertaining then they do not want to come. But when was the church supposed to be about fun and entertainment? I thought it was about lifting up the holiness of God, the sinfulness of men and teaching His people to do the work of the ministry.

What I see going on is a major down-playing of beliefs and more of a "feeling" type of salvation.

On page 34 of Purpose Driven Life Warren says: “God won’t ask about your religious background or doctrinal views. The only thing that will matter is, did you accept what Jesus did for you and did you learn to love and trust him?”

What Jesus are we talking about here? The Jehovah Witnesses version, the Emergent version, the Catholic version, or the Jesus in the Bible?

Doctrinal views are your belief system. They are inseparable.

I think one of the big problems here is one word-Compromise.

You see, our goal in church should not be to fill it up. Our goal should be to point people to Christ and to encourage them to imitate Him. We should learn more about denying self instead of pleasing self. We need to hear that we are sinners hopeless without Christ and that we need to be abandoned to Christ. But...that does not make people come back. Little Johnny did not like the preacher talking about Hell being a real place. Dad did not like the preacher preaching against self-help techniques. Mom did not like when the preacher preached on submission.

So, where does that leave us? Rick Warren wants to make the lost man comfortable. And then we wonder why the church has lost its flavor (salt) and why world looks at us and laughs. We act no different than the cussing, drinking, staring at women, cheating on taxes, griping, lazy man who cares nothing about going to Heaven.

Why should the world take notice of us? Why should they be impressed with Christianity? When the people (Christians) who represent Christianity do their best to look like the world they are bringing reproach on themselves, the church and ultimately, Jesus.

We are called to be in this world, not of it. The world around us should see a striking difference between ourselves and those who care nothing about the cross of Christ.

What tune are you dancing to?