One of the Assembly of God mega-churches here in Springfield has just started a new "campus" inside a building which was a former nightclub. According to the article in our News-Leader, "part of the draw of North Point, however, is its unorthodox and slightly irreverent presentation." According to this article, they have set up their church service to imitate what someone would find in a nightclub - strobe lights, fog, a live band, etc. In fact, everything is there but the alcohol and the pole-dancing. They even have the latest Wii games in the lobbies for church-goers' entertainment!
Are you seeing anything wrong with this picture? If not, then let me ask - How can a church be "slightly irreverent" in its presentation of the Gospel? That to me is like a person saying that they are "slightly telling a lie". It's just not possible. Either you are telling a lie or you aren't. Either you are irreverent or you aren't. God is not a God of the "gray areas". He is a God of "No Compromise". He is also a God of Holiness and has commanded us to "Be holy as I am holy"! (I Peter 1:16)
This news article caused my husband and myself to ask, "What is the Church"? According to Strong's Concordance, in the Greek it means "a calling out". That makes those who belong to the Church - "the called-out ones". What have we been "called out" of? In I Peter 2:9 it says Christ "called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what fellowship has light with darkness?" Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds." (NIV)
As Christians, we are called to "GO" out into this dark world and be a light. (Matthew 28:19 & 20) Nowhere is there a command to bring the world and its darkness (meaning its culture and gods) into our churches and fellowships. If we do, then how can we be "The Called-Out Ones"?
Towards the end of this article, one visitor commented that she enjoyed this church because it was "more like her secular life than her previous church life." Another thing she enjoyed was the fact that, "You don't need to change to be here." I'm sorry, but my Bible reads - "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world." That is a definite command to change! In fact, "Repentance" itself calls for a changed lifestyle.
As Christ Himself said, "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." (John 3:19 & 20)
