Christ and Him Crucified

I am worried. Maybe concerned is a better word. Actually it's probably more like a burden more than anything.

As a pastor in America I see all around me men who claim to be followers of Christ pastoring the church but only seek attention for themselves and their "church" in the name of being relevant or reaching the lost. Yet, when Christ lived and then as the apostles carried on the work of Christ through the Holy Spirit it seems to me that they never desired attention for themselves.

In fact, Paul seems to think the true sign of a follower of Christ is his lowliness (stating the apostles were the "scum of the earth" in 1 Corinthians 4). I believe I remember Christ even mentioning such a think when he talked about those who would follow in His footsteps - that they would be hated and persecuted (doesn't he even mention something about carrying our cross?).

So then, if the model is to at all costs sacrifice ourselves and our comfort why is it that these "rock star" pastors - in their middle-class clothes standing in million dollar facilities, video streaming their image to thousands of people, and living in houses that most of the worldwide church could not even afford to rent a room in - Why are they our beloved image of Christianity?

I'll answer why...because in America it's easier to just be American first and Christian second than to truly follow Christ. Now am I exempt from these same condemnations that the truth of Christ brings against these men? No, unfortunately. I must constantly re-evaluate my life, and must continue to make strides denying myself for His sake. But to glorify this "rock star" pastor image as the way Christ intended the church to be is simply un-Biblical.

What gets me the most is this new movement to "celebrate" numbers. Are we serious? As if the American culture of business had not infiltrated our church enough now we are going to make it all about numbers? And then to justify this by saying that the Bible has numbers in it. Seriously? You are going to take the fact that Luke was estimating the number of people who experienced the coming of the Spirit and equate that with your prideful need to tell the world how many people you baptized so that you can be the next big thing in American Christianity...

Isn't it interesting that Jesus reserved his harshest condemnations for the religious leaders of his day and many times it was about the attention they were drawing to themselves by praying eloquently in the middle of the city? Just a thought...but what's different about that and projecting yourself on video screens to multiple campuses and putting yourself on TV because you've been "gifted" with worldly communication skills? God uses the weak to confuse the strong, and the unwise to confuse the wise. Moses had a speech problem and yet led Israel out of Egypt and Paul was apparently so unimpressive in some way that the Corinthians were embarrassed of him. Just think about it.

No one is even going to read this blog, maybe because I don't care to be a pastor who simply draws people to myself and calls that Christianity, but I just pray for God to bring persecution to the church in America and maybe our "pop culture" bad excuse for the church will be purified and become more about a crucified and risen Savior than glorifying man.

"I resolve to know only Christ and Him crucified" - Paul, the apostle

I challenge you to read Matthew's account of Jesus' teaching on tithing, prayer, and fasting during the Sermon on the Mount and compare it to what the popular mega-church pastors/movement is promoting. Judge all things by Scripture, not by culture. If the Gospel condemns it, then it must be corrected. If it confirms it, then all glory to God.