Selfish Christianity
Thu May 26th, 2005
There are two basic fundamentals to Christianity.
Matt 22:37 "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' NIV
We can summarise them as relationship with God – which is the most important, and relationship with each other. Because Jesus said that relationship with God was the most important some people think that they can get away without relationships with each other. This is also vital – or Jesus would not have said it. In fact James goes so far as to call this command 'the Royal Law'James 2:8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbour as yourself," you are doing right. NIV
If it helps you think clearly, think of these two relationships as vertical to God and horizontal to each other. Whereas our relationship vertically has the priority, our relationships horizontally are vital too.
It is also true to say that these two relationships are fully embodied in the 'great commission' that Jesus gave us:
Matt 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." NIV
Vertically we receive instruction and direction from God – and He is always with us! Horizontally, we must – because we are commanded to – go and disciple all nations. We will only ever fulfil this mission that Jesus has given us if we love Him first, and love those we are sent to as well.
Jesus had compassion – we need to care for people too!
Matt 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. NIV
Having said all this, I am sure a loud "Amen" has been your response. It is easy to agree with this, because it is Bible and it summarises the very essence of what the church is here for. Yet, the challenge we have to face is whether we give assent to this without living it!
This commission from God, this pattern for living from Jesus may not seem so important when you have had a bad day. Let's face it – we all have those days when we need someone to pray for us. We need to get in the presence of God and worship him. We look forward to Sunday church so that we can enjoy the music and worship – and maybe we can go out for some ministry ourselves and receive something from God. Perhaps also the Holy Spirit will move in one of those really special ways and we will have a real touch from God.
Is there anything wrong in receiving these things from God? Of course not! Is it good to have an intimate time with the Lord? Yes, of course – it is our right as children of God to walk straight into His presence. Where we miss the point is when we ignore the instruction of scriptures like this:
1 Cor 11:20 When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat , 21 for as you eat , each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. 22 Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? NIV
What has eating the Lord's supper got to do with anything? The principle here is that when we come together as a church it is not about what we can consume, or get for ourselves. In church everything should be done for building up others.
The word for edification, sometimes translated as 'the strengthening of the church', comes form the verb to be a 'house builder'. The house being built is the Lord's church – not our own bungalow.1 Cor 14:26 How is it then, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, another language, or an interpretation. All things must be done for edification. HCSB
Solomon built a temple for God but spent almost twice as long building his own house.
1 Kings 6:38 He had spent seven years building it. 7:1 It took Solomon thirteen years, however, to complete the construction of his palace. NIV
God had to send His prophet to tell His people to stop building their own house and build His instead.
Hag 1:2 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "These people say, 'The time has not yet come for the LORD's house to be built.'" 3 Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: 4 "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your panelled houses, while this house remains a ruin?" NIV
So we see that it has not been uncommon for the priorities of God's people to be selfish.
So do we come to church to get a thrill? Do we come to get 'topped-up'? Are we arriving on Sunday morning with the hope that we will get something out of the experience? Is it all about the touch of God's Spirit on our life?
That's right – is it self, self, self?
When I see Christian's who have special meetings for the specific purpose of getting 'topped-up', I am concerned. When I hear someone saying 'I didn't get much out of the meeting today' I could almost weep – not because they didn't get much out of the meeting but because that was there motivation for coming!
If you need to eat, eat at home. If you need to get right with God, get right at home. If you have drifted and are looking for the sound of a minstrel like Elijah was (2 Kings 3:15) – put on a CD in the car. Then come to church ready to bless someone else!
The secret to getting something out of the meeting, or of receiving a special touch from the Holy Spirit is simple:
Matt 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. NIV
Our motivation should be to give rather than to receive.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." NIV
When we come to church with selfish motive we become an insular group of people who just come together to get 'high'. We could go to a bar or just down the road to that guy who sells illegal substances, but instead we do the same in church. There is a consequential 'high' of serving God and seeking first his kingdom – but seek the kingdom not the 'high'!
I have discovered over the years that the best meetings are the one's I give the most in! When I give my worship to God, as is right and fitting I am most likely to receive. When I minister to that person sat near to me who came with a burden I am most likely to lose my own. When I show love and concern to a guest I am most likely to go home having felt welcome and appreciated. When I show maximum honour to the Holy Spirit I go home with a greater touch on my life.
When we worship God and love our neighbour we get relationship right, and we sign up to God's pattern. When we follow the pattern church ceases to be a disappointing experience and becomes an expression of life itself.
Don't get into condemnation for the odd time that you are in difficulty and really need that arm around you, and that good atmosphere of people around you who care. In fact if you need it ask for ministry now! But remember it is not about having our needs met, but about how we can meet the needs of others. Let's make our normal experience of church a giving one and not a getting one.
Some people struggle over 'prosperity teaching'. I don't struggle with the fact that:
2 Cor 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. NIV
Biblical prosperity is having your needs met and having something left to give away. The problem with prosperity is when people want it for themselves. Some people stay in church because they believe it is the pathway to wealth – these people give prosperity teaching a bad reputation by only giving so that they will receive.
Let us all learn to give out of compassion, mercy and obedience. Whether it is forgiveness, mercy, love, understanding, friendship, ministry or money we will receive back in the measure we have given. The benefit should not be the motivating force – our love for God and for each other should drive us onward.
God is looking for selfless Christians today; who is ready to sign up?