Why Things Go Wrong in Churches?
Often, people come to a Church in a time of crisis and because they have a need they hope the Church can satisfy. It may be a physical need. It may be an emotional need. It may be because they perceive that something deeper is missing from their life, an unmet spiritual need. Churches absolutely can and should help. But the Church is far more than just another welfare agency. Being a Christian is far more than simply doing good. Attending Church is about far more than having our needs met. We can fall into the trap of making Church all about us, when, in reality, Church is all about Jesus. The bible says that Jesus is, “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. In him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church...” (Colossians 1:15-18). How can anything be more important than him?
Imagine you’re at a concert. You pick the performer. As the concert begins, the stage is dimly lit. You can see people on the stage but not in great detail. Then a spotlight comes on and in the pool of light, centre stage, is the performer that you’ve come to see. If you can picture that, you have a sense of how Jesus and the Church fit together. Jesus is the focus of everything we do. Even though we all play a part, he is the soloist, standing in the circle of light. We’re not here to draw attention to ourselves. We’re here to shine a light on Jesus.
Sadly, that’s not always the case. In some Churches, the spotlight is on the people out the front – preachers, musicians, and so on. In others, the focus is on the style of worship. Our attention has shifted away from Jesus. The bible says of these Churches, “They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow” (Colossians 2:19). Good preaching, inspiring music, and uplifting worship are wonderful blessings, except when they push Jesus off centre stage and into the shadows. This is where Churches go wrong.
A Church that keeps Jesus in the spotlight where we can all see him, and know him, and learn from him, and serve him, is a good Church.
Neil Percival
Young District Anglican Ministry
Imagine you’re at a concert. You pick the performer. As the concert begins, the stage is dimly lit. You can see people on the stage but not in great detail. Then a spotlight comes on and in the pool of light, centre stage, is the performer that you’ve come to see. If you can picture that, you have a sense of how Jesus and the Church fit together. Jesus is the focus of everything we do. Even though we all play a part, he is the soloist, standing in the circle of light. We’re not here to draw attention to ourselves. We’re here to shine a light on Jesus.
Sadly, that’s not always the case. In some Churches, the spotlight is on the people out the front – preachers, musicians, and so on. In others, the focus is on the style of worship. Our attention has shifted away from Jesus. The bible says of these Churches, “They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow” (Colossians 2:19). Good preaching, inspiring music, and uplifting worship are wonderful blessings, except when they push Jesus off centre stage and into the shadows. This is where Churches go wrong.
A Church that keeps Jesus in the spotlight where we can all see him, and know him, and learn from him, and serve him, is a good Church.
Neil Percival
Young District Anglican Ministry