I was talking to a man on Friday about our Church. He said he didn’t like our way of doing Church. I asked him what he meant and he said that he could not see how a Church could have a band out the front and what appeared to him to be a concert going on and so many people. He said "That’s not my idea of Church".
I was tempted to draw him out by saying "What part of our Church don’t you like - people getting saved, young and old people alike involved in worshiping Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, incredible preaching, commitment, encouragement, millions of dollars into missions and orphanages, community projects?" There was so much that I could have said, but he was on his way before I had a chance to ask him about HIS Church or if he even attended! (Yeah I know, my attitude wasn’t all that good either.)
I have to admit I felt annoyed at what I thought was his ignorance and arrogance when he spoke about the Church we attend. I feel that way when any Bible based Church is denigrated or dismissed.
Yesterday morning and night at Hillsong Church was a time of wonderful worship and preaching. I love being a part of what God is doing in our Church and I see the commitment, dedication, and Godly leadership of our Pastors. We were encouraged to be involved in reaching out to people in our workplaces with the love of Jesus and as always, there were people who gave their lives to the Lord.
We also watched a TV interview about our Pastor, Brian Houston, last night after Church. Usually in such interviews he is a SHEEP AMONG WOLVES who are hungry to give their preconceived slant on the Churches finances. The interview was fairer than others I have seen and Brian spoke so well in answering the deliberately provocative questions.
Jesus said in Matthew 10:16 (NLT) "Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves."