Collision Course With Reality Series

We feel threatened and challenged by the real world. We are often in our own little world like the crew members of an airliner; we have no idea what is going on in the lives of passengers who briefly occupy the seats (pews) in our isolated little world. We do not "mix" with them out of fear of contamination. We are just "company men," loyal to this illusion of "purity" and forgetting that we exist to serve the passengers and help them connect with their destination and purpose.

Because of this self-righteousness, we so often ignore the call of God to touch the suffering, the sinful, the poor and the diseased.

You just need to watch any Christian television and it is obvious that our attitudes, words, dress, and ideas are outdated and even dangerous. It represents a crystallized, antiquated, ineffective, even humorous display of a way of life that has not existed in years. (Movie with Brandon Fraser).

Normal people may want to occasionally visit a museum; they surely do not want to live there! Seekers today want reality; they don’t want to sit and stare at a taxidermy of a prehistoric beast. Seekers are hungry. They want some answers, and the seeker wants God. Often all we have to offer them is a program, a song list, or best sermon of the week.

To those who are weak, I became weak so I could win the weak. I have become all things to all people so I could save some of them in any way possible. I do all this because of the Good News and so I can share in its blessings.

(1 Cor. 9:22-23 NCV)

5. Superficiality.

For various reasons, the Church is too often a haven of unreality. I think we’ve all grown weary of plastic smiles, empty questions, and dishonest responses.

Someone says, "How are you doing?" Our response is: "Great, great; filled with faith and power"-the way religion teaches us to say. Perhaps we should be honest: "My heart is broken, I’m lonely, and I don’t think I can tolerate my boss, my kids, or you for another minute."

If we never deal with the real issues, we will never grow, and others will never be attracted to our Christian lives.

They were amazed at his teaching, for he taught as one who had real authority-quite unlike the teachers of religious law. (Mark 1:22 NLT)

Sally Morgenthaler wrote in her book, Worship Evangelism, "Many people have had enough. They have had their fill of superficial, human-centered services, and they simply are not going to take it anymore. Some may still come to church to hear comedy routines and watch "the show," but increasing numbers do not-they come to meet with God."

And Chuck Lofy says, "When the church is no longer transparent to the divine and people don’t feel the presence of God, they will drift…"

They offer superficial treatments for my people’s mortal wound. They give assurances of peace when all is war. Are they ashamed when they do these disgusting things? No, not at all-they don’t even blush! (Jer. 8:11 NLT)

It seems to me that much of the Church is hungry for some meat and potatoes. Youth do not want to be babysat, adults want some definite answers, and the seeker wants God. People are increasingly hungry for the presence of God. Where is God in our services? Do we give him a hologram every morning? How can we connect better with the presence of Jesus?