Don’t Worry… Be Happy! 2 Of 2

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH? Many folks have many different ideas about what the purpose of the church is. For example:

(1) Some seem to think the purpose of the church is for us to come together and see if we can build a more beautiful church building than the church down the street.

Illus: In Columbia, South Carolina, a church built a beautiful church building that cost in the millions. Well, a lot of folks who think that is the purpose of the church left their churches and started attending that beautiful church. One of the churches affected decided they would buy a forty-thousand dollar chandelier for the foyer of their church, hoping it would draw back all the people who left their church.

A national television documentary did a story on this movement among some churches. They showed a large Baptist church in Texas, building a church that cost over 13 million.

Well another church with a nice church building decided they had better build one at least as nice to keep up with this church and so they did.

Then the big church built a nice gymnasium, and, you’ve got it, so did the other church.

The big church built a nice bowling alley for their congregation, and of course so did the other church.

The big church built a Christian theater, and so did the other church.

The documentary showed how both of these churches were trying to outdo each other to draw a crowd.

WHY DO THEY DO THIS?

It is a statistical fact that if you build a nice building in this day and age, even if you preach out of a Sear’s and Roebuck Catalog, you are going to attract large numbers of people.

(2) Some seem to think the purpose of the church is to compete with the local YMCA and see if they can offer every kind of activity people could want.

Listen every church should strive to have as beautiful a church building as they can possibly provide for the Lord’s work. And every church should strive to have as many good wholesome activities as they can provide for their church families. But that is not the purpose of the church.

We have a major misunderstanding here when it comes to the purpose of the church.

Illus: Did you hear about the misunderstanding in the days before the church had indoor plumbing facilities?

An English woman was planning a trip to Germany. She was registered to stay in a small guest house owned by the local schoolmaster. She was concerned as to whether the guest house contained a WC. (In England, a bathroom is commonly called a WC which stands for water closet.)

She wrote the schoolmaster inquiring into the location of the nearest WC.

The school master, not fluent in English, asked the local priest if he knew the meaning of WC. Together they pondered possible meanings of the letters and concluded that the lady wanted to know if there was a "Wayside Chapel" near the house. (A bathroom never entered their minds)

So the schoolmaster wrote the following reply:

Dear Madam,

I take great pleasure in informing you that the WC is

located 9 miles from the house. It is located in the

middle of a grove of pine trees, surrounded by lovely

grounds. It is capable of holding 229 people at once and is open on Sundays and Thursdays. As there are many people expected in the summer months, I suggest you arrive early. There is, however, plenty of standing room. This is an unfortunate situation especially if you are in the habit of going regularly.

It may be of some interest to you that my daughter was married in the WC as it was there that she met her husband. It was a wonderful event.

There were 10 people in every seat. It was wonderful to see the

expressions on their faces. My wife, sadly, has been ill and unable to go recently. It has been almost a year since she went last, which pains her greatly.

You will be pleased to know that many people bring their lunch and make a day of it. Others prefer to wait till the last minute and arrive just in time! I would recommend your ladyship plan to go on a Thursday

as there is an organ accompaniment.

The acoustics are excellent and even the most delicate sounds can

be heard everywhere.

The newest addition is a bell which rings every time a person enters. We are holding a bazaar to provide plush seats for all since many feel it is long needed.

I look forward to escorting you there myself and seating you in a place where you can be seen by all.

With deepest regards,