A Congregation That Has Everything
By John Hendrix
Last Monday a coworker came to my cubicle brimming with enthusiasm. "I've finally found the congregation that I've been looking for!"
For months he had been saying he was unsatisfied and unfulfilled at his present congregation. He had begun visiting around, looking for a better place.
"This congregation has everything!" he gushed. He proceeded to describe it in detail. The auditorium was big, ornate and comfortable. The choir dressed in rich robes and sang like the angels must. The preacher's voice was rich and melodic; He made you feel warm and happy just listening to him!
They had a dining hall for the whole congregation, and the catering was fantastic. They had a gym and a workout room where the members could meet daily in a wholesome environment. (All of the children look healthy and involved!) They even had a lounge with a large-screen TV where anyone could watch clean movies and educational videos.
And all of their ministries! The had a "Mother's Day Out" and a "Kid's Night In." They had a free clinic and a homeless shelter downtown. They sponsored drug programs and financial planning lectures. They even had a clever "Youth Outreach" program for the inner city: They gave picnic dinners while holding lectures on anger management and community consciousness.
"I tell you," he repeated at the end of his description, "this place has everything! Who could possibly want more?"
He moved on, and, as I went back to work, I contemplated this amazing congregation. "What more could one what?" I wondered.
Soon a different coworker showed up at the doorway as equally enthusiastic as the first. "I've found the most wonderful congregation!" He began. I assumed he had stumbled upon the same group of people that the earlier coworker had found.
"Let me guess," I interrupted. "The auditorium was large and rich with wonderful acoustics?"
He looked a little confused. "Not really," he said. "Actually, not at all. It was kind of small and rather plain in fact."
I realized that he must have found a different congregation with only some of the good things that the other congregation had. "Was there a nice fellowship hall for dining?"
His brows sort of furrowed, "Uh, no. There was no dining hall at all."
"A good gym or workout room? A lounge?"
"None of those things."
"Then it must be all of their ministries?" I prompted.
His faced lightened a moment, but then he looked cautious. "What do you mean by "ministry?"
"You know. Clinics or shelters, stuff like that."
"They didn't have anything like that," he said with a bit of a frown.
I had not meant to "rain on his parade." I felt sorry for him. I guess the congregation was not so great after all. I didn't want to be rude, though. Maybe there was still something good about the group. "So," I began, "what did you like about the place?"
"Actually," he said, "it has very little to do with the place; it's the people."
He began to regain the earlier enthusiasm, "These people are so kind and friendly! You could see them talking to each other before and after worship. They truly seemed to love each other. I think every one of them came up to me and made me feel welcome!"
"And their worship!" he continued. "I mean, they were a bit off key, but they sang their hearts out! They all sang with the joy of heaven on their lips. They praised God as though He were right there in their midst! The prayers sounded genuine and unrehearsed. The preaching was entirely based on the scriptures; the preacher seemed to take himself out of the picture. He just talked about God's word and nothing more."
"Then the Bible class!" His face took on a look of rapture. "Their respect for God's word was clear from the beginning all of the way through. They discussed the scriptures vigorously. They were respectful to each other, and kind, but they challenged themselves to be sure every conclusion was truly from the Bible. There was very little of 'I think' and a whole lot of 'the Bible says.' I was amazed at the amount of participation and the amount of Bible knowledge that everyone seemed to possess.
"They encouraged me like I've never been encouraged before! They made me remember how important it is to worship God and live right. They have me looking forward to the next assembly and eager to talk to others about Jesus.
"I'm telling you," he concluded, "They have God in their heart and in their lives. This congregation has everything!"
As he walked away I was amazed by what I had heard this morning. Two very different congregations had the same testimony from two very different men.
I suppose in this age of "to each his own" I might say how wonderful it is that "Christianity" provides such a wide range of groups so that everyone can have it their way. But is God really like Burger King? Do the scriptures ever hint that He likes man's way? Do they not, instead, emphasize that God determines what is good? And doesn't the church belong to Christ?
Of course we should enjoy worship, but isn't our worship about God and not about us? Are we praising God or entertaining ourselves? Are we preaching salvation in heaven, or have we given up on heaven and are just trying to make the best of things on earth?
Who really has everything: the congregation that caters to the outer man that is perishing, or the one who looks to the inner man who will live eternally?
Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:31-33)
But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come. (1 Corinthians 11:34)
For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)
O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. (Jeremiah 10:23)
"This is what the LORD spoke, saying: 'By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.' " (Leviticus 10:3)
Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him." (John 6:26-27)