04.18
Old Truth posted a link to some photos of what you might call a “Seeker-Sensitive Potty”. I don’t know what’s more disturbing. The fact that they are willing to turn the restroom into a Disneyland ride in order to get people to come to church or the fact that having a sign that mentions an oil change in a men’s room doesn’t seem to bother them. But seriously, I’m more taken aback by what the pastor said when interviewed about it:
“Part of the mission statement at Christ’s Family Church is to proclaim God’s reconciling love through Jesus Christ to neighbors, co-workers and friends,” he said. “The men’s room is just one of the many ways this church is trying to accomplish this mission. We are willing to go to any lengths, use any means necessary, to bring people closer to Christ.”
His statement reminds me of a question Greg Koukl asked a caller a long time ago. Do you think that God’s main enterprise is to get as many people saved as possible? If you stop and think about it for a minute, that’s a very interesting question. If you’re like me, you will find that your knee-jerk reaction to that question is mixed. I feel like I should answer yes, but at the same time I instinctively know that the answer is no. We cheapen our worship when we get down on all fours and beg people to come to church. Just look at the exchange Jesus had with the rich young ruler as an example:
A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ’Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”
The rich man wanted in, and instead of throwing the doors open wide, Jesus shrank the door down to the size of the eye of a needle. People freak every time I say this, but church is for Christians. Evangelism should be done in the marketplace – out on the streets where the people are. I think that’s pretty obvious from the scriptures. Don’t stand in the church threshold and scream at people as they walk by, begging them to come in and hear your sales pitch. Walk out the door and engage them where they are.
