Today I preached the gospel and it cost me dearly, it cost because it was rejected and although I felt that God was with me, and certainly in the evening service I felt the compassion and love of God for the congregation, it cost...
It cost because it was rejected by some, and angrily by a few, certainly at the last service, angry because they did not come to be challenged, they came to have their Christmas kicked off with a warm and to leave with a warm fuzzy glow. I suggested to them that there was nothing warm and fuzzy about the story and they responded that if we wanted to win families then we would have to be more entertaining. Well we do run a very successful Messy Church, and do a good work amongst families, but I would contend that if we do that and fail to call people to real discipleship then we are missing the point.
The church is not a social club that will make us feel better, of course it has a social element, and through the message of the church we can call folk to discover and share real joy and peace; but the church are called as followers of Christ to be salt and light to a world in need, to bring out the God colours and God flavours of this world.
Jesus came not to tickle the ears of the comfortable but to free the oppressed, to bring sight to the blind, and to release the captive! Though it is important to hold an open and welcoming door to all who will come, it is impossible to give everyone the entertainment they want, and each one of us needs to make a response to the gospel message. If we reject it because it discomforts us then we loose a great and very real treasure...
The choice is ours...
