One In Jesus

In most churches, worship is where a potential convert first encounters the church as community. It’s a public event — advertised as such. And it obviously is intended to communicate who we are as a people.

Well, it’s obvious to visitors. We often get so caught up in our internal, selfish concerns that we forget entirely that the visitors see worship is an expression of who we are. But that’s how we’ll be seen.

I mean, like it or not, when someone goes to Wal-Mart or a movie or an office building, they are judging that place and the people there by what they see and experience, be that fair or unfair. It’s the nature of modern America.

Hence, we are going to be judged by our buildings, our foyers, our lawns, and our behavior during worship. It’s a hard, true, brutal, unchangeable fact. We can use it for God’s glory or we can be used to God’s shame. It’s our choice. Continue reading →