A Recreational Church?
Many different denominations seeking to attract numbers and new converts offer
recreation as a benefit of joining their church. Entertainment and recreation
seem to be a drawing card that is hard to beat. It certainly appeals to the
lust of the flesh and mind. And what some of them wear becomes a lust of the
eyes for others. While the leadership of these groups think they are helping
people find God, they are doing nothing more than Satan's bidding.
As we examine just how much some people hold the church and serving God to be
so very important, we learn that mostly their religion is treated like a recreational
activity. For many, they will claim that God is the most important thing in
their life, but on bowling night, bowling takes precedence. Parents are to teach
kids how important it is to dedicate your life to Christ and God, but always
make sure that the kids do not miss soccer practice when done on a church night.
What does this teach the children? Parents tell their kids that church is important,
but do not demonstrate that their own lives.
Weak Christians seem to be looking for any excuse to get out of going to church.
Family matters, important ball games, children activities help these weak individuals
soothe their conscience, but such is nothing more than a lie. The truth of the
matter is that the truth is not as important as "my personal business".
It appears that to most Christians, church is treated no more importantly than
any recreational activity. It is treated like we will go to church IF nothing
gets in the way. Can a person rightly claim to be serving God when they are
only serving themselves? What else can you call it when you do not attend with
the saints at every service? Some who claim to be Christians only go to church
once a year. Does this fit with the command to lay your life down as a sacrifice
to God? Of course it does not.
Our Christianity is to be a daily effort in doing what God has instructed us
to do. Not only going to the right church is important, but all the other commands
of Christians in their behavior towards their brethren and toward those outside
of Christ. Christians are supposed to be examples to others. That is why Jesus
said for us to let our light shine. There are two reasons given for letting
our light shine. So that people can see us doing the works of God, and that
they will be inspired to worship Him. So our job is to help others get to heaven.
We do this by encouraging our brethren at church, and by setting a Christ-like
example for others to see.
We are supposed to give diligence in our actions and thoughts. Giving diligence
means to make every effort humanly possible in doing what God commands us to
do. How many of us do that? Hardly anyone does such. But that is what God desires
for us to do; so we should make as much effort as possible in serving God.
The servants of Satan are doing a much more diligent job in keeping people out
of heaven. Should we not be putting forth the same if not more amount of effort
to save souls? The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. Let's be diligent
in sharing that gospel.
By Carey Scott
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