Some Serious Shopping

TITLE: Some Serious Shopping
DATE: June 13, 2019
TEXT: Ps 145: 8-10 – ESV 18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
    he also hears their cry and saves them. 20 The Lord preserves all who love him,
    but all the wicked he will destroy.

Christ is risen! He is risen  indeed. Speaking on The Lutheran Hour taught me there are some very real advantages and disadvantages to having an unseen audience.
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For example, when I was preaching in the parish, I could see when the sermon was putting people to sleep; or when the words were hitting home (that’s when the wives would give their husbands an elbow in the ribs.)

Being on the radio it’s impossible to know when a hundred thousand folks have pushed the button, or turned the dial to another station. You can understand if I say that’s frightening.

Almost as frightening as a report put out by the Southern Baptist Convention which says that many protestants, displeased with their pastors and parishes are going God shopping.

The article said most of these folks joined a new church because their old congregation

• failed to engage their faith,
• use their talents, or
• seemed hypocritical or judgmental.

A large percentage of people moved because they had found a fellowship which offered more appealing doctrines and preaching, or the membership seemed more “authentic.” 

How sad.
Now if you are among the many who are going “God shopping”, please allow me to share a few thoughts.

• If you feel your talents aren’t being used… tell the pastor. If you’re still not used… tell him again.
• If your church seems hypocritical or judgmental… you’ve got to go to heaven to find a congregation which isn’t. Christ’s churches are designed to call sinners to repentance, and offer forgiveness to those are sorrowful.
• If your church isn’t authentic… they probably need your vision to help them be re-authenticated.

If you’re going God shopping to find a place with more appealing doctrines… hear the Psalmist: “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.” God’s truth is of paramount importance!

The bottom line is this: we don’t need a god Who is created in our own image. We don’t need a church which tells us what we want to hear. We need a congregation which clearly calls us from our sins… which shares the Savior’s story of salvation… which assures the troubled of God’s forgiveness. That’s a church worth joining… and supporting. That’s a place where the pastor and people need us to encourage them.

That’s a church where God can find us.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, for Your love, Your truth, Your fellowship of the faithful, I give thanks. Send Your Holy Spirit upon my pastor and congregation so we may be pointing others to the greatness of You grace. In Your Son’s Name I pray it. Amen.

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html