I WANT A
CHURCH THAT MEETS MY NEEDS
By:
William Woodson, Via Rivergate Messenger
The statement made in the
title is not only the desire of many in the religious world, but is becoming
the philosophy of many Christians, because many of us are seeking a religion
that "meets our needs." The
phrase itself has virtually become a new religious term. Many persons praise or blame a particular
congregation because it is or is not "meeting my needs."
Let me hasten to say that if
the phrase means that we need to satisfy spiritual hunger, then it is a good
expression. For surely
everyone ought to be in a Christian community where his/her deepest spiritual
longings are being addressed. The
voice of God needs to be heard through spiritual teaching, and we need
opportunities to serve, love, and be called to repentance.
But being
a part of the church, to some, means reaching for goals of
"self-actualization."
So, if the church doesn't fulfill certain expectations, wants and preferences,
then they must move on to another emotional department store with different
merchandise more appealing to their tastes.
Sadly, and probably without
realizing it, many congregations have gotten into thinking that "we have
to do all these things and plan all the activities to meet people's needs so
they won't leave." Consequently,
well-meaning leaders have turned God's church into a merchandising institution. So we promote this program and that program
for this group and that group.
But, in my judgment, the
system has become turned upside down from the way God intended it to be. Whatever happened to the attitude in a
Christian's heart of "I'd like to be a part of this congregation because of
what I can do to meet its needs?"
When are we most fulfilled? When
our needs are met? Or when we meet the
needs of God's church on this earth? We
ought to be a part of a congregation not so that our needs can be met, but
rather so that we may best meet the needs of God's work.
Christians need to recall the
truth of the Scriptures that personal fulfillment is a great spiritual
paradox. We are most filled when we
empty ourselves and be filled serving others.
Jesus taught us, ".....whosoever will be great among you, let him
be your minister (servant)....even as the Son of man came not to be ministered
unto, but to minister (serve) (Matthew
20:26-28). Paul said of his own heart,
"I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth
in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the
Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians
Let's not demand that God's
church be a place where people (leadership and membership) cater to our desires
and preferences. Let's turn it
right-side up again and be a part of a congregation, not for what it can do for
us, but for what we can do for it!