If We Were God...

If we were God, what kind of church services would we want our church to have?

Loud, or Soft music?  Long, or Short services?  Big, or Small congregation?  Suits, or Polo shirts?  Sitting, or Standing during worship?  Piano, or Organ music?  Seeker-Sensitive, or Hell-Fire preaching?  Pentecostal, or Evangelical atmosphere?  Topical, or Expositional teaching?  Cutting-edge, or 1980’s?  White Hankies, or Colored Banners?  Missionaries, or Singers?  Projection, or Handouts?  Pass-the-Plate, or Take-It-to-the-Altar offerings?

And the list could go on, and on…

Fortunately, we aren’t God.  I say fortunately, not because of all the potentially difficult decisions that the above list represents, but because the list contains all the wrong questions when it comes to God considering what kind of church services He wants.

• While we are measuring the volume of the music coming from the platform, God is looking for any measure of a cry from a heart in the sanctuary.
• While we are hoping our service will be dismissed by noon, God is hoping our sin will be dismissed sooner rather than later.
• While we are convincing ourselves we don’t have to go to the altar, God is already convinced of all the alterations we need to undergo.
• While we wonder where the good ol’ days went, God is wondering why His wonders of today are much less appreciated.
• While we bring in the latest worship songs to help us dance and banner-wave, God remains kept outside the doors of our hearts - in the cold – looking for another way in.

Today, let’s each bring our own error-filled list of church service defining questions to the altar.  And while we are at it, let’s not forget to bring our hearts too.

See you at the altar of alteration.