Worship is Not a Fundraising Event
Worship Part 9 – Worship is not a Fundraising Event.
The church of Christ is not meant to make money to make other churches wealthy, and others remain poor. Church of Worship is a combination of believers and a building. Still, the church is our body, the “temple of the Holy Spirit,” the body of Christ, the group of people called or chosen by God to render honor and glorify Him.
The Holy Spirit within us made all this possible to worship the Father not to make money but to build a foundation for the poor in spirit, to find the lost souls, and to gather the lukewarm back to His rightful loaner.
Look what the world offers. The bank will not give us loans without interest and sometimes without collateral. These banks take advantage of people with bad credit by charging considerable interest, but God is not like the bank.
Our borrowed body that houses our soul has no interest. Still, our conscience dictates that we should give something back in return without compulsion thru worship, fellowship, and communication day in and day out. Worship by groups comes with preaching and teaching in a truthful, honorable, and faithful observance of the holy gathering.
With a biblical atmosphere, the hearers of the Word of Truth will be equipped with the right tools and blessed with the Spirit of Obedience. Our teaching must be the Scriptures alone, the only means of truth. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16–17).
When we hear the Word of God being preached with gladness, we hear the true Word absorbed by our mind, soul, and heart, which is the final place where the Word resides in our body and God looks and listens. For example, if the church gatherings are all talks and noise, and the congregation is inattentive, such as doing their nails, fixing their hair, watching something on their smartphone, texting, and talking to each other. These actions were personally observed by myself while service was ongoing. This was not worshiped at all as it became a place not exactly but almost the same concept that Jesus experienced when He visited the temple; instead of seeing people worshipping, He saw people selling doves, oxen, and sheep, and gamblers; it looks like a market wasn’t it?
If the church leadership does not have control, it drives the worship service out of focus, and the Word of God is being put aside. On the other hand, if only a few are listening while the Word of God is being preached and distractions come to play – who is being put to shame? Would it be better for them to stay at home? Or do some church authorities have to stop them? There are many ways to fix it; do not be afraid we will lose them.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Please keep doing what you have learned, received, heard, and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.”-Philippians 4:8-9.
Gently alert them of the distractions, let the Holy Spirit take over, and prick their hearts to obey. We should not forget that the Holy Spirit works without delay. We can ask everything, and you will find the answers in the Holy Book- the Bible.
As we obey the ways of true worship, let us worship with a passion for God, and compassion for humans is also needed. Modern worship is unlike what they did decades ago, like the long and tedious litany and repetitive prayers. The faithful believers at that time kept the way of worship to themselves and were afraid that God would be angry if they brought what they felt to the church authorities or that the church leaders might get upset at them.
As new generations come and go, changes have been made slowly, like from long hours of mass or service, which were reduced to one hour, including everything.
Worship should not be deemed boring. On the contrary, it should be dealt with with respect and honor, or the worship is void and without effect, and it becomes a lifeless observance of the holy day, which we should claim alive for the Holy Spirit within us.
Let us rejoice and gladly praise God our Creator our Father and show Him how grateful we are to be His children and for all of His bountiful blessings that only a loving Father can give His children. What more do we need when we have it all? We have Him who is all in all. For that reason alone, we have to be thankful.
We became from nothing to something to everything from the essence that God has, which makes a thing a thing, God which can make the impossible possible.
To you, Father, we thank you for being a part of our everything. “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe”—Hebrews 12:28. (NIV)
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Continue Part 10 – Acknowledge the One True God Part 11- Worship Through Jesus Christ Part 12- God in Three Persons (Trinity)
