In nearly every school when children reach a certain age, there is an individual in charge of the sporting events in that school that begins to look upon these children externally. The stronger ones, the agile, the biggest ones are selected for the appropriate sport that school offers, and few if any refuse when they are singled out, for they are young, easily manipulated, and have had placed in them not only by the school, but by others, the idea of peer pressure, the obligation to not only fit in, but to not be ostracized.
It is the extremely rare young person that does not fall into this trap. We seek out like-minded individuals and groups, those that make us feel we are wanted, needed, and even admired for our individual talents within that group. “And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.” (1 Cor. 12:21) Yet, in most Evangelical churches today it not only can, but does as a matter of habit.
One needs to “fit into” a church today to become a member of that church, they must agree in full with all that the hierarchy of that assembly has decided is the proper way to serve the Lord, there are quite a few churches with many hands and no feet today. “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matt. 18:20)
My wonderful wife and I have “church” three times a day, first thing every morning, at the dinner table each evening, and again, most generally, after the dishes have been washed. Most pastors that adhere to the “standardized ideology” of what church is to be today would call these devotional times, yet, who is learning more of the Lord, who is seeking His face, the couple, or even individual who maintains this pattern week after week, or those who fill a pew on Sunday morning, and then spend the rest of that week in the world, and in the pursuit of self-interest.
I do not attempt to set us upon any pedestal, this is simply our pattern, so to speak, and we do so each day with great joy and anticipation, but I bring this particular subject up because the pattern of the church today, the members of most churches, seem to be centered on nothing more than fitting in to that assembly, and using Christ as a façade for doing so. “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matt. 22:14) And “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matt. 7:14)
These are clear verses stating that most people will not be entering into the kingdom of God, they don’t fit in. Perhaps the rarest thing that ever happens to a born-again believer is to be approached by another child of God in this life, we are few, and although there are still quite a few people that do attend some church or religious organization each Sunday morning, they seem to be very quiet about their supposed personal relationship with the Lord Jesus during the week. In other words, most who claim Jesus as Lord do not speak to strangers about Him whom they claim to serve every Sunday morning. “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matt. 7:23)
It is safe in the church setting those mornings, at the mid-week Bible study, they fit in, there is little opportunity to be cast out of the assembly, they are comfortable there, and welcomed.
How often do you attempt to reach people for Christ, how often do you bring Him up in conversations outside of that comfortable place, how many times do you find yourself in a position where you don’t fit in talking about Him whom you call Lord and Savior? Many do not mind being preached to on Sunday morning, but that word “preach” takes on an entirely different meaning when they leave that comfortable place called church, doesn’t it? If you are not comfortable speaking about your Lord and Savior outside of those church walls, well, I will let you contemplate that sentence.
