The Awesome Power of Weakness

Theme: Focusing on Jesus blurs the background of life.

As I sit here early Monday morning, considering Pastor Dan’s message this past Sunday, the one word that shines in my brain like a neon sign in Times Square is “REAL.” Interestingly, Josh, Zach Richards, and I did three weeks of the Be Life Podcast on what a real church is and how many large churches may be large because they entertain rather than be honest. The truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that reality, and how it affects each member of the body by making us see ourselves in that truth and reality: The whole Gospel, with sin, genuine repentance, surrender of will and goals, and the reality of dying to self. When this occurs, en masse, there is humility, compassion, and love beyond comprehension. In this environment, the church needs no gimmicks, nor entertainment to tickle the body, as real worship is beyond anything we can drag in from the cold, confused outside. Allow me to share a story I recently read about China as an illustration.

“If you ever feel like the economy is tough, take heart, you could be fake employed, like countless young workers in China who are joining "fake" companies that host "fake" employees. The workplace looks real. There are cubicles and computers, copy machines and break rooms. All the sights, sounds, and "feel" of a real office. But it is all just a facade! And for a small fee, all these fake features can be yours. According to reports:

The rate's not too expensive; you will pay around $5 daily to pretend to do work. (What it costs you in dignity, on the other hand, is something else.)

It is not a total loss, meanwhile! The fee can sometimes include 'lunch, snacks, and drinks.' Fake workers can use the phony workday to 'search for jobs, or to try to launch their own start-up businesses.'

Many express that it does not just give them a place to look for "real" employment but also provides a place to feel like they belong. In this place, they can share camaraderie with their fake workmates, a place to find social fulfillment through relationships forged with their fellow fakers at the water cooler or break room, and primarily, a place to provide them with a sense of purpose and structure.

But alas, it is all hollow. In the words of one such company's advertisement (literally called the "Pretend to Work Company")

Here in this company, we pretend to work. There is no activity. You are unemployed, so come to me and do what you want.”

Sadly, many postmodern churches have all too much in common with these fake companies. Hordes of attendees gather in beautiful structures, longing for a sense of belonging, camaraderie, social fulfillment, and, more than anything else, a fake sense of purpose and structure—but all without a genuine commitment to the real thing.

Structure without substance. Fellowship without faith. Participation without personal commitment, without genuine profession, without power to save, and without the power of the Holy Spirit, but only the futile efforts of those wanting to be tickled rather than transformed.

I try, but I can never thank God enough for this church family He has given Kirby and me, in which Jesus is the center. I can be my flawed self amid others who are not as flawed (lol). May our church always be Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-led, filled with weak people, allowing God to do remarkable things through them, knowing that our church building is merely the charging port for our ‘real’ church……. beyond the walls.

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‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬Scriptures: Isaiah 29:13‬ (NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬)

“The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.”‬‬

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Prayer:

I seem to always laugh or smile at this point of prayer, Lord, as I always see you and me and a different light after contemplating your word. A, duh, is in order here. Lord, I cannot come close to thanking you enough for your love and Grace. I am here now only because of you, and that your Grace sought me out. All I must give you is me and any resources you have blessed me with, all of which you gave me. So, I can only give you what you gave me! It is all I have Lord, so please accept it. Thank you, Lord, for my church family, my Pastor, and all my family members. Bless us Lord, in that we may Bless others. Keep us weak so that we may see your strength and power. In the name of Jesus, we pray to you. Amen