Church of our Fathers

After an outreach project, a church had some members get upset because “grandpa would not want those people in our church.”  After proudly proclaiming that Great Grandpa was a charter member of the church, he announced that someone from his family has to be chosen to the Steward Board.  Pointing at the pastor, he blamed the new pastor for the new people without realizing some of those new people had been at more church services than any of his family members before the new pastor came.   Hate and bitterness in God’s house does not show true Christianity nor God’s love.   And, just who are they worshiping?  Great Grandpa?

During the time of Jesus’ ministry, many Jews and leaders of the church worshipped, but did not truly worship.  They had a similar problem as the family who wanted the church to allow only those who would honor Grandpa’s legacy.  In John 8 verse 28 as Jesus was saying, “As my Father has taught me,” the Jews became confused.  Then, after Jesus told them, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free,” (32) the Jews became concerned.  They did not understand how someone could be set free if they were never in bondage, because they came from the family of Abraham.  They let Jesus know twice (John 8: 33 & 39).  In fact, in verse 39 they said, “Abraham is our father.”  In other words, they didn’t feel like anything Jesus was preaching was for them, because “Abraham is our father.”  Again in chapter 9, they did not go all the way back to Abraham but called themselves disciples of Moses. (28 & 29)   It was not about God but ancestry, holding onto the fact that they were better than the Romans, Samaritans, and all Gentiles because they were Jews. 

For centuries, the Jews had their temple where the scriptures were read, sacrifices were made, and traditional days were observed.  Year after year, many made the journey to worship and passed the traditions to their children.   Many passed on the traditions, but did not pass on faith in God.  As they lived their daily lives, many simply squeezed in the traditional religious observances and did not obey the laws given to Moses by God.  Yes, the Pharisees and religious leaders added laws to accommodate their own needs and social status.  Then, the Son of God came in His time performing miracles, healing the sick, giving vision to the blind, making lame to walk, and teaching what they did not want to hear.  How dare he think God is his father?  Who is this man who is disturbing their traditions?  Jesus answered them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.”   They were spiritually blind.  They did not have the faith of Abraham.  All they had were their traditions of ceremonies.

Jesus told them who he was and what they had become.  “If God were your Father, you would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither did I come of myself, but he sent me.  Why do you not understand my speech?  Even, because you cannot hear my word.  You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.  And because I tell you the truth, you don’t believe me.  Which of you accuses me of sin?  And If I say the truth, why do you not believe me?  He that is of God hears God’s words: but you don’t hear them, because you are not of God.” John 8:42-47

When the truth hits, it hurts.  The Jews struck back by calling Jesus a Samaritan and devil (46).  Same today when things don’t go our way, we strike back with foolish words.  Come on!  They knew Jesus was not a Samaritan.  Like the upset family at the church with things not going their way, they attack the pastor.  If they had been active in church, they would have known it was happening before the pastor came.  Like the Jews, so many today go to church because it is what you do.  They check it off their list of weekly duties.  They have grown cold with hardened hearts sitting in the same spot Grandpa sat for many years and hearing the word but not understanding, spiritually blind without Jesus in their lives.

There are many churches across the United States that are merely the “Church of our Fathers.”  They go and sit in same place and take pride that this is the church Grandpa built, but they don’t have Jesus.  Gradually, members die off and seats are empty.   Each year there are more empty seats.  Don’t mention inviting new people or reaching the lost, because the families don’t want change that will disturb Grandpa’s legacy.  Then, the church is empty.  Souls lost.  Souls lost.

Note: Pray.  Pray for your pastor, leaders, teachers, and members.  There is hope for a church when members come together to pray, seek God’s will, and follow when God leads.  The church with the outreach continues their outreach with prayer and following where God leads.