A Love Letter to Christians Who Can’t Take the Sunday Production Anymore

I know the deep paucity you feel in your bones. The worst possible Sunday afternoon tragedy used to be a dry pot roast, a brown, leathery consequence of post-benediction parking lot conferences with Tom or Betty.

Now you go home, exhausted from the noise, bothered by the blatant emotional manipulation, haunted by the poverty you see. You’ve gone home angry and annoyed. You’ve wept over what they’ve done with your church, with THE church.

I know the people around you don’t get it, either. You’ve been told that you’re doing Satan’s work by daring to question the church growth strategists leaders in front of you.

It’s been alleged that you’re callously indifferent to the eternal souls of the unchurched.

Even the ones you count as friends think you’re just pining for the good ol’ days. At the very least, you’re laughingly dismissed.

Your gifts have been shunned, ignored, wasted. Heck, I’ve been there, too, that time the paralegal became my boss.

Maybe you’ve been barred from your former places of service, replaced by an American Idol wanna-be with a hot mic and a six-string Ovation.

If you feel like you’re just barely hanging on, please let me offer this one piece of advice.

I know you have friends at your church. Maybe it’s the only spiritual home you’ve ever known. You’ve witnessed marriages there. You’ve rejoiced as your community has been shaped by water and Word. You’ve said goodbye to loved ones. You’ve given faithfully through the spiritual Advents and Christmases, the Lents and the Easters. You’ve cared together for the communities and the world around you. But it’s not the same place. Something’s changed, and it’s something that was never supposed to change. Not like this, anyhow.

Please know that if nobody else gets you, I do. I stand with you and honor you in your grief. You’re not being selfish or petty. You don’t have an attitude problem.

This beloved community, which once marked Sundays by coming together for the work of God’s people, is now a haven for entertainment. It’s a concert venue, really. If it weren’t for a few casual mentions of God and Jesus you wouldn’t even know they had anything to do with this whole thing.

Hale and hearty strains of disciplined worshipers are gone, and in their place, an electronic assault of primal, orgasmic ad libs.

Your script, your job, your voice have all been taken away, and now you just sit there, empty-handed, and empty-souled.

Songs of faith have been replaced by remarkably vapid, thoroughly mundane jesusy ditties.

The rhythm of the church year has given way to the mixed-metered syncopation of popular whim.

Sermons are guided by what the pastor says God is telling him (and it’s usually a him, unfortunately), not by a lectionary or a liturgical calendar.

Sacraments? What’s a sacrament? Commercial pop music is our new contemporary pseudo-sacrament.

There was once appropriate room for a complete range of human emotion, freely flowing from the retelling and reenactment of God’s mighty acts in Jesus Christ. Sobriety, grief, intentionality, urgency, repentance, lament resolution, thanksgiving, joy. And so forth and so on. Now, we’re expected to have fun. Church is the place for a good time, in Jesus’ thoroughly amusing name.

I’ve seen it too. This is how I grew up, in fact. I had a sneaking suspicion that there was more to church than the derivative music and self-aggrandizing topical sermon series. If there wasn’t, I’d have been through with church as soon as I moved out on my own.

Worshiper, please be honest. As tough as it is, you know you can’t stay here, biding the months or years or decades until by God’s grace you grow deaf, blind, and senile. You are right to feel this way. It isn’t a matter of taste or preference, whatever the entertainers may say.

The impetus for your grief is not hurt feelings, or even what’s happening with your own church. You grieve over what’s happened to the church.

This is worship, for God’s sake. And they’ve pulled it up by the roots. Dear Christian, just go.

When your alarm clock chimes next Sunday, hit the snooze. Turn it off. Let your pew stadium-style seat stay cold this week.

And there are still faith communities that have resisted preferential worship and consumer, little-C christianity.

You may have to look a little harder for them. They don’t have billboards. They don’t usually have huge crosses announcing their presence just for the hell of it. They probably don’t have TV commercials or radio spots or celebrity pastors.

You may have to go outside the faith tradition that’s become part of your identity. They might not sing all the same songs or use all the same language you remember. You might not agree with all their theology. There may be faithful followers there who vote differently than you. They might not even agree with you on every hot-button political issue. That’s okay. The church’s worship matters more than any of those things.

So when the buzzing in your ears has finally faded. When the fog has lifted. When the menacing waters of the entertainment church have finally receded. When you can breathe again, get back out there. When the post-traumatic worship disorder has released, start burning the early Sunday oil again.

Find a place where you can go and participate and just be part of the church once more.

Find a place where all voices have a prayer to pray, a song to sing, a sermon to say, and a common story to tell.

Find a place where “The body of Christ, broken for you,” means so much more than “It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am.”

Find a place where Table, Font, and Pulpit haven’t been displaced by drum cage, music stand, and Madonna mic.

Find a place where the generational arrogance doesn’t obscure the multi-directional vision of true Christian worship.

we are under grace.

Right, we are saved by Grace regardless of how much works we do, in fact we can not do enough works to pay what we should owe.

But we can not use that as an excuse not to do what Jesus said to do, such as do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

We are saved by grace through faith, our faith can only be shown by the works we do, not works of the law but works of faith.

We are not talking about the works of the law but the works of faith.

James 2
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Any one can say they have faith, but do they?
Any one can say they believe but do they?
Any one can say they have works, let us see their works and maybe we can see their faith and belief by their works.

You cannot be saved by your works.

This does not nullify works as being commanded or desirable.

Ok, i understand and i agree.

My only problem is that so many people do not understand that Paul was talking about the works of the law and James was talking about the works of faith, they had no disagreement.

James was just explaining what Jesus plainly said in Mathew 25 the parable of the sheep and goats where the goats go to hell because they did no works of faith and the sheep went into Gods kingdom because they did the works of faith.

Catholics could NEVER call Christ a liar. Where are you getting this mistaken information?

Come on now, i have no doubt you can read, i copied and pasted exactly what Jesus said, so you know exactly where i am getting these facts.

But on the other hand i only read the Bible and pay no attention to denominational rhetoric so i do not deny that Mary could have been a perpetual virgin.

I have no doubt there are virgins in this world today for some reason or another, what better reason could any one have than what Mary had.

And she was the mother of one child.

I wrote this about Mary so you can see that i am not bias against the Catholics and also do not agree with the Protestants on many things.

I’m in favor of pastors being paid a living wage.

John 10
13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep..........

The early Church held all things in common, they each had jobs to do and were not hirelings.

They are hirelings today because they are preaching for wages.

If they were really called by God they would not lower themselves by taking a wage.

The preachers who work for some organization will not preach Gods word, they preach what the bosses tell them to preach, they can not be trusted.

I know pastors who hold down a job and do a great job of preaching, and they will preach Gods word instead of their overseers word or the town whore`s word.

No hirelings for me.

James is talking about EVIDENCE of your salvation that is seen by others, not a requirement for salvation.

Yes, if some one is going to tell every one about the great faith they have some one is bound to comment that they have not seen it.

But we do not have to read about what James or Paul says, why not read what our master says.

31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

>>> James was just explaining what Jesus plainly said in Mathew 25 the parable of the sheep and goats where the goats go to hell because they did no works of faith and the sheep went into Gods kingdom because they did the works of faith.

This is not what the passage says. It does not say that that they were sheep because they did the works. It says that they were righteous and that the works followed.

The passage you refer to is Matthew 25:31-46.

On a first reading it is understandable how the works described (feeding,clothing,nursing, etc.) can easily be interpreted as the reason why one group is rewarded and the other group is cast out... but what most people miss here is what happens first in verses 32 and 33.;
The first thing God does is gather the righteous (sheep) on his right, and the unrighteous on his left (goats).

First and foremost, it is critical to understand that THROUGHOUT scripture, only those who are IN CHRIST are considered righteous. Without His blood covering our sin, we are NOT SEEN AS RIGHTEOUS.

Now... In verse 37, we see that the "righteous" (who have already been separated out in one group) are NOT AWARE of the works they did which are depicted!

Isn't that interesting???
THEY DON'T REMEMBER DOING THE GOOD WORKS!...
The unrighteous as well, claim ignorance as to the things that they were supposed to have done... and in similar passages we see where the unrighteous even point out the things they do remember doing which they considered "righteous" ("Lord Lord... did we not do xyx?").

This should tell us something about the nature of what "faith works" really are... they are those works which are LED by the Holy Spirit. Those who are trying to prove their righteousness by "doing good works" are not really doing them for the recipient or God, but rather to be seen by others (and/or God) as being righteous. It is out of this spirit which God will say "You already have your reward".

Jesus also said I am the vine, and you are the branches... apart from me you can do nothing.

THEREFORE... when we see in James 2:18 where it says

"Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

What is being said is that true "works" are a PRODUCT of faith (righteousness), and that reversing the order (i.e. works generating righteousness) is futile... fruitless... and empty.

Righteousness MUST come first, and that can only come through Jesus to us through our faith in HIM and not our own works.

One final note... When we speak of works being evidence of our faith, let us consider WHO that evidence is for!

Is the evidence being presented to prove something to God? or to prove something to your fellow man? If you are intentionally "presenting the evidence" yourself, are you really being led by the Spirit???

And there is the real rub... for I'm sure it is quite easy to prove to others that you are righteous... that you are a man or woman of God... and that you will surely be seen in heaven... but when the actual judgement comes, will you be allowed those character witnesses who were fooled by your good works???

I think not.

Worship God.

Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit

“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.”

“every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”

“O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.”

“worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.”

THEY DON’T REMEMBER DOING THE GOOD WORKS!...

That was said to make us understand what the parable was all about.

The ones who did the works Jesus said to do are the ones who went into Gods kingdom.

Paul said that the works of the law does not save, it is easy for people who read this for the first time to fail to distinguish the works of the law from the works of faith.

Those who preach that we need not do what Jesus said to do are preaching false doctrine.

James 2
14 What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him? 15 And if a brother or sister be naked, and want daily food: 16 And one of you say to them: Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit? 17 So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself.

Any one can say they have faith but that does not mean they have any.

Matthew 28:20
teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

John 15:14
“You are My friends if you do what I command you.

John 14:15
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

John 14:21
“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”

The commandments are first.......

1 John 2:4
The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;

There goes the faith....

All of your references on works falls under this one:

Jhn 13:34
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Jesus sacrifice nullified the penalty for sin for those who belong to Him.

Rom 6:14
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Now... if you want to hold onto the law, go right ahead.... you will be judged according to it.

I prefer Grace.

Jhn 13:34
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

A new commandment does not cancel out the others.

1 John 2:4
The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;

Mathew 5
43 You have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thy enemy. 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you:

Luke 10 25:37
Tells us how we are to love.

Also Luke 6
12 All things therefore whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you also to them. For this is the law and the prophets.

The above is what James was talking about.

Mathew 7
21 Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and done many miracles in thy name?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.

You wrote
Now... if you want to hold onto the law, go right ahead.... you will be judged according to it.

I prefer Grace..........

I am pretty ignorant but not so dumb that i do not know the difference between the works of the law and the works of faith.

Paul was talking about the works of the law.

Jesus and James was talking about the works of faith, don`t you get it?

It does take some Bible reading to see the difference, but just hang in there and you will come along.

I’m taking you back to your first reply to me:

Me: You cannot be saved by your works. This does not nullify works as being commanded or desirable.

You: Ok, i understand and i agree.

Now I ask you what you were agreeing with... because you have apparently completely flipped from your first post.

>>> Jesus and James was talking about the works of faith, don`t you get it?

Please define “work of faith” in a single sentence.

Then give me an example of a work of faith that we can apply to our lives today.

“Following His commandments” is too broad. Give me a specific example.

You: Ok, i understand and i agree.

I do not believe we are saved by the works of the law and i also agree that This does not nullify works as being commanded or desirable. this is what i was agreeing with, so where have i flipped considering i understand what nullify means .

You. Please define “work of faith” in a single sentence.

Help some one who needs help.

You. Then give me an example of a work of faith that we can apply to our lives today.

James 2
14 What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him?

15 And if a brother or sister be naked, and want daily food:

16 And one of you say to them: Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit?

Why can`t we apply that to our lives?

17 So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself.

You. “Following His commandments” is too broad. Give me a specific example.

Mathew 22:37, 40
Jesus said to him: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind.

38 This is the greatest and the first commandment. 39 And the second is like to this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

40 On these two commandments dependeth the whole law and the prophets.

How do you love your neighbors?

By doing to them as you would have them do unto you, and as Jesus described in the parable of the Sheep and Goats.

And as James described in James 2.

>Please define “work of faith” in a single sentence.

>>> Help some one who needs help.

Ok... so you say that helping someone who needs help is a work of faith.

Follow up questions:

1. How many times does someone need to help someone who needs help in order to be considered saved by God? Once? Every day? All their life? What if they miss one? (i.e. keep walking on one or two occasions even though before they had stopped before, and do so again later)

2. Is this to say that someone who does not believe in Jesus or God for that matter is saved if they help someone who needs help??? They DID complete a work of faith did they not???

3. If helping someone who needs help is a work of faith, then what is the faith in? self? or something else?

Clearly, we can cite examples in both groups (righteous and unrighteous) from matthew 25 where a person can easily fall into EITHER group on any given day or occasion under your definition of “work of faith”. Christians i’m sure have failed to help when they should have, and non-christians have helped (out of love) when they didn’t think they had to.

Therefore, your definition and example does not fit because it has NOTHING to do with faith, and sounds pretty unfair to me if the works described in Matthew 25 is the standard for righteousness. (i.e. surely we can find atheists who help others, and also christians who are not consistent)

Seems to me we could go even farther with it... I would submit that living your entire life without helping someone who needs help would be VERY difficult to do if not impossible... you would have to be one evil SOB!

Doesn’t sound like a very narrow gate to me on who will be saved.

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