A Worthy Life
- Richard Selke
- Jan 21
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 19
January 22, 2025
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When I was a pastor, I often asked people what they sought in a church. Some of the answers were a community of faith and love; meaningful and significant; makes a difference; excellent worship; terrific preaching; beautiful music; welcomes the stranger; awesome youth program; mission-oriented. Those are all good answers; however, other answers were pretty interesting. One man said the communion bread was quite tasty (we were serving King’s Hawaiian at the time) and that he’d be back. One woman said she wanted a church that started whenever she wanted it to start. But when asked what time that was, she said, “Well … it depends.”
Other pastors told me about some of the answers they received when they asked folks what they sought in a church. One man thought it would be a great idea if people could get their cars washed and waxed and their oil changed while they were in church. Another man said he attended a church where he loved to worship but that he didn’t give to it financially because there were plenty of other people who gave. A woman suggested that a certain percentage of the offering be put into a raffle for Super Bowl tickets. That way more people would give. A little girl said, “I want a pony.”
There seems to be a common thread that runs through some of these “wants” people have for their church – it’s all about me. These comments are a reflection of the world in which we live. There is a big difference between the world’s idea of what a church should be and Jesus’ plan for His church.
E. Stanley Jones, the American Christian missionary, said, “If the church takes you by the hand and takes you beyond itself to the feet of the Savior, it is wonderful. But if it stops you at itself and makes itself the issue, it is not wonderful – it is idolatry…”
The great theologian Mick Jagger once said, “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you’ll find, you get what you need.” The church that Jesus wants and that He knows we need is the church that believes, proclaims and practices God’s Truth – a body of Christ that is all about Jesus.
Each of us was created by God and we all share a common hope of eternal life. God, in His grace, calls all of us to live a life worthy of who He has made us to be and of the calling we have received from Him. We are all walking this world together. We can only become whole when we are living our lives in a community that is faithful to the God who made us. We might not get the pony we want, but we will get the eternal life we need and God wants us to have.
The church Jesus is building is not all about me, and it’s not all about you. It’s all about Jesus.
REMEMBER & BELIEVE
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
In the meantime, we must seek the Truth and choose our communities of faith wisely!
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your church and for calling us into a relationship with You and with one another. Thank You for revealing Yourself to us through Your Word, both in the Bible and in the Person of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Help us to seek You above all else, to focus not on our own desires but on Your Will for our lives. Guide us into a deeper understanding of Your Truth and give us the courage to follow the path that leads to You.
Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil and the evil one. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (NRSV)
God bless you!
Richard
Christ Worshipper | Disciple Maker | Hope Giver
Welcome to In the Meantime. I'm glad you're here! We are living in the time between Christ's ascension into heaven and His promised return to earth. In the Meantime is a collection of stories about God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and His presence, love, mercy and grace in my life. In the Meantime, Jesus is Lord! Hallelujah!
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