Oct. 1, 2006

Cawson St. Church of Christ

Hopewell, Virginia

Mural Worthey

Mistakes Religious People Make

 

Introduction: John 6:1-71

1.     Over the past few weeks, we noted several common religious mistakes.  These mistakes are committed primarily by religions in general or those who are leading disciples.

2.     There are other serious mistakes that are made by those who are followers; by those who come to hear messages presented by religious teachers.

3.     These errors are especially evident in the crowds who came to hear Jesus and inspired men preach.  Since we cannot lay any blame at their feet, then in that setting we can see what common errors followers make in matters of religion.

4.     It is interesting that some of those same mistakes continue to be made by people today.

 

Mistake #1—Consumerism; Acting the Role of a Consumer

 

Crowds often gathered to hear Jesus preach.  Most often they were out doors.  They  followed Jesus from place to place.  There was excitement in the air; Jesus healed people of various illnesses and even raised the dead.  Many wanted to see these miracles.  “And a great multitude followed him because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.”  (John 6:2.)  This much is understandable; human nature is such that it likes spectacular things.  We would probably behave much as they did.

 

Earlier in Jerusalem on the Passover, many “believed in his name when they saw the miracles which he did.  But Jesus did not commit himself unto men, because he knew all men.  He needed not that any should testify of man because he knew what was in man.”  (John 2:23-25.)

But perhaps the most disappointing behavior of all is that some joined the crowds to be fed.  At least twice, maybe more, Jesus performed miracles turning a small supply of food into large quantities for the people to eat. (Matt. 16:9-10.)  Jesus knew full well what they were doing.  He said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, You seek me not because you saw the miracles but because you did eat of the loaves and were filled. Labor not for the meat which perishes, but for that which endures unto everlasting life which the Son of man shall give into you.”  (John 6:26-27.)

 

This is consumerism in religion, literally.  Do people come today because of what they might receive physically, not spiritually?  Do people come for the loaves and fishes?  There is without question a “consumerism” attitude among those attending churches.  We often refer to those who drop in for a visit as “seekers,” and we do not question that some are seeking after the truth.  But others are consumers who must be satisfied or they will go on down the street to the next supermarket until they find what they want.

 

Many books have been written reporting what the religious polls reveal about the people in the USA.  One such poll is Barna Research Group of CA.  They report what Americans are looking for in religion, in churches.  The point seems to be that we should know these things and seek to reach these “seekers.”  This is consumerism and catering to consumerism.  This is what some politicians do; they look at polls and then decide how to vote. 

 

Here are some examples of modern-day consumerism like those who came to hear Jesus for the loaves and fishes.

 

The wealth Gospel.  One of the most popular doctrines today is the health and wealth gospel.  People are told that it is God’s will that they be wealthy and healthy.  Their core message goes something like this—Poverty is a curse.  God wants you to be wealthy; you want to be wealthy!  Its supposed purpose is to spread the Gospel around the world.  If you are faithful to God and give generously to the church (or preacher), God will return your gifts ten to hundred-fold.”

 

   Now that is not a bad investment!  And we should not be surprised that crowds flock to hear this kind of message because they want to be rich.  But the one who gets rich first is the charlatan telling you this lie.

 

The No-Sin Gospel.  Some churches are offering acceptance to those who are living as homosexuals or as adulterers.  People living this way want to be accepted without repentance.  They go from church to church until they find one who accepts this behavior.  This is the consumer error among the crowds.  They want certain things and we must satisfy them or they will leave.  That is what happened to the crowds following Jesus.  They were coming as long as he was turning bread into a Sunday meal and water into wine.  But when he told them that he was the bread of life, they left him and followed him no more.  (John 6:58, 66.)  We should be careful about trying to please the crowds.  Jesus did not please them.  The disciples called Jesus’ words a hard saying.  (John 6:60.)

 

We are all going to heaven Gospel.  Very few people want to hear the words of Jesus: “Enter you in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate and broad that leads to destruction and many there be that go in thereat.  But strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life and few there be that find it.”  (Matt. 7:13-14.)  Crowds want to hear: “I’m okay and you’re okay.  It does not matter what you believe or how you live.  Jesus loves you and we are all going to heaven.”  Most Americans, according to the religious polls, believe that they are going to heaven.  They believe this primarily because of mass evangelism of “easy believism” and the false notion of the sinners’ prayer.  Just say this simple prayer and you are saved.  Consumers want something easy. They want a good discount off the regular price!  They do not want to change their lives.  If the church is not competitive, they will shop somewhere else.

 

Others want contemporary music.  Consumerism among church people is most evident in the modern movement of having two worship services.  One is for traditional music in worship; the other is for contemporary music.  It does not bother me when someone points out that our way of singing four-part harmony is a rather new practice or tradition.  Singing Stamps-Baxter is not the only God-approved songs in worship.  But what should concern us is the demand by consumers to be pleased.  Crowds still do not want the spiritual bread of life from Jesus, they want their flesh satisfied. They want to leave feeling good.  They want to be entertained.  The restless human heart that is not satisfied with Jesus or His Gospel knows not God. The psalmist wrote, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10.)

 

Others want women to participate in public worship.  Generally, Protestants churches fall into two categories in regard to this practice.  Once most of the churches practiced male spiritual leadership (as the Bible teaches), but in more recent years, more and more have changed their position concerning the public role of women in worship.  Consumers like choices.  If you do not allow women to preach or lead singing, they will look for a church that does allow it.

 

4 Problems and Errors of Consumerism

 

   It places unrealistic pressure on local churches.  The crowds want all sorts of things to please them.  They want early services so they can use the rest of the day for traveling and pleasure.  Preachers now have to meet with the early crowd around 8:30 AM on Sundays and the late comers around 10:30 AM.  Consumers want child-care services, toys and snacks provided by the church, and professional teachers for their children.

 

I heard a preacher on TV recently describing what they were providing in their new facility in Virginia.  They have thousands of worshippers (more accurately--consumers and complainers and whiners).  The preacher described a large concourse like at an airport.  Before and during services, you can shop, dine and talk as long as you like.  The walkway was wide and the building cost millions.  Why did this church build “a mall”?  Because consumers are savvy and demanding today.

 

Churches are in fierce competition with one another to get their part of the consuming market.  If you do not provide all the frills and extras, they will go somewhere else.  If preachers do not perform well, they will get someone who is more popular with the crowds.  By this standard, Jesus would have been fired as a preacher.

 

   It disregards the truth of God’s Word.  Instead of sinners coming to hear a word from the Lord, consumers are coming demanding what they want to hear and how they want to be served.  It does not matter that the Bible says for women to keep silent in the churches (1 Cor. 14:34), or that the man is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church (Eph. 5:23), or that homosexuality is unnatural and sinful (Lev. 18:24, Rom. 1:27).  Sinners and saints should come to church asking God what He wants, not demanding to have it their way.  Consumerism reverses the entire process of who is Lord.  The crowds think that they are God!  If they are not fed their loaves and fishes, they will leave.

 

   It rejects the spiritual bread for the physical.  Those following Jesus left when he started talking about spiritual things.  They were not interested in that kind of bread; they wanted the physical bread that you can eat.  Spiritual people are not impressed with pretty words with shallow meaning.  They desire truth from God. 

 

Paul wrote, “When I came unto you, I came not with excellency of speech or wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.  For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in trembling.  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”  (1 Cor. 2:1-5.)

 

If anyone could have made an excellent speech, it was Paul who was highly educated.  But he wanted their faith to stand before God and to be genuine.

 

   Consumers have tremendous power.  No one should under-estimate the power of consumers. They have caused churches to start allowing homosexual priests and members, women preachers, all forms of music in worship, and to reduce the number of services during the week.  Consumers want to attend less, do less and be served more.  Preachers are now saying, Why not have just one meeting on Sundays and other kinds of activities during the week?  People do not want to attend prayer meetings and Bible studies.

 

Consumers say, “Ask not what I should do for the Lord or His Cause, but rather ask what the church can do for me.”

 

But all consumers should be forewarned.  You do not have any power over truth or over God.  They will go from place to place looking for what appeals to them, but never find peace and truth and joy in serving God and their fellowman.  Our Lord said, “And few there be that find it (life).”

 

Conclusion

 

We should take heed to this mistake that crowds make.  It is a serious blunder.  The crowds treated Jesus our Lord this way.  Have you ever noticed in Scripture that Jesus tried to get away from the crowds?  Yes, he loved people.  But he did not allow the crowds to dictate to him what he should do and preach.  The crowds tried to force Jesus to be their king. (John 6:15.)  Peter tried to stop Jesus from going to the cross.  The crowds do not know the Gospel or want it in their lives.  If they had their way, they would change everything about it!  In the end, the crowds clamored for the death of Jesus on the cross.  (John 19:15.)