If I were a selfish church member, I would view getting up and going to church as an imposition; after all, I work hard all week and this is me time. I might arrive at church in a bad mood, thinking, “Well, let’s just get this over with,” believing that in some way my just showing up occasionally made me a Christian or that I have that religion box checked.
If I were a selfish church member, I would be upset if I didn’t get a warm welcome and probably consider not coming back.
If I were a selfish church member, I would look at the décor or building campaign and consider how I could do this much better.
If I were a selfish church member, I would look for a church that was a real attention getter, the “it” church, forgetting that my focus needs to be on looking for a body of believers that knows the meaning of true worship, and every class, event and activity focuses on glorifying Christ Jesus, not us or any person. But when that pastor spoke of belief in Christ Jesus being the only way to salvation, I would probably be offended. After all, I don’t need anybody. When he started using words like “repentance” or “sin”, I would just stop listening. I might think, “Is he trying to tell me I am wrong?”
If I were a selfish church member, if I did decide to stay and get involved, I would look for how I could bring attention to me, with my selfish, self-glorifying attitude. Since the enemy is deceptive, I might not even realize that I am doing that, but my thoughts always center around me, how “they don’t listen to me’, how “they never give me the attention or respect I deserve”.
If were a selfish church, when there was an emphasis on missions and giving to missions, I would get upset with the fact that they wanted to help church plants in cities in the U.S where there are very few Christians and no churches, or they wanted to send my money to support a team that will partner with a church in Haiti or some other foreign country. “After all, there are people right here all around us that need Jesus,” while I sat back and did nothing about that.
If I were a selfish church member, I would get upset that the sermon was too long, too boring, the music was too “young” or too “old”, that I was hot or cold, and no one spoke to me as I was leaving. I would look around at those with tears, with raised hands during worship, and going to the altar to pray as weak. “They are weak and need help; I don’t”. I would miss the fact that those people are breaking free, and that Christ came to set us free, as I walked out of church with my head already starting to spin with burdens of the upcoming week and life. I would be trying to put together my action plan, list the pros and cons, not realizing that I just walked away from the answers, burden release and
peace that is free through Christ Jesus.
If I were a selfish church member, I would read this article and think “She told them”, maybe considering who I could share this with, totally missing that God is speaking to you and me.
God gave me this message in the middle of the night, and I knew that first and foremost, He had a word for me, for when I look in the mirror, I see a selfish church member.
“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” Galatians 5:1
Kathy McBroom
http://www.kathymcbroom@gmail.com
Life in Paris aka Life with Brown Dog 