“And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you–ask what you can do for your country.”
- President John F. Kennedy, January 20, 1961, Inaugural Address
When I read the words from John F. Kennedy’s famous speech, I cannot help but think that today’s church can learn a great lesson from the principle.
There are some in the church today that believe the church is all about them. They jump church to church looking for a church that will suit their needs, provide them with luxury service, and will serve them. In essence, they expect the church to treat them like a fancy restaurant would. They come in and expect to have everything laid out before them. From there, they can decide what they want based on what meets their needs/appetite. However, unlike a restaurant, don’t expect them to pay much money or leave a tip for using that “service.” They think the church is all about them. They only get involved in what sounds appetizing and never lift a finger to serve anyone else.
However, there are others who seem to “get” the principle. They realize the church isn’t about them. They realize the church doesn’t exist to fit their needs and the church’s purpose isn’t to serve them like the restaurant down the street might do. They are interested in serving the church, serving others, and serving Christ. They don’t look to see what the church can do for them; they look to see what they can do for the church to serve the body of Christ for the glory of God. They’re willing to do the dirty work and the things that never get noticed. They’re willing to sacrifice their time, energy, and money to better serve the church.
Which category do you fit into? Are you looking for the church to meet your needs and desires? Is your church attendance and drive in ministry based on recognition and what seems “fun” at the time? Or are you seeking how you can better serve the church? Do you constantly ask, “How can I be a better servant?” and “How can I serve my church, my God, and my community?”
Tags: Church, JFK, John F Kennedy, Split
June 7th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
And why wouldn’t people do these things? The church has catered to their every whim the last few generations, and this is why we have people like that. They will only do what is expected of them, and church leaders are just as much to blame for the “serve me” style Christians as anyone else.
June 7th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Good thoughts Alan. If that’s the case, then how do we teach/lead/preach in a way that accentuates the purpose of the church? And how do we help church members understand that the church doesn’t exist to meet “our personal wants?”