Proof’s In The Puddin’

August 29, 2007 by Administrator.

I would love to have a buck for every time I have heard the phrase, “proof’s in the pudding.” Unfortunately, this phrase is used out of place in churches across the nation. Members have the mentality that if it works, do it. They think the end result justifies the means. When Christians use this phrase they are really saying, “If you have to change your worship style to get more people to come, do it. If you have to have a pizza party with football and floats for the youth to come, do it. If you have to show movie clips in the sermon to get the congregation more interested, do it. If you have to remove your denomination affiliation (such as Methodist, Baptist, Church of God, etc.) to get more people in the door, do it. If you have to have a gym, track, game field, and café to get people to stay in the church, do it. If all or some of these things increase your membership, then that proves it; proof’s in the puddin’!” 

This phrase covers so many flawed ideas about the church. Church folk will approve nearly any church program if it gets more people to come inside. Sadly, they mistake this for God. They believe that God produces every numerical result in the church. They forget that Satan can produce results too (Exodus 7:11; 7:22; 8:7;). The churches that are caught up with being the big one on the block have lost focus on the Bible. There is no drive for holiness or godliness, just “bigness”. Yes, they may have discipleship programs and evangelism programs, but there is a starvation for truth and absolutes. Scripture is that, but it’s on the backburner. They’ll get a large crowd by having a 15 minute devotion after the Slam-Dunk competition. Is this spiritual growth? Is this holiness? While the church is making the pudding (church) taste right to the customers, they are putting a teaspoon of Jesus in it with a quart of cultural entertainments. I fear that many church members and leaders envision their church as the next Saddleback Church. They want it so bad; they can almost taste the goodness of the pudding. What is the church next-door doing? If it’s getting more visitors than your own youth leader shaving his head for 500 kids, then do it, because it must work. I think there is poison in this pudding and not proof of God’s hand. 

Posted in Church, Today's World | 1 Comment »