The Basics

When I was a basketball coach it was difficult to get my players to practice the basics. They hated running sprints, practicing free throws and learning how to play defense.

They loved playing street ball; running up and down the court with no discipline, no plan and not skill development. But, as a coach I had to insist that they actually do things that would build them up and prepare them for the games we played against real opponents.

I see the same kinds of undisciplined street games being played by many churches. They throw out the basics of discipleship, worship, sharing the gospel and worship and try every new trend that includes fun and games instead. So, serving replaces evangelism. Talks about global warming and community service replace the gospel.

I was around when Steve Sjogren came up with the idea of Servant Evangelism. It was a technique to draw people to the church so they could hear the good news about Jesus and redemption. Unfortunately, for many, passing out soft drinks has replaced the gospel.

St. Paul was certainly sensitive to the culture of others and he spoke to his listeners in ways designed to get a hearing for the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He did not leave people without the truth that liberates, heals and offers eternal life.

Willow Creek Church outside Chicago grew into a mega-church over the years by sensitively connecting with folks turned off by traditional church. The replaced hymns with contemporary music and had talks, not sermons, on topics of interest to modern people. Many Seasoned Believers warned them about the long term consequences of such a watered down approach.

Thousands came to the church and many found Jesus and salvation. However, now there is trouble in Willow. Many of the most dedicated, committed and generous members are upset and wanting to leave. What are they missing? Better, deeper and more challenging teachings from the Bible.

It seems that a lot of modern churches are looking for "Growth" but end up getting fat. Endless loops of rock and roll with fun and games may satisfy the players for awhile but they will soon discover that the enemy of their souls is a tough competitor. They must learn the basic disciplines of the Bible, spiritual growth and how to defeat evil in warfare. Those skills come through prayer and fasting.

I am increasingly listening to dissatisfied Seasoned Believers who are disturbed by the lack of spiritual gospel because it has been replaced by a social gospel. The social gospel says that individuals do not need salvation and healing because there is no such things as "Personal Sin" or "Personal Responsibility". That all our problems come from "Corporate Weaknesses" such as bad socialization and bad Governments. Rev. Jeremiah Wright is a great proponent of that approach.

As a therapist let me tell you that individuals desperately need Jesus and the power of the Spirit to live well and to change. Yes, of course, when people gather into families and groups there is corporate greed, corporate trauma and corporate dysfunction. However, with the Apostle Paul I say, "I know what is right but I cannot do it." (See Romans 7) I need God's help.

I have ministered to thousands of well meaning people who wanted to live above sin but failed over and over again. They tried to live without anger, drugs and illicit sex but failed miserably. In every case I found personal, individual weakness or sin as well as family and organizational weaknesses.

Any church or minister, like any coach, who wants to build a solid and successful team must do so on rock not sand. There are always floods and wind storms in the future so anything not built upon solid rock of Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross will falter and fail.

It takes more than Reformed Theology, preaching against sex, making up new laws or putting sex filters on our computers. It requires us to know God and be able to weild the sword of the Spirit, the word of God.

If you want to know how to build upon the Rock, contact me at: gary@sweetenlife.com