All About Jesus

“Jesus only is our message, Jesus all our theme shall be;

We will lift up Jesus ever, Jesus only will we see.

Jesus only, Jesus ever, Jesus all in all we sing,

Saviour, Sanctifier, and Healer, Glorious Lord and coming King.”

-A.B. Simpson, Founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance

The church is all about Jesus. That sounds right. And it is a statement that few if any of us would deny or seek to amend. But the practical implications of this statement are where we start to understand if we are fully behind such a fine sounding idea. In the message yesterday, I hope I laid out a clear Biblical argument and understanding of the Christ-centeredness of the church. What received less attention was the practical import. If we believe that the church is all about Jesus there is much that flows out of that belief- or at least should. On a personal level, this comes home as we evaluate what matters most to us in the church we choose to attend. For most of us, the air we breathe and the culture in which we live tells us that we can and should make choices based on what serves us best. Don’t like the price of the widget in that store? Go to the next store. Don’t prefer the taste of their coffee? Find a new brand or blend or barista and on and on it goes. Whether we acknowledge it or not, this consumer mentality filters in to our thinking about church. And if we are not careful, it impacts us in ways it probably shouldn’t. Don’t like their music? Try someone else’s. Don’t find that pastor’s message impactful or inspiring? Find a new pastor or a new church whichever causes you less trouble.

Now I am speaking in hyperbole so please don’t believe that this is what I think every time I hear people talk about these issues. And there are music choices and messages that are good and rightful reasons to leave one church and seek another more faithful to the truth. But, even for me (and maybe especially for me as a church leader) I have to check and double check that I am not doing something in the church as a matter of what I prefer. The question has to be: Does this glorify Jesus? If we begin with this diagnostic, then our questions change: Will this song focus us on Jesus? Will my message content point us to Jesus? If I do this will it distract from Jesus? How can we do better at putting the spot light on Jesus? It is hard (maybe impossible) to be in a consumer driven world (of which I am no less a part than you) and not be impacted by a mentality of ‘giving the customer what they want’.

Hear me, I am not picking on anyone or singling out other expressions of church as wrong or calling into question your motives as an attender at HLAC. I am expressing the danger as I believe it exists in our culture today to make the church about Jesus and consumer preference. Or Jesus and me. Jesus and _______ has been the danger from the earliest moments of the church (see Matthew 16:13-28). In Galatia, it was Jesus and the Law of Moses. In Colosse, it was Jesus and special knowledge. To the churches John wrote it was Jesus and Gnostism. But, if we can delete, “and ____” we will be in theory and practice a Christ-centered church. And if we get that right, Jesus will build His church. And God helping us, it will be all about Jesus.

For personal reflection: What is my “and _____”? What is my go to add on to Jesus and His church?

WEDnesday Discussion Questions:

Who/What has helped you in the past discern when the spotlight is taken off of Jesus or put on Jesus and ____? From that learning, how do you keep the spotlight on Jesus? What are key indicators for you of the spotlight slipping from “Jesus only” in your life? In the life of a church?

What will we do to point people to Jesus? What are the biggest hurdles to pointing people to Jesus in our community?

“All that is done for Christ in this life will last, all that is done for self will pass.” How do you know if you are serving Jesus and His Kingdom or serving yourself or some other person or purpose?

For your enjoyment: Jesus Only