Invisible Footprints: If God was at the pulpit

Wednesday, February 02, 2005

If God was at the pulpit

Christians have a way with spending Sundays; we go to church, listen to the pastor preach whatever he has to say. Catholics go to a 'mass', where they have Holy Communion and listen to the priest speak words of wisdom. But how receptive are we to God's word? Just how much of God's word do we hear and nod about in church, agreeing, yet not practicing?

To some extent, we're all consumers in the church. We feed off sermons, music by the band, altar helpers, usherers, etc. Sometimes we're a part of it, sometimes we're not. We appreciate our pastors when they encourage us. Validate them when they don't. We seem to forget, no matter how anointed someone in the church is, they are still human. We hate labels and denominations ourselves, yet labelling exists in every inch of society, including within the labels and denominations in the churches.

We have hypocrites, Christians behaving like non-Christians, uptight Christians, Sunday morning Christians, evangelical Christian, backslidden Christian, American Christian, Malaysian Christian. Pastors can be insightful, encouraging, fake, articulate (or vice versa), blessed, and most interestingly i've seen, a CEO of the church. Perhaps i do not speak of everyone or anyone in particular, but subconsciously, we all have made our own judgments on things and each have their own perceptions of the things around them.

We all play a part in the superficiality of this world. We know what a pastor should do. And when he does it wrong, we barrage him. With the congregation, we know what to do, and when we see peers doing it wrong, we get all negative about the entire church. Are we not suppose to be in church to worship God?

If pastors began to be pushy, strict, boring and keep calling for more offerings and tithing, should we all leave? If God was at the pulpit, what do we do?

God has a purpose for you, and everything. It's amazing how we would all think and react different if only God was at the pulpit. But how often do we lament about pastors, congregations and the church as a whole? Try to understand that perhaps behind the grandness of a pastor standing on the pulpit looking at you, preaching, that maybe his CEO likeness may be required to run a church nowadays. We are in an increasingly dark and uncertain age, where the difference between good and evil is just a fine line. And God's people, whether doing good or evil will be dealt with individually. And who said that Christian life is easy? The Devil is looking for weaknesses in you to exploit, that you may succumb to him.

If God wishes to speak to you, all you need to do is listen. Worship bands do not play for you, they play for God. We sing praises and worship with our voices not for neighbours, pastors, people but for God. We give because we first receive, and how do we, recipients, outgive the giver? How do we outgive God? Pastors have sermons to deliver, but it is God who prepares the message, and the message you ought to receive, is only from God Himself. Pastors only have words. You can do nothing about it. But i tell you that God always has something special to say to us, to remind us, to guide us.

And if God showed himself on the pulpit, how inspired would you be? How much do you see yourself, your thoughts, words and reaction change? Would you listen more carefully, pray harder, sing louder, give more? Just because a pastor is human, doesn't mean God is not with him, working through him. Weaving His brilliance on him (or her) trying hard to break down the barrier in our minds. And wishing for us to leave all our worries behind, all our negativities and concentrate solely on God.

Where would you be, when God shows himself on the pulpit?