Where is Our Focus?

A close friend of mine made an incredible statement: "The Bible becomes the central focus of our church gatherings when a vibrant connection with the True and Living Word - the person of Jesus - is lost. The central them of Scripture is not Scripture itself. It is the Lord. Our gathering should center on the same." ~ Mark Durniak

We need to allow those words to sink in. We need to ask ourselves, "Where is Our Focus?" I realize that I do not speak for everyone. However, I have experienced the Worship Services of many, many, churches. Here's what I have gathered about the focus of many of them: Teaching, Singing, Giving, The Individual, and the list goes on. Just look at the "order of service" or what they spend much of their time focusing on. By the way, the fact that we call them services shows how far removed we have come in our understanding of Worship.

The purpose of the Body of Christ coming together is so the Head (Jesus) can be revealed. When Paul wrote the Corinthians about the proper use of Spiritual Graces (gifts), do you remember what he said about the prophetic? Look at 1 Corinthians 14:25, "falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is REALLY AMONG YOU." (emphasis mine). Who doesn't want this type of encounter? Who doesn't want to experience the person of Jesus in our midst? You may be surprised by some of the answers.

I have been around people who think that personal (and corporate) encounters are too subjective. It's this mentality that leads people to focus primarily upon the Bible and the teaching of it. As if that cannot be subjective! The reality is that many people (especially the leaders) are uncomfortable with encounters. It's much easier to control things in a service. You know...to ensure that everything is done "decently and in order." Which brings me to use of the word "service." As I looked up the word (which is used primarily as a noun) this is one of the definitions I came across: "public religious worship according to prescribed form and order. A ritual or form prescribed for public worship or for some particular occasion." Think about it.

The central them of Scripture is the Lord. Why would our gathering be any different? Imagine a worship gathering centered around the person of Jesus. Imagine our songs AND our singing. Imagine our encounters with Him AND with One Another. Imagine ALL of it right now - the way it is - with Him in the center. What would change? What would our experience look like? I'm not saying that the Lord would just wreck everything and make us start over. I'm simply saying that it would be VERY DIFFERENT.

I've been in this environment. I've seen this culture in worship. A moment is never wasted. Any sense of what the Lord is doing among us is shared. I've been a part of large and small gatherings of these people. They are very sensitive to the Lord in them and in others. They speak to this reality. They have a strong admiration and reverence for the Bible. They still preach and teach the Scriptures. But their focus is upon the person of Jesus. The Bible is just one of the ways in which He is revealed. The work of the Holy Spirit is honored. The love of the Father is as real as the people you are standing among. There is so much life.

I cannot point you to the time that everything changed. I've read books about the many changes in Christianity over the centuries, but to point to one thing isn't fair in my opinion. The point is that we have lost some things along the way. We've moved from the vibrant faith that we read about in the book of Acts. The sense of true community is not quite the same. It's understandable. We've left the homes in favor of big buildings. Those of us in the West don't understand the need for a faith family the way our persecuted Brothers and Sisters do. But I think the biggest change, probably the most destructive change in our approach to the faith, was moving towards the lone leader/speaker. I say this as a Pastor. Life within the church looks very different when multiple people share their experience in the Lord.

How do we change all of this? What is the cure? How can we move from the idea that the preaching is so central, that singing is the most important thing, or that the individual walking in the door needs to be taken care of first?
The Sunday School Answer: Jesus.
The Application: We Change Our Focus.
We determine in our hearts as leaders that Jesus will be the main attraction. Our songs will center upon Him. All that we do is way to magnify who He is among us. We make worship an encounter rather than a religious service. We keep Jesus the main thing.
As members of the Body we determine in our hearts that we gather to see Him, to experience Him, to love Him and one another. All that we do is a way to magnify who He is among us. We share in the encounter. We participate in Him.

The Holy Spirit will guide us in this endeavor. It's what He does. Guiding us into all Truth. Convincing us of the reality of all that Jesus did for us. Reminding us of the reality of His presence within. Highlighting the Lord's activity among us. Imagine the difference.