Could it be that we sometimes substitute the power of the Holy Spirit with technology, media, and all the gadgets that we all take for granted today when we think of what it takes to do church in America today? I would guess that the answer sadly is yes to that question.
As I just returned from our church in Santo Domingo, D.R this is an issue that has been quite strongly on my mind. Consider the following:
- You meet people that can’t read or write but they know more scripture compared to some people I know that have a formal bible education.
- All you have for worship is people singing and clapping, there is no worship leader, no band, choir, instruments, etc.
- In the middle of the service the power goes out and everything is pitch black. No worries there are candles around and the services does not miss a beat.
- Imagine that it is about 90 degrees and there is no airc onditioning, but no one seems to care.
- Seating is limited but many people do not mind standing for a long time.
- There are no screens, gifts for first time attenders…. the list goes on and on and on
What we today consider nessesary for doing church they don’t have, but what they do have is the Holy Spirit. The Bible says in in 2 Timothy 3:5 that there are people that have a form of Goldliness but denying its power. Paul writes in I Corinthians 2:4 “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power”.
Do we sometimes substitute the power of the Holy Spirit with all the tools that we have availible today, again I do believe that we often do that.
- It is easier to copy what someone else has said but at the same time miss out on an opportunity for God to speak to you today.
- It is easier to rely on the tools that we have today and do church “creatively” the way that another churche does than to seek God for the unique direction he has.
- It is easy to “turn on the cruise control” and neglect prayer, fasting, etc.
For anyone that knows me you would know that technology and creativity is very important to me. The fact that we as a church utilize media, technology and creativity is not an after thought it is very important, but it is just some of the means that we use to communicate the timeless message that God has a plan for our lives, the fact that we are sinners and in need of a saviour and that we need the power of the Holy Spirit.
Quite true, I always say that in America we do so little with so much and in other countries they do so much with so little.
D.B.