Are You Not Entertained

I love the movie Gladiator.  It's just one of those movies I can watch again and again.  Of course, there is something about that period of Rome that intrigues me, maybe it's because it's contemporary with Biblical times, yet I never seem to think about the apostles living or the spread of Christianity (being that the film is set about 120 years after Christ).  The movie is filled with epic moments, and one of those brought to thought today.  it is after one the gladiator games set up by the Emperor Commodus, where the character of Maximus lets his disdain be known by shouting to the crowd after victory, "Are you not entertained!?"

From a ministry standpoint, I am sure that pastors today feel like screaming the same thing.  To be fair before I am accused of a horrid generalization, there are those people among us, in our churches, that are after Christ with a whole heart.  They are diligent in their pursuit, faithful to the Christ community and in their Christian service, and genuinely in pursuit of their place in God's great plan.  But it seems that there is a disturbing trend among church culture.  Something of a cancer has began to penetrate the fibers of Christian community. And however ironic it may seem to you for me to write this, with the movie of reference and all, I still wish to warn and bring to discussion the cancer of entertainment.
It's not entertainment in and of itself that is the problem, albeit it could be the root.  At least our current cultures overexposure to it and over-stimulation altogether.  But it seems that one's interest in the knowledge of God today is deeply paired with entertainment.  Our pastors are no longer expected to be men of study, teachers, or equippers.  It's not about getting the information of the Word of God out so that man and woman may deal with and apply it to the heart.  It's about how engaging we can make it.  Christ Himself, His desire for our obedience and faith are no longer captivating, lest there be a really awesome video or song to stimulate the hearer, bringing not an eternal heartfelt response but rather an instantaneous high.  This in turn is not transforming the soul, but only conforming to the comfort of the "believer".  It does not turn the believer into the world as a change agent, but rather allows the world to continue to influence the believer.  You now have the stark opposite of what Christ commanded in the Great Commission, the world penetrating the Church.

Well then, Mr.Smarty Pants, how are we supposed to reach the culture if we don't "speak their language".  I understand people speak in text now, and that they would rather not be face to face. I know technology and media continue to reign supreme.  But why are we letting that dictate how we respond to people?  Here are a couple of quick questions to consider:

1) Where in this is the creative ability of God's people?
If anything, the church should be on the cutting edge of creativity, not overcome with mimicry.  This imitation is perhaps the result of spending our time indulging in the world vs. being before our God.  Shouldn't we seek to be the initiators of powerful communication?


2) Whatever happened to a strong dependence on the Holy Spirit to change lives?
Yeah, I know how "old fashioned" that sounds.  It doesn't fly with us "driven" people.  Because, we are suppose to be "out there" engaging the culture.  Silence and solitude, putting our own hearts in a right place is simply wasting time.  Notice in this trendy age of church culture driven by man's often un-biblical approach has seemed to cause a growing disgust with the church, especially among it's own.  Wow, look what we have done?  Isn't it awesome?

3) Have we forgotten the simpler language of love?
The greatest acts of Christ-driven love the world has ever seen were technology free. They were not considered "trendy" or even defined then as "relevant".  Even today, the stories that really move the heart, in this day of technology, are stories that aren't grand and carry no "power punch".  They are simple acts of love, and that's all the punch they seem to need.

How do we change?  We return to God for starters.  Stop being "driven" and return to our calling.  Our calling was not to simply inspire or "move" people.  For the Pastor, it is to equip for ministry, and that with a heart filled by God.  For the layperson, it is to be consumed by Christ and 100% engaged in a community of saints, spreading the Gospel message.  And folks, know none of this has to be "entertaining".  Because the acts of love, your devotion to Christ and Him working in and through your life will always be more powerful than the Gladiator himself.