FORT MYERS, Fla. (BP)–A quote often attributed to Rev. Sam Pascoe goes like this, “Christianity started in Palestine as a fellowship. It moved to Greece and became a philosophy. It moved to Italy and became an institution. It moved to Europe and became a culture. It came to America and became an enterprise.”
An enterprise? That’s a business. I think we need to ask a question: Isn’t the church supposed to be a body of believers?
The American church is heavily populated by people who do not love God. How can we love Him if we don’t even know Him? In Western culture, understanding and knowing usually means knowledge. A collection of information is not the same thing as intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.
Many of us came to Christ because we were told what He would do for us. We were promised that God would bless our life and take us to heaven after death. Did we marry God for His money? Do we not care if God lives in us? Have we made the Kingdom of God into a business?
We are commanded to love God and are called to be the bride of Christ — that’s pretty intimate. How can we love somebody we don’t even know? And if we do know someone, is that a guarantee that we really love them?
I was thinking the other day: What’s the difference between a lover and a prostitute? Both do many of the same things but a lover does what she does because she loves. A prostitute pretends to love, as long as you pay.
What would happen if God stopped blessing you? We need to take a look at the condition of our heart. Why do we serve Him? Do we do it because of the blessings in our life? Or do we do it because we are in love with Jesus Christ? There is no substitute for an unconditional, intimate relationship with God.
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Bill Fay is an evangelist and author of “Share Jesus without Fear.” To contact him, visit www.sharejesuswithoutfear.com.
