Thursday, June 3, 2010

Shooting Hoops in the Sanctuary

"If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 'Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!' (which all refer to things destined to perish with the using) - in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence" (Colossians 2:20-23)

At the risk of violating sacred traditions when it comes to the sanctity of church sanctuaries, beloved, let me confess to you that I had a wonderful time with my son and grandson this past week as we were "setting up" the Life Center at their church near Richmond in preparation for the Thursday night youth ministry. A part of that preparation involved pulling out and setting up (Get ready! Here it comes!) a full-sized professional basketball goal for the teens to use. And after all the preparations had been done, we grabbed a b-ball and had a blast shooting hoops together right there in the Life Center.

Now most churches, at least the ones I know, don't allow children to run in the sanctuary, must less do something as radical as shooting hoops. But this church is different, a refreshing exception for one simple reason - they believe that the church should be more about people than about buildings. Now please don't misunderstand. On Sunday mornings members and visitors gather in that same Life Center to worship God and then it is set up as a sanctuary of worship. They have taken the term "multipurpose" to new heights. On those occasions the basketball goal is nowhere in sight and not a single b-ball is dribbled.

The Colossian church had sadly been infiltrated by those who taught them that true spirituality consisted of rigid external rules for living - rules concerning what they could not eat or even touch as Christians. They in essence handed out a list of "don'ts" for the Colossian believers to carry around with them in order to fulfill daily righteousness! Today many churches do the same thing, burdening their members with man-made rules and regulations concerning everything from keeping the church sanctuary "holy" to places they might frequent when not at church. Paul wanted them to know that, while such rules might appear spiritual, they are really useless in helping us to live for Jesus Christ. He urged them rather to allow the indwelling Holy Spirit to be their guide in such matters of exemplary living. Today we have the inerrant and infallible Word of God applied to our living by the Holy Spirit to direct our living for God's glory.

So if reaching your neighbors with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ requires you to grab a b-ball and shoot some hoops, beloved, even if it might be in a multipurpose church sanctuary, then by all means go for it. I assure you that the church of Jesus Christ will survive! And you might have the joy of leading some lost one to the Savior who loves them and gave His life to set them free from sin.

Ron