Church Elitism..

Beware of the trap of “church elitism”.

If I think “my church…it’s worship, it’s teaching, its leader, it’s services are way better than those other churches. We are so much more exciting, more fun..we are so much more spiritual”!

Woahhh..then I need to put the brakes on those thoughts or opinions right then and there….there is a trap ahead and I am in danger of falling into spiritual pride and elitism.

It is not wise to place value on appearances or fall into the trap of following a “leader” as we can become “I” focussed and selfish thinking” “well that service was boring..I didn’t get anything out of that today” rather than being “Jesus” and His mission focussed.

We are in danger of becoming consumers of a church service rather than ministers in the body of Christ.

Paul summed it up really well for us believers in these verses:

“So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future – all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God” 1Cor.3.21-23 NIVUK

and in the following verses too:

“Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, ‘Do not go beyond what is written.’ Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other. For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 1Cor.4.6 &7 NIVUK

It’s hard to see or realise sometimes when we have turned aside from following and serving Jesus to following a person or a ministry.

It’s good to stop and ask the question “Am I following Jesus or am I following someone or something else”?

Lord open the eyes of our hearts today and show us the truth. Amen