Scripture reading: Matthew 21:28–32

Bravo! Great Show!

Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22)

 

One of the dangers of living in an entertainment culture is that we begin to attend church with the same expectations that we attend the theater. We go to be entertained. And if we return home having enjoyed the production, we conclude it was time well spent.

Søren Kierkegaard tells a parable about a theater full of people where a fire broke out backstage. One of the actors, a clown, ran on stage to warn the audience. “Fire! Fire! For your own safety I am asking you to leave.” The spectators, however, thought this was just part of the play. “Bravo! Bravo! Great show!” they shouted, delighted with the clown’s spirited performance. Kierkegaard concludes his par- able with these words: “So I think the world will come to an end amid general applause from all the wits, who believe that it is a joke.”

The Sunday morning worship service was never intended to be entertaining. The prophetic word is meant to serve as a warning to flee from the coming wrath—to repent before it is too late! But in a day like ours, many will sit on the pews and applaud, “Bravo! Great show!” Then they will go happily to their homes having enjoyed such a fine production, never once dreaming that the warnings they heard were meant to be taken seriously, never imagining that the calls for repentance were addressed to them!

Churches are dangerous places. Just as many people get sick in the hospital from germs they did not have when they entered, so many in church contact diseases they didn’t have when they came! James warned his readers about the dangers of church attendance. If you hear the Word but don’t do what it says, you are self-deceived (James 1:22). And of all the possible forms of deception that plague the human race, self-deception is the most deadly!

In the sixth century B.C., Ezekiel was perhaps the most popular preacher of his day. He was really good! Those who listened to his messages marveled at his oratorical skills and theatrical presence. “Bravo! Great show!” But God had a different perspective on what was happening.

Son of man, your people talk about you in their houses and whisper about you at the doors. They say to each other, “Come on, let’s go hear the prophet tell us what the Lord is saying!” So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money. You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don’t act on it! But when all these terrible things happen to them—as they certainly will—then they will know a prophet has been among them. (Ezekiel 33:30–33 NLT)

 

We must flatly say that one of the greatest contemporary barriers to meaningful spiritual formation in Christlikeness is overconfidence in the spiritual efficacy of “regular church services,” of whatever kind they may be. Though they are vital, they are not enough. It is that simple.—Dallas Willard

 

point to ponder • Is there an area in your life where pious words are masking disobedience?

prayer focus • For the American church in an American culture that thrives on glitz and glitter.