What Bread Are We Offering?

Is there a correlation between football team's losses and church attendance?

Attendance at worship can discourage a pastor.  The competition for Sunday morning is rampant!  This past Sunday there was the mom/scout camp out.  Then let us not forget the opening weekend of Duck season--and the continuation of deer season.  And are there other seasons?  Oh yeah let's not forget soccer.  There are more kids on the soccer fields on Sunday morning than there are in Sunday School.  

In Louisiana there is also the loss factor that seemingly affects worship patterns.  Pastors notice that when the favorite team (LSU, Saints, etc) loses, the discouragement of the loss seems to keep parishioners away from worship.   The Sundays that follow a win there is energy and eagerness to tell the story of the win.  However, when the disappointment settles in, worship seems to be a distant thing. 

One fan apparently put the frustration in words, "If God is not going to give us a good quarterback, then I am not going to spend my time with God!"   There is a disconnect between a value in life and the one that gives meaning and value.  Now before you chuckle, realize that some folks value their team winning.  It is not just a game.  It is more than a game.  But what does that mean?

click here to see how sports can become more than we think!

Perhaps it means that we as the church have lost our ability to make disciples to transform the world.  We have simply become another fan base.  Maybe it means that somehow we as the church have not offered the bread of life.  Maybe we have served snacks much like the concessions of the game.  Maybe the concessions of the game have become more filling than the offering of our worship.

Or maybe we have lost the balm of Gilead?  Gilead, that region east of the Jordan river, where Jeremiah told the people of Israel of the mysterious healing perfume of the terebinth tree.  Jerry (I am sure those close to him called him Jerry!) would point towards them towards the healing made available by God in their presence.  Have we as the church lost the ability to give healing words to those who suffer great losses in their life?  Do we offer them the empty words of another season without compassion?  Our worship void of healing has left the world licking their wounds at home or at other places.

There is a turning point in Jesus' ministry where many were leaving him.  He turned to those closest to him and said, "Will you also leave?"  Peter answered,  "Where would we go?  You are the eternal life."  John 6:67  Peter was saying to Jesus that following Jesus was the bread of life. 

When the good bread is baked, cooked, and served the whole room and meal are transformed.  It's aroma fills the room.  Maybe that is what happens in the best of worship that no one would think of missing. What if we began to really serve the bread of life!  Can the church offer such bread in our worship?

What bread are we serving?

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,

Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

www.midweekmanna.com
www.stlukesimpson.org