Last night I listened to a long video podcast that Tim Hawkins, a very funny comedian who often travels and performs at Churches, did last year on his tour bus with his group and John Crist. It was long but very funny and illuminating also.
At about 25 minutes in these two men who have done hundreds of shows talked about the difference between speaking at Churches and at other secular venues. John mentioned that his joke placement was different at Churches because if you hit the audience with 'hard stuff' early on you might lose your audience. You need to 'win' a Church audience over first but if you win them you then have great latitude in what you say as long as you don't use profanity. Tim agreed. Once you win the Church people they can become warm and loyal friends.
Secular venues just want you to entertain them. They likely need to buy tickets to see these men and go because they are on the ticket. That may also be true for Church gatherings but many might be there because it is a Church event and they buy the ticket knowing the money is partially going to the Church or maybe they just want to bring their children to something fun.
I asked God last night, 'Why the guardedness? Why are Church groups different?' This morning as I sit here two opposing ideas come to mind. One is that these folks might be a bit guarded toward people who oppose their beliefs which can be spiritual or it can be carnal and legalistic. The other is that these Church folks are looking for some kind of 'password' before they let you in their heart. Once you are in some send you gifts and write you notes. They opened some of the gifts they got at the last show on video. It was very sweet.
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already." - 1 John 4:1-3 ESV
"...That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." - 2 Thessalonians 1:12 KJV
"Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man." - John 2:23-25 ESV
Jesus was guarded because He knew something and I am guarded also.
Perhaps you are an unbeliever reading this and saying, 'Look he thinks we are second-class citizens and knows better because of a relegious superiority complex.' but in truth I just think I have embraced this open secret and light has come into my very undeserving life. I want everyone to have this light and see because it is valuable. Jesus imparts life that survives the grave and that light has an illuminating glow.
Or you may be a believer in Jesus who is saying, 'Amen brother.' but I sit here thinking that we could have our ears closed so tightly that maybe we don't hear the heart cry of the person in front of us who does not believe... yet.
The name (character and nature) of Jesus is a kind of 'passcode' if a person does not present that name I can't label anything they say as spiritual. Christ is the definition and 'way in' to all that is Heavenly. What a person shares that is personal is important. The person standing in front of me is the most important and valuable person in the world in that moment. They merit respect and attention because God values them. I only really can know that because I discern it. The same sense that keeps me guarded also shows me value.
If we compromise with truth we will also eventually compromise with value. Soon we will just want to be entertained and not really care how it happens or who does the entertaining. We pay them and maybe we become 'a fan' but one that lacks divine love.
--
No comments:
Post a Comment