Chili Church

I frequently drive from Purcell to Oklahoma City. Along this drive are many billboards. One caught my eye this morning that was a giant red chili pepper. I wondered if the restaurant Chili's had put in a new billboard. As a drew closer the billboard read: "Spicy Church!"

This is the message that is intended to draw people to this congregation? I am all for creative advertisement and marketing, but is this truly what the church has become?

Unfortunately, this isn't an isolated incident. There are a few things I see churches holding up that are dangerous:

1. Experience - The billboard I saw fit this category. Attend our church because we are "Spicy" and it will be a different experience. It puts a new and different experience as the goal and not Christ. Many charismatic and new age churches have this as their M.O. It is unbiblical and dangerous. Be wary of any church that claims that they have a Christian doctrine or practice that others do not. There is nothing new under the sun.

2. Morals - Old school fundamental churches have a tendency to fall into this category. This type of church is driven by making people moralistic. This is extremely dangerous because at the center of the church is not proclaiming Christ as dying to save us from our sin but proclaiming Christ is pleased with good people and not with bad people. People live as morally as they can stand, but their hearts are far from God. Their is guilt when they sin, and pride when they uphold their morals.

3. Rewards - Health & Wealth/Prosperity Theology fits in these churches. The church is generally a very "Feel Good" place. People come looking to hear an inspiring, hope-filled message that God wants their circumstances to change. The problem here is that God changing my situation is truly what is being worshipped rather than God. Most people in the Bible that God calls to himself have their life ruined at cost for following Him (Paul, 12 Disciples, Prophets, etc.)

The reason it is dangerous is because the people belonging to these churches naturally worship the thing that drew them into church in the first place. If anything other than the cross of Jesus Christ drew them to church, the result is worship of an idol.

The reason it is dangerous is because the people belonging to these churches naturally worship the thing that drew them into church in the first place.

A Christian church should not hold up the idea of a church that is "Spicy" but the cross to draw people unto themselves. When you hold up anything other than the cross, that ideal is worshipped. Leading

a life that is centered on Christ will give you a unique experience but only if the pursuit is Christ. Upon receiving the Holy Spirit a person will have new desires to live a moral life, but that desire will come from beginning a new life and will break shame and pride because you recognize you have sin to be shameful of and that Christ died defeating sin leading to humility. Truly there is reward in a relationship with God, but is found in knowing Him. What about in your heart? Do you worship Christ and proclaim to others his work on the cross as the centerpiece of your life? What's the picture on the billboard of your life? May for all of us, it be the cross! May we hold up the cross this Easter season in our lives and in our churches.

For His glory and our joy,

Michael McAfee