Is God pleased with our church gatherings?
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
Amos 5:21-24
Amos was called by God as a prophet to expose, among other things, Israel's oppression of the poor, empty religious practices, and pride. God was not impressed with their religious gatherings and observances. He was not impressed because their outward form of religion was absent of an inward heart that truly worshiped the Lord in word and deed. They were not living holy lives and neither were they working to bring justice to those being oppressed.
Alarmingly, this is true of the church today. For example, calling a solemn assembly (or getting believers to gather together) seems to only work if the gathering is centered on man and not Christ. In other words, church services are geared towards meeting the felt needs, desires and preferences of people not the person, work and mission of Christ. More and more, churchgoers come to church to be catered to and entertained by those in ministry that are more than happy to oblige. Consequently, the church going consumer may feel good for the moment, but there is no real and lasting change. And when a believer is unchanged, not only will they not effect changed in the world but they will end up being conformed to the world.
Daniel Henderson, in a devotional title, "If I were the devil", writes in ones of his points: Promote "Success" in the Ministry - Crazy as it sounds, I might even promote church growth as a replacement for real revival. I would encourage an interest in numbers, activities, strategies, and events. This would keep them away from brokenness, repentance, and passion for God's transforming presence. This would distract them from a real pursuit of the awakenings that have undermined my malevolent work. Knowing that I could not keep people from eternal life because of the power of the Gospel, I would at least try to keep them from eternal reward by getting them to rely on their own flesh rather than the Spirit of God in their ministry efforts. Yes, if I were the devil, this strategy would be one of my most important. I would amass all of my most subtle and deceptive troops and tools to prevent spiritual awakening at all costs. As long as Christians were sincere but isolated - active but powerless - entertained but shallow - I would win. And I would love it so."
Alarmingly, I believe that what Daniel Henderson wrote describes the state of many churches today, namely that they're man centered rather than Christ centered. And if this is true, the reality is that some church gatherings are more pleasing to the devil than they are to Jesus who gave His blood to sanctify the church.
Now, I'm not implying that we should give up on the church. My point is that the church needs to turn back to God. You see, although the Lord was not please with the solemn assemblies in Amos' day, it wasn't so much the gathering itself, but the hearts of the people. In fact, in Joel we read, “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.” (Joel 2:12-16 ESV) Commenting on this passage in a sermon, Pastor Eddie Leon stated, "If our hearts wander from God, he will fight against us to bring us to repentance. If we become proud and self-confident and prayer starts to feel unnecessary, God blocks our way."
If churches today are going to experience God's real power and presence, it must turn back to God and the simplicity of the gospel. We must trust that the gospel not man is the power of God unto salvation. We must give God more than songs that we sing with our lips. We must give Him true worship that comes from a heart that is truly consecrated to Him.
