Walking With Jesus: The Church Isn't Wal-Mart

Walking With Jesus: A Study Through Mark
What follows is what I feel Jesus is teaching me as I read through the Gospel of Mark

The Church Isn't Wal-Mart
"When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. And He stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace.
He said to them, "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations' 'but you have turned it into a den of thieves"
--Mark 11:15-17

I remember reading the Christian author and he said, "if only church were more like wal-mart!" His point happened to be on the diversity of people that go to wal-mart, but in another sense, i feel like the church has grabbed onto that statement by the way everything we do is run! particularly in youth ministry too!
--"come to this youth event! we give the BEST deals!"
--"check out our church, we sell coffee and smoothies and do giveaways!" (really i was at a church with a red convertible on the front lawn for a giveaway, and a coffeeshop on the right that was selling goods for profit ... for real)
--"our church has rockin' modern worship with a sweet band and a great sound system!"
--"our church has a smooth talking pastor. you'll love his stories and illustrations!"

but do we ever hear, "our church is a good place to pray. to help and love others." no we don't. because we've bought into what modern society has taught us: we're consumers. that's all. and the church is just another organization trying to squeeze pockets and fill seats. and so we publicize things to consume on and we work on things to consume on: something flashy, grabbing, intoxicatingly attractive (in an appropriate sense) to get our consumer in our building and buy what we're selling.

are we selling something? I remember hearing a pastor saying his job was in "sales." really? how much does Jesus cost these days? 10% of my earnings? Is that what you're saying? Are you "selling" Jesus or are you selling products from the church? selling small groups, fellowship hour, men's breakfasts, youth programs, children's programs, self-help seminars, and maybe once a year, a community project?

don't get me wrong. i understand the pressure to make "church" sales and as a minister (of youth) be pressured to do a lot of the job as a "salesman." in youth ministry, i feel like its often the same struggle: to be Wal-Mart. To sell it. I have to "sell" our program and all the things we ... offer.

but I think Jesus has something else in mind. I think the lesson Jesus is teaching me through Mark 11 is this: The Church isn't Wal-Mart.

The Church, the Youth Ministry, all of it: it isn't Wal-Mart. It's not a place just for consumption and for satisfying all our earthly desires. The Church is a house of prayer. The Church is a place to align ourselves with God and listen to what He's saying to us. It's a place to be together to build each other up, confess sins to one another, teach each other, encourage each other with lovely words and gifts and giving and service. it's a place to be family, under our one true father: God.

Instead, it's often the opposite.

We give in the pressure for the Church to just be a place that "offers something at a great value!" instead of a place that helps us find the value of ourselves, and our own worth found in Jesus Christ.

I wonder if Jesus came into our church's and youth ministries, would He start turning over pews and fundraiser advertising tables? Would He tear down posters and kick in signs? would He throw a chair into the big-screen tv and topple the ping pong table on the carpet? and then would He look at me with deadlocked eyes and say "My temple was supposed to be a house of prayer ... but you've turned it into a den of thieves ... you think you can ENTICE my children to come to me through games and prizes and trips? My children come to me because of their hearts, not their eyes. My children come to me to serve not to be served. Why are you desecrating my house with all your propaganda?"

The Church is not Wal-Mart. It's not a place to sell. It's a place to give. to worship. to pray.