Not on Appearance or Performance

(Cicadas in background)

The Apostle Paul told the Corinthian Church he did not come to them with excellency of speech or enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. He decided to know nothing among them except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. (1 Co 2:1-2)

Why?

So their faith would not rest in the wisdom of men, but the power of God.

We live in a time where many churches have fallen into the trap of a “performance based” ministry feeling the need to entertain more than inform. Chasing “clicks and shares” they are marketing the gospel. Is it any wonder there’s little power in the church today? There are many gifted orators in the pulpit, who with “excellency of speech” can stir up a crowd. The listener can become so mesmerized by the performance they fail to exercise discernment and find themselves in great deception.

In the parable of the sower and the seed, there was a group who received the Word with joy but had no root in them. When persecution came “because of the word,” immediately they stumbled and fell away. (Mark 4:16-17)

Placing your faith in the wisdom of man will leave you rootless.

Many of us who follow Christ today need to return to our “roots.” To turn away (repent) from Sunday morning informercials and social media marketing campaigns. Like Paul, we need to focus on Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

We need to remember the power of God that changes lives is not based on our personal appearance or performance, but in fact can hinder it. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6) As Jesus began His earthly ministry, John the Baptist said it was time for him to “decrease so that He could increase.” (John 3:30)

“Let no flesh glory in the presence of God.” (1 Co 1:29)

God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty. (I Co 1:27) He doesn’t raise up Christian celebrities, we do that.

And we need to stop.

Some may say I just don’t like a “good preach,” but nothing could be further from the truth. I love a “good preach,” but my roots are Pentecostal not theatrical.

And I know the difference.