Watch Out, Church!

Isaiah 40:6b,8: "All men are like grass . . . . the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."


This chapter of the book of Isaiah is a proclamation of the exaltation of the Lord, who alone reigns supreme in the universe, and who is coming in ineffable glory to redeem His people. With Messianic overtones, chapter 40 has everything to do with the glory of the Lord and His provision of salvation to humanity. Also notable is the revelation that man is in fact not a co-laborer with God but is utterly dependant upon Him for life and grace. Man is not able through his own attainments to make an impression upon the Holy God; rather, man needs to approach the throne of God with contrition and humility, knowing that God alone is Sovereign and alone is due praise and honor. When man begins to think that he is endowed with certain abilities to draw personal exaltation, then he truly has erred in his understanding of himself in regard to the Almighty. Compared to the righteousness of God, we are nothing; we are as the grass of the field that withers and dies. It is the Word of the Lord that is exalted and "stands forever." Of course we know from John 1 that the Word became flesh and tabernacled among humanity in the person of Jesus Christ. All praise and honor are due the Lord, for He is Sovereign, He is Holy, and He is our Redeemer.



As I was reading through this passage of Scripture, I was troubled with the disposition of the modern Church. As I have read through newspaper advertisements or have watched church services on television, I have noticed that many church congregations are implementing spiritual "hooks" to attract people to their services. Some would use gift cards to draw people to their services, others would embellish their services with all the bells and whistles of experientialism. Even modern sermons have displaced the propositional truths of Scripture with "feel good" stories to give its hearers the warm, fuzzy feelings that make them happy. It seems as if the Church has displaced the exaltation of Christ with the need for organizational growth and viability. Even in its worship, the Church seems to be more concerned with methodology over substance. The Church has displaced its praise of the One True God with its need to become culturally impressive, drawing ever more attendees (and their contributions) in order that they might become an impressive, self-sustaining entity independent of any need for God. Although the Church propagates its worship of God, it's as if the Church has asserted through its behavior that the god worshipped is itself.


Whereas cultural relevance has its place in the methodology of the Church (i.e. making the Church identifiable with its culture through worship styles, community activities, etc.), the fear is that the proverbial pendulum has swung so far in the other direction that methodology has become the chief end. Churches now believe that their congregations will grow exponentially in attendance if enough attractions are offered. No longer is there the insatiable desire for the Word of God; now the Church has become a monolithic organization that feeds on its own abilities to attract people through effective marketing strategies.


Again, Isaiah 40 is a reminder to us that our glory is like the grass of the field that grows today and tomorrow withers and dies. We as the Church should not think too highly of ourselves that we believe we alone are able to produce an abundant harvest of believers through our own impressive marketing strategies. Whereas cultural relevance has its place, it is God and God alone who draws men unto Himself through the power of the Holy Spirit (see I Corinthians 12:3).

Therefore, we as the Church must remember that we are utterly dependent upon the Lord for our viability (Acts 17:28). He alone is the One who "sits enthroned above the circle of the earth" (40:22). There is no one who can be considered His equal (40:25). And it is His Word that is powerful and effective in aiding the Church in accomplishing its chief end . . . which is to glorify God alone. If we are expecting spiritual revival to break forth in our churches, we would do well to reorient any notions that such revival is accomplished through ourselves. Revival only will come when we capitulate ourselves and our churches to the Lord and tune our spiritual ears to His Eternal Word to us.