Not just 'spiritual spas'
By John Mohan

The next few days mark two of the most important events of the Christian faith -- the crucifixion of Christ (Good Friday) and his bodily resurrection (Easter). It is so core to Christian beliefs that the Apostle Paul writes that if Christ is not risen from the dead then our faith is in vain.

Over the centuries, this belief and message has motivated and enlarged the church, and been cause of its persecution. Today an estimated 2.1 billion people identify themselves as Christian -- about one third of the total global population.

Impact has spanned centuries and cultures, poor and rich. The church is labelled both liberator and oppressor of human rights, and defender of moral standards.

It's perplexing how the core message hasn't changed, but somehow can get so convoluted.

Churches have started and divided over everything from doctrinal differences to neck ties to music styles but seldom for altruistic reasons. But in a culture of options and quick fixes people now align themselves with churches for even less substantive reasons.

Do I like the preaching style? Does the worship leader pick songs I like? Where's the organ? What does the website look like? Are there pews or chairs and are they padded? The list goes on and on forcing ministers to become marketers and tight-rope walkers for fear of losing people because they haven't stayed current enough or too trendy for somebody's liking. Hardly what Jesus intended in his post-resurrection conversation with his disciple Peter as he charged him to "feed my sheep".

Today pastoring is one of the hardest careers around and the burnout rate is among the highest of any profession with one source reporting that more than 1,000 North American pastors leave the ministry every month.

At the risk of sounding like I'm contradicting myself, there is a "shopping list" of sorts that people should consider as they live out their Christian beliefs.

Paramount is the soundness of the messages espoused from the pulpit.

There is nothing worse than hearing somebody who gets their next sermon from a Jerry Springer rerun or theology from a Steven Spielberg movie. (I don't care what anybody says, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was not a type of Christ.)

People should be challenged to be more than self-actualized and congregations should have a bigger reason to exist than simply being a social fortress or spiritual spa.

While millions of dollars are sent overseas to help developing countries and support missionary causes, there should also be intentional opportunity for people to leave a footprint in our local communities through service to and support of the poor, homeless and marginalized in our own backyard. Christ's death and resurrection are a wonderful gift and message -- intended to change you, our communities and our world.

How's it working out?

--John Mohan is the CEO of Siloam Mission.

Originally printed in the Winnipeg Sun, Wednesday, April 8, 2009.
Reprinted with the permission of Sun Media Corporation.