William Booth said: “Will you go to His feet and place yourself entirely at His disposal?”
–Will we do that or will we settle for mere religious programs? Shall we surrender church meetings to Christ’s control or sit silently through a sermon? Ekklesia is a gathering of people who meet at the feet of the living, resurrected Jesus Christ and place the control of the meeting “entirely at His disposal.”
Is there any room for the living Jesus in 21st Century church services? (There is room for a traditional talk about Jesus, but is there even a tiny bit of room on the program for the living Jesus, Himself?)
–What would happen if the pastor stepped aside and made some room for Jesus in church services? Amazing things!
A professional talk about the historical Jesus, by the same man week-after-week, can be boring. However, when we gather at the feet of the living, resurrected Jesus and surrender the meeting to His direct control, things get exciting.
A living Jesus doesn’t need a man to talk for Him — He can speak for Himself, directly to human hearts. Many people do all they can to drown out His voice with constant worries, distractions, noise, activities, and denial. However, those who pay attention and stop running away, hear Jesus clearly. When we humbly gather with others in His name and listen together, each person obeying what Jesus says, His voice becomes even clearer.
Jacques Ellul wrote: “In the desire to make the church safe, Christians have eliminated the critic and the prophet. As a consequence, the church is bland and irrelevant.” Shall we settle for safe & comfy church or embrace exciting, interactive ekklesia?
(If you are in Nashville, you can experience ekklesia. Visit The Salvation Army Berry Street, 225 Berry St., 37207 on Sundays at 10:45 am. for an unprogrammed, unscripted, participatory meeting at Jesus’ disposal.)
