THIS IS NOT A HAMBURGER STAND!

I had a call early one Sunday morning and a person asked, “How long will your service last, and do you serve the Lord’s Supper first or last?” 

They were probably traveling and wanted their “crackers and grape juice” to go! It seems that many religious leaders are taking the Burger King approach:”Have it your way!” But we are not a hamburger stand. We are the body of Christ. It is tempting to apply the fast food approach, but it will be deadly to the church. 

Will some offer a drive-in window where one can get the Lord’s Supper on their way to go fishing? Will we eventually have home delivery “Hold the lettuce, hold the pickles.” Some in the church want to “hold the water” in salvation. “Hold the preaching—shorten the service!” “Hold the doctrine!” “Hold the singing!” you can’t hold anything God’s Word requires! 

We hear some saying, “Change! Adapt! Conform or die!” we must not panic because we do not do the business that a hamburger stand does. We are not in the growth business. At least this is not our number one priority. We are to sow, plant, water, and God gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). We are not in the people-pleasing business (whether people are pleased or not)! Until we can convince the world that it is sick with sin, lost and dying and that Jesus is the only hope, men will continue to criticize God’s system. 

The church is facing a spoiled, pampered, indulged generation and we must not give in!

--Borrowed Eastside church of Christ Muskogee, OK