I can't help but think of this scene in the movie when I hear of Christians who flit from one church to another looking for their needs to be met. One will say he's not being fed, so it's time to move on to a church with just the right pastor and teachers who will fill him spiritually on Sundays. Another family looks for the most active youth group, because they want their teenagers to be equipped in the things of the Lord and enjoy lots of fun filled activities. Others will look for the perfect music program where their souls are lifted by the exciting worship music and poise of the song leaders and performers. There are still other folks who will leave one church in search of another where the pastor will visit them, smile a lot, and meet their personal needs without offending them or hurting their feelings.

The church in America has descended into a place of ignorance when it comes to worship and ministry. Never did Christ instruct us to settle comfortably into padded pews an hour or two a week to be coddled and ministered to by people paid and trained to be our need providers. We have shamefully become a people who cry "Gimme, gimme, gimme, I need, I need, I need," and when we don't receive the right flavor pacifier we think we need to move on in search of another provider. It has escaped the consciousness of most believers today that Jesus Christ said, "he that will be first must be last." As our example He said that He "had not come to be served but to serve." In another place Jesus taught us the spiritual principle that "it is better to give than receive," and in Philippians God orders us to "esteem others as better than ourselves." Never in the New Testament account of the healthy early church do we see examples of lazy believers growing fat and happy as they become part of the body of Christ. Think about it—if someone in the body of Christ is not a useful arm, leg, eye, or ear, then he is most likely a painful tumor or parasite robbing the body of its strength and health.

Our purpose in the body is to minister in accordance with how the Spirit has equipped us, to the glory of God and building up of the entire body (the church). If what I am doing (or not doing) is not building up the rest of the body and honoring God, then I have missed my purpose entirely. I must not be so concerned with my own comforts and needs that I forget that "greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

In 1 Corinthians, chapter 11, Paul says to the church, "I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good." There were such disagreements and arguing among the believers that they were divided. Each was looking out for his own interests, and even during the celebration of the Lord's supper, which by the way was a true sit-down feast, they dishonored the Lord by their overeating, drunkenness, and inconsiderate failure to wait for everyone to arrive in order to share the meal together. How disgraceful that when some brothers and sisters arrived, all that remained to greet them at this supposed holy occasion were empty dishes and the abundant rudeness of drunken gluttons. Not a pretty picture!

Rather than temple hopping in hopes of stumbling into the perfect church we need to flourish where God has planted us in order to be a blessing and servant to the others. It is crucial that we remember that our spiritual growth is not the responsibility of someone else. I must personally cultivate those disciplines of Bible study, prayer, and service in order to grow into Christ-like maturity. Likewise, the ultimate spiritual well-being of my wife and children should not be dependent upon those outside my family, though I am appreciative of worthy teaching and godly doctrine that will supplement what first takes place in our home. Children will always learn more by the example they observe being lived out around them than by words and programs that fill a few structured hours at the church building. And just because there may be a large children's or youth program is no guarantee that it is accomplishing much spiritual good. It is not uncommon today to discover that those within the church are indistinguishable from those without. They dress the same, talk the same, visit the same places, and sadly often share the same filthy mud pits as their immoral and godless friends at school or work. If purity and holiness are missing at home or in one's personal life, it only means there is a good chance that a larger gathering of these same folks will but reflect the low level of spirituality of the many individuals. One dirty thread wrapped together with many dirty threads only makes for one dirty rope.

Instead of fleeing one location for another, why not pray to God about the local need, and then say, "Here am I Lord, send me" (not away from your present location but into the joy of service)? Why not look at the great need in your present situation, and then be the one who steps up to meet that need by the power of Christ? If children and youth workers are needed, volunteer to serve. If teaching is weak or uninspiring why not pray about your part in making it more interesting and meaningful? If the music program suffers, become part of the solution by being faithful to improve it. If the pastor doesn't quite float your boat, begin to pray for his needs and those of his family, bless him, offer to assist him, and above all, pray about what you are looking for to float your boat in the first place. It just might be that you've been wanting to float in the wrong stuff! The perfect local church does not exist on earth. If enough of us will mature in the faith and put our developed spiritual gifts to work, the fruit of the Spirit will become evident in the body, God will be exalted, and the unchurched and visitors we bring to our temples will look to us and know that we are Christians by the love we have one for another. Let's stop complaining with "Gimme, gimme, gimme, I need, I need, I need" and offer ourselves up as living sacrifices saying "How can I serve you"? With this attitude it is certain our meetings will do more good than harm.