Night at the Museum
We just saw Night at The Museum---cute movie. Larry Daley, (Ben Stiller ), takes a job as night watchman at a museum. This will be a life changing job for him as the exhibits come to life as soon as the sun sets. As you can imagine, the movie is filled with action and little snippets of historical fact. From Sacajawea to Attila the Hun, Larry's list of new acquaintances quickly begins to expand. At one point in the movie, Larry is asking for help from the horse mounted-Teddy Roosevelt, played by Robin Williams. Teddy replies that he really can't do anything, he says, "I am made of wax, Larry. What are you made of ?"
It seems that church is becoming more and more like a museum. Pews are filled with more and more elderly and fewer young people. Conversations center more and more around the "good old days" than they do around the struggles facing the 21st century church. Every member is on their best behavior just in case there is a visitor. When visitors come, they are very often impressed with the service, the singing, the preaching and the praying. And generally when they leave, they feel like they got their money's worth. The visit merits talk for the day but then becomes a sort of "been there, done that" type experience. There will be no follow up and no phone calls. And the church continues to make changes and perfect their "exhibit" as they wait for more visitors to come.
WE ARE THE CHURCH! We are not an exhibit. We are not made of wax, not created by man. We are the bride of Christ. We must get out of the building---out of the museum. We must go get visitors-- go get the lost. When they come, they have to get more than a show. They have to get relationship, relationship with God's people and with Him. We have the gift of salvation. We can tell them how to receive the very same gift. This gift will become so much more than a one time experience, it will be a life-changing, long-term event. But, in order to do this, we cannot continue to be simply a part of the exhibit. We can no longer sit back and say, "I can't do anything." We have to decide what we are made of.
Peace
Neva
It seems that church is becoming more and more like a museum. Pews are filled with more and more elderly and fewer young people. Conversations center more and more around the "good old days" than they do around the struggles facing the 21st century church. Every member is on their best behavior just in case there is a visitor. When visitors come, they are very often impressed with the service, the singing, the preaching and the praying. And generally when they leave, they feel like they got their money's worth. The visit merits talk for the day but then becomes a sort of "been there, done that" type experience. There will be no follow up and no phone calls. And the church continues to make changes and perfect their "exhibit" as they wait for more visitors to come.
WE ARE THE CHURCH! We are not an exhibit. We are not made of wax, not created by man. We are the bride of Christ. We must get out of the building---out of the museum. We must go get visitors-- go get the lost. When they come, they have to get more than a show. They have to get relationship, relationship with God's people and with Him. We have the gift of salvation. We can tell them how to receive the very same gift. This gift will become so much more than a one time experience, it will be a life-changing, long-term event. But, in order to do this, we cannot continue to be simply a part of the exhibit. We can no longer sit back and say, "I can't do anything." We have to decide what we are made of.
Peace
Neva
posted by Neva | 7:32 AM
36 Comments:
Neva, I like your blog, I like your story and I like you! You speak to my heart in so many things that you write.
Monalea
We saw that movies when were on Vacation. I thought it was very funny. Tonight, we are off to see Spider Man 3. I'm not to into Spider Man but I have 4 boy's at home that are.
Amen!
My high school choir director used to like to say: "Are you a man or a mouse?" "Pass the cheese..."
Grace and peace,
Tim
Hello!
I just wanted you to know that I have not been a very good “bloggie” friend lately. I have still been lurking, just not commenting. Finals are over on Tuesday and I will have more time to let you all know how much your blogs brighten my day.
Monica
*snap* you beat me to the review. We just watched it over the weekend as well.
You are right---we are often a bunch of wax figures.
Good thoughts, Neva
Dan
PS I like the movie too.
neva-
Yeah good movie. I think of myself as the monkey in the church :)
Gray is the way. The church isn't the only thing graying. The whole US is graying. So we can either decide to fire the Youth Ministers and start having real Senior Ministers or.... It isn't so much the old folks in the chairs its the old folks out there.
I've baptized folks in their 70's & 80's in the last few years.
Thanks for the comments, yall
Monalea, I love you---thank you for being such an encouragement.
Don, you are funny, my friend. Are you saying that at church you walk around slapping everyone's face and stealing their car keys--Bad monkey, bad monkey. :)
Peace
neva
Remember in the end, all the wax figures came through---they just needed a little nudge from the caretaker----as do we.
We can do it, I know we can!
Pat
I am in a Sunday School class that is mainly made up of people in the 50-60 age group. I am in my 30's and started with this group about two years ago. I have learned a great deal from their wisdom and experience. I can't say enough good things about them.
This past Sunday, we discussed drawing new people into the church. To me, it is very simple - you have to invite people and keep inviting them. Once they come, you have to welcome them and establish a relationship with them. People are more likely to keep coming if they can find a personal connection. But, the people in my class seemed clueless as to where to find new people. They wanted to make it a socioeconomic issue. I feel, if anything it is a generational thing.
Look to the 30-something crowd if you want new members. We are ready now. We have fallen on our faces enough to know we need something more. Most of my friends and I were not raised in a church. We do not know church. We do not understand it, but we know enough to realize that we desire to have a part of it. We just don't know where or how to begin. You can find us everywhere, you don't have to look far. We just have to be invited, welcomed and drawn in.
Just my thoughts... sorry to be so long.
BTW Neva, I love reading what you have to say.
I'm still amazed by the fact that you once said, on Lisa's blog, that your family prayed about a particular issue for 40 years before it finally happened.
nb,
So glad to see you here. Thank you for the comments and for reading. I agree with you and that truly was my point, we cannot sit and wait for someone to wander in to worship, we have got to go get them, over and over and over and over again---as many times as it takes.
Sometimes I think those who did not grow up in the church have a real advantage over those of us who did. My dear sweet husband did not become a christian until he was thirty-one--and he can relate to so many more people than I can. He has been there and he knows the thought processess, he knows the road blocks, etc. Y'all have a huge ministry.
There are so many just sitting on the pews and if they wont go get the lost then we will---you, your friends, my husband, me and other christians just seeking to serve God.
Peace and prayers my friend
Neva
I just preached a similar sermon. So of course I think this was a good post.
Carlos
Been thinking about you. Hope all is well there.
Love ya
Kel
The movie was great and the application here is even greater.
As for Don being the monkey ... Yea, I can see that!
I thought the movie was good but I never would have come up with the analogy. I think you are amazing! Thank you for being my daily encouragement.
Rachel
Hello!
The monkey has a name- Dexter.
It is more: moving their Bibles around and making their kids scream.
BTW: Dexter is THE catalyst that gets everything moving and is the reason the whole night works out. It's his shenanigans that get Larry motivated!! And I suspect Dexter is the one who kept Cecil, Gus and Reginald from spoiling the museum. If you remember Cecil did not like Dexter and warned Larry about him.
Don,
I am confused
:)
Is it a good thing to be a "Dexter"? or a bad thing? :)
And should we warn people about you? :)
You are too funny
Peace
Neva
Even though I did not see the movie, I agree we need to be reaching out!
neva-
It is a good bad thing. It all depends on how you and Dexter are feeling at the time.
I suppose you could say that>
'For the moment Dexter seems painful rather than pleasant, but later he yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by him.' paraphrasing greatly :)
No Dexter is appreciated at the time but later upon deep reflection you find yourself saying, "Thanks Dexter I needed that."
As always, I LOVE your post (and I really enjoyed that movie as well). Sometimes we forget that one of the primary reasons the church exists is to spread the gospel to our neighbors!
Hey girlfriend, where are you???
Monalea
Did you turn back to wax???
thats a great post! Will check out the movie! :)
www.enit.wordpress.com
As for the movie ... the museum director (who's a horrible communicator) and the cavemen are my two favorite.
Thanks Dexter er Donxter er Don, I needed that.
Seriously, I do appreciate you.
Peace
Neva
Museum director, so easy a caveman could do it.
tee hee
A have a coupon to rent it for free so hopefully I will be seeing it in a day or two.
I love the movie! It was great! My kids loved it too! :-)
Neva another great movie you need to see is Facing the Giants. Excellent movie.
Great post as always Neva. God bless you sister!
Neva,
Remember the couple I emailed you about, Larry and Donna? Well, they came to church with us tonight. They agreed to come to bible study at our house tomorrow night with brother Spence. Keep praying for them, okay? Judd and I are very excited!
Love
Kara
Kara,
I am excited too. I will pray. I am very proud of you for sharing your faith. It takes a lot of courage. I am convinced God will bless you. You are a blessing to me, dear friend and a boost to my spirit. Please let me know how the study goes.
Peace
neva
I thought the movie was as you say "cute" but there was too much evolution talk slyly slipped in.
IMHO
Pat
My kids loved the movie. I love the post.
Dean
Kara
we are all praying and we are all proud of you-keep sharing the word to everyone you meet.
In Him
Pat
Enjoyed both the movie and the post. You are very good writer.
Corinne
But, I dont want to be a Dexter,
Lydsay
We Are The Church!!! Should be our battle cry. We have the duty and the privilege of being more than a display, more than a tour, more than an exhibit. We Are The CHurch!
Good post
Shari
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