Playing Church

So maybe you've heard the phrase, "Playing Church?"

I suppose it comes from the idea that when we were kids, we'd often dress up and "play house," or "play cowboys and Indians" (as politically-incorrect as that may be today), or "play cops and robbers," etc. The idea is that we weren't REALLY cowboys or cops or mommies having a tea party--we were just kids using our imaginations to picture something we hadn't really experienced. Now, we had likely watched others either on TV or in real life (such as our parents in the case of "playing house"), but we ourselves hadn't truly done what we were "playing" or acting out.

Role playing using our imaginations is cute for kids and we certainly don't discourage it. In fact, Psychologists and Sociologists tell us that kids need to use these imaginary times of play to learn, grow, and properly develop. Still, like every other developmental stage, there come a time to grow up and grow beyond the "play" to actually live our lives and pursue our calling/career, etc. If we never moved beyond that stage, teachers, family and friends would worry that our growth and mental health had stalled or even regressed.

In 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, the Apostle Paul writes, "Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly--mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?"

I'd summarize the problem in Corinth this way--they were only "Playing Church."


As with little kids, people who play church dress up, say the right words, act-out the right behaviors, and, if they're just newbies or not-yet-committed-Christians/pre-Christians, it can even be cute or developmentally helpful. After all, at least they're going to church, carrying a Bible, saying good things, etc. Their lives/actions could be MUCH worse--right?! Of course! Still, at some point, they/we all have to grow-up. It's sad when you see someone who instead of having 10 years of Christian experience and maturity, only has one year, repeated 10 times (or more).

And that's Paul's point. He's saying--"C'mon guys! God has SO much more for you. You can have top sirloin, not just milk (or a veggie stir-fry versus soy, if you're a vegetarian)! In some cases, he's obviously concerned that some of them might not even be saved and thus destined for heaven. In other cases, he's simply saying that they are experiencing about 1/10th of what God offers--and that's a shame!

So how do you know whether or not you're just "playing?" How do you know that your spiritual journey and maturity has progressed, not regressed?

Here are a few hints:

• If you never read your Bible, you're just "playing."
• If you don't pray, except at church or before a meal, you're just "playing."
• If you are thus ignorant of what it says about your lifestyle or choices and yet you don't care--you're just "playing."
• If your relationships with other Christians are "live and let live," that is, you don't hold each other accountable, you're "playin."
• If you are habitually doing things you know God condemns, but you "don't get too worked up about it" or try to change--"playing!"
• If you think gossip is a "little sin," but adultery or fornication or porn use or any sexual sin is "Huge!," you're ill-informed--and "playing!"
• If your own opinion is king and the Bible is secondary in determining "right from wrong," you're "playing."
• If going to church is optional for you, kind of like going to the movies or a sporting event, "playingggg!"
• If your giving record is spotty, and you're giving 4-5% of your gross income or less--it's a game--you're "playing."
• If your ministry in the church or to the community is non-existent or at the bottom of your priority list--"Playing!"
• If you haven't shared your faith or invited someone to church in the last month--who are you kidding--you're "playing!"
  

If just one of these applies, it's a game...but God wants it to be real. Why? Because you won't grow up and taste His richest blessings by bringing Him the greatest glory--until you do! How do you mature? You start by admitting that you're NOT mature. Then, you commit to moving forward as He enables you. As a church, we offer numerous tools to help, CLASS 101-501, small groups, Antioch School, and of course sermons and studies on Sunday morning. Still, it's God who does the work--you and I have to surrender to it and commit to "whatever it takes," to reach our full spiritual potential.

So stop playing church...and live it for real! That's where true blessing and joy begins!

In Jesus,

Pastor Joel