ALL the World's a Stage?

Tony Ares, in his very positive review of the new James Brown biopic, added this spiritual observation: It never ceases to amaze me how church folk confuse great vocal chords with solid character. This flick paints a picture of how some of these folks singing the gospel are as separated from Christ as Judas himself. (http://afreshword.org/post/93735808778/movie-review-get-on-up)

I don' disagree with Tony at all, but I would add at least two more classes of church folks to his observation:  Preachers and Financial-givers

We all know that preaching (combining prophesy, teaching, ministering, and exhorting) is a spiritual gifts. Just read Romans 12: 6-8.

But if you read the same passage a little more slowly, you’ll see that giving is also a spiritual gift.  The church has some anointed givers--- people like Lydia (Acts 16) whose widest impact on the gospel will be underwriting missionaries and evangelists. 

It’s too, too easy for Preachers and Givers to become performers.

So remember:

The sanctuary is not a stage. 

The offering is not the weekend’s take.

Worship is not a Gig.

The prophetic voice doesn’t turn on and off based on a payment schedule.  Just ask Balaam (Numbers 22-24).

The content, quality--- or length  of our preaching should not be determined by audience size, preferences, income, or enthusiasm. 

We answer to God for how we use our gifts, not to a local manager or a group of church groupies; and the integrity and holiness of our personal lives is very much part of how God evaluates how we have used, or misused the anointing.

And though we often recount that church is not a social club, we need to also remember that church is not a publicly traded company in which your influence is proportionate to your financial investment. 

The biggest tithe doesn’t buy you a controlling vote.  Just ask Simon (Acts 8).

Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” (Acts 8: 20-23)

You answer to God for how you use your gift of giving and for how you live your life---- regardless of how impressive your gift was.

Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.   

Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’

And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’  “ (Matthew 7: 21-23)

You don’t want to finish a “career” as a popular preacher or a revered patron only to stand before the Lord and discover that He’s the one person who doesn’t recognize you.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church (5220 Myron Massey Boulevard) in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

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