Over at the Gospel Driven Life, Mark Lauterbach writes about the power of the Gospel in our age of self-help. He says,
I am drawn to think that I could just learn one more truth, or find one more formula, or have one more experience, or get into the right fellowship — then my battle with sin would diminish. The right leader, the right theology, the right diet, the right worship style — these are what I need.
This is the error of church growth. It leads us to think that the key to the church is finding the right external form. Power is hindered by the wrong form, power is unleashed by the updating of the church to new forms. No — power comes from the Gospel and its being applied. Tradition or “hip-ness” are not the issue. There is not a whit of power in going ancient (candles and dim lights, formal attire) and there is not any more power in going cool (graphics and urban decor, jeans in worship). Neither matters.
I think he is right on here. Too often as a pastor in a local church, I am tempted to think this. I am tempted to think, “If my church could be more cool…” or “If we could just hook people in …” or “If I could be a hipper communicator…” All of these statements reveal that I am consistently close to neglecting the central power of the gospel. The Gospel must be all that the local church centers on. It needs to be the consistent theme of all we’re about. Therefore, be reminded of that today and find your true help from the Helper Himself.