Diet Church

What if we emphasized the "worship" less and the "service" more in the worship service? How about a "full-service" service? Wouldn't it be lovely if, in addition to the fresh-cut flowers at the front of the auditorium, you could also find your numbered seat all ready for you? There's nothing like a mint on your pew and having someone turn open your hymnal. 

Instead of coming forward to make commitments, ushers on roller skates could come to your seat. (Your request would be filled in the order received.) But you'd still need to walk from your car to pew, and then back again. So how about a drive-through window? You could choose a topic from the menu, order, then pay your tithe at the window, pick up your "sermon-in-a minute" tape and be on your way. I can see the ad now: "Church in 30 minutes or less or it's free!" 

For those needing an alternative style--and just in case the whole drive-through scene might be too demanding--how about "Fairway Church of the Eighteenth Hole?" If we held services on the fairway and the invitation on the green, can you imagine the great response at the altar call?

We could call it "Church--the easy way." 

But Jesus didn't call us to an easy way. He called us to a "most excellent way," in 1 Corinthians 12:31. Then he gave us 1 Corinthians 13--the Love Chapter. 

A church ministry without Jesus' kind of love is really no ministry at all. It's an experience that you probably really can pick up just as well at a drive-through. 

But the Lord's plan for his church includes loving each other, sharing with each other and bearing with one another. Real church involves people. It involves loving them. It involves work--even sacrifice. And each one's sacrifice is vital. 

Ephesians 4:15-16 says:  "From him (Christ) the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (NIV)

A church that's less filling? Nah. We're called to be filled--completely filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Can you imagine a Ding Dong with no filling? I might cry just thinking about it. It's even worse without the Holy Spirit. And that diet church thing will leave you just as empty. Where's the filling? In Jesus! And in the words of that profound cupcake commercial: "Now that's the stuff!"

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Contributed by Rhonda Rhearrhea@juno.comRhonda Rhea writes for dozens of great Christian publications and speaks at conferences and events across the country. You can find her new book, Amusing Grace, at your local Christian bookstore. Rhonda's husband, Richie Rhea, is a pastor in Troy, Missouri. You can reach them through her Web site atwww.rhondarhea.net