Treasure or vessel?

 

THE DISTRACTED CHURCH - Churches that cause children of light to emerge and mature have turned their efforts under God toward making spiritual formation in Christlikeness their primary goal. 

The reason most congregations fail to routinely produce children of light is distraction. While majoring in minors, they become distracted by things the New Testament says nothing about. They devote most of their thought and effort to sermons, Sunday school, style of music, denominations, camps, or board meetings. 

Those matters are not primary and will take care of themselves when what is primary is appropriately cared for. Such matters are “vessels” but are mistaken for the “treasure.” The apostle Paul made a distinction between the vessels (or “jars of clay,” our body, 2 Corinthians 4:7, NIV) and the treasure (“the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ,” 4:6). We might also apply this “vessel” distinction to the practices, traditions, and groupings to which many congregations devote their attention and effort. 

Many groups have become nearly 100 percent vessel. Often there is much good associated with these vessels, but we mistake them for the treasure: the real presence of Jesus Christ in our midst, living with increasing fullness in every essential dimension of the personality of the individual devoted to him as Savior and Teacher. 

We debate: Should there be prayer ministry, and should it be part of the service, after the service, or at a different service? Should we be seeker friendly or whatever the alternatives are? How should we raise funds for the church, and how should they be spent? Such things are not unimportant, but they are not the foundational matters. And that is why the New Testament says nothing about them.