One of the greatest critiques of the American Church today is it’s malnourished.
Some would even say it’s our most pressing problem.
When most people voice this complaint, the focus is on the worship experience.
From people who leave these churches, you hear, “I wasn’t getting fed.”
Or, “I just want some deeper teaching.”
From people outside these churches you hear, “Too much milk, not enough meat.”
In some cases, I’m sure this is true. But I really don’t think that’s the real problem.
Yes, American Christians are malnourished. But I don’t believe it has anything to do with milk or meat.
Most American Christians aren’t malnourished because of what they’re getting fed on Sunday. They’re malnourished because they don’t feed themselves Monday through Saturday.
So you had filet mignon on Sunday and learned about the mystical union of Christ and the church as it relates to the rapture and the design of the tabernacle in relation to Levitical dietary laws as understood by the Council of Trent.
Good for you.
Have fun starving yourself the rest of the week and letting your pastor read the Bible so you don’t have to.
So you had some milk on Sunday and learned 37 ways to ________. Have fun having 37 new ways to not obey God during the coming week.
The crisis facing the church today isn’t what people are getting fed on Sundays.
It’s what they’re not feeding themselves the rest of the days.
Who really cares whether you consume meat or milk on Sunday if it’s the only meal you have all week?
I’m not saying this to get pastors and churches off the hook.
It is the shepherd’s job to feed the sheep (John 21). And feed them well based on their needs and faith development.
