The Croods in Church

   WAKE UP! That’s what I would like to say to some churches out there. Let me explain to you why I would like to say that the best way I know how: through relating it to a movie. ;)

   Back in 2013 a movie called The Croods came out. Grug, the dad in The Croods, is very protective of his family. He does not like change, or new things. The Crood family only goes out of their cave during the day; because at night it is dark and they don’t have any light. The family does not really argue with this point of view until Eep, Grug’s teenage daughter, begins to rebel against this idea. She becomes increasingly more curious. One night she leaves the cave and meets a guy named Guy.

   Guy has all these new ideas. He is very creative; and he has fire, or light. Eep takes a liking to Guy and starts to ask him about his ideas. Guy then has to leave because the end of the world is coming. Eep starts to go back to the cave when her dad comes. He yells at her and they get back in the cave.

   This is when Eep starts to get some “rebellious” ideas. She begins to say that what the Croods are doing now isn’t living it is just surviving. Then an earthquake comes and the Croods’ cave collapses. So the Croods have to move on. They are saved by Guy. Guy shares his new ideas with the family and everyone seems to agree with the ideas, except for Grug. Grug doesn’t want to change.

   This is how some churches are today. They are just surviving, they are not living. These churches are dying, they just may not see it. Change is very difficult; but if churches do not change they will die. I’m not saying that the churches need to change their beliefs when it comes to the Bible. They need to change how the service is. If churches do not change with the times then they will die.

   Grug did not want to change his ways. If the family would have followed him they would have died. But, the family chose to follow Guy. Some may see Guy as a radical, rebel in the church. This person comes in and wants to worship in different ways. Maybe it is using contemporary songs, starting different outreach programs, or anything against the grain of the church.

   Ultimately the Church is to follow Jesus’ example. Churches are totally different today from what they were back in Bible times. But, Jesus did leave an example for us. He differentiated, or changed the way that he dealt with people based off of who they were; and what they liked. He still preached the gospel but in different ways. That is what the Church needs to do today. Far too many churches are not reaching others. They are not following the Great Commission because their focus has moved to themselves. They want their way in the church and they will not change.

   I hate to break it to these churches but they are dying. They may survive for a time; but they are not living out the Great Commission. That is why I think the churches need to wake up. The people there need to take a good long look in the mirror and say are we following Christ’s example?

   So, how is your church doing? Is your church reaching others? Are you doing your job to reach others? Is your church differentiating to reach other people?

   Romans 1:16, Matthew 9:37-38, Ephesians 2:19-22, Ephesians 4:16