The Price Is Right?

Its funny, as I write this my kids are watching the Price is Right. Man, that show has been on TV forever. I remember watching it as a kid. My parents watched it. Now the Price is Right has been handed to a new generation...my kids. It's not the most elaborate show...no special effects or CGI graphics...but people like it. The games are kinda dorky and stupid...but people like them. But its the winning stuff part that draws people in...especially the "new car"...or the "vacation to Hawaii". I guess we all like to get stuff... especially for free...even better if we won it! It's kinda like fate smiled on us...so now we're special...kinda of feeling. I read an interesting article that in Eugene/Springfield only 30% of the people living here were planning on attending an Easter service. Now 99% of them have heard of Easter. 95% of them will have Easter eggs, candy hunts, and a special dinner. 90% know that Easter is a Christian holiday. 82% know it celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. But only 30% of the population have been impacted by that truth to such a degree that an Easter service would need to be on their calendar. I wonder why? Most parts of the country probably have over half the community in church on Easter...but not us? In the bible belt that percentage is probably even higher. Now church folks will tend to blame the people who don't show up, like it's their fault. But I wonder if it maybe because a generation of churches that have pushed so hard for the "big Sunday" on Easter, that our community in general feels like it is just a number on someone's stat sheet...and in this case, Easter is the BIG one! Maybe people have caught on...that Easter is a big numbers push...and the local church has their sites set on them...uh, their number? Maybe that is why the "meaning" is lost to them, from their perspective? Maybe, it is because the meaning is lost from the church's perspective also? Maybe us church folks have focused on the wrong stuff for so long...its become obvious to those we are trying to attract? Churches go to great lengths to draw crowds on Easter... mass marketing blitzes announcing...free brunches...free candy... people dressed as the Easter bunny for photos with the kids...free carnivals...free giveaways... even free cars...free TV's...free vacations! What are you crazy? No, seriously...a church in Corpus Christi, Texas gave away cars...flat screen TV's...vacations...on Easter! Everyone attending got a shot to win some of the million dollars in prizes they were giving away! It was like some kinda churchey Price is Right! Where's Bob Barker? Where's Drew Carey? Seriously, the whole thing drew HUGE crowds... as you might suspect...but it was only for 1 weekend... Easter. It looks good in the newspaper...it looks good on your denominational reports...it makes your church folks excited for a week or two...but what did it really accomplish? In all our efforts to "pack the place" on Easter...have we done anything that lasts? Is a big crowd for one day the goal? More importantly, is it the goal in Jesus eyes? Has Easter been reduced to some kind of church production to "get out the vote" so we feel better for a day...a week...? At ECHO, we strive to remind ourselves constantly, that getting a crowd by any means, isn't God's goal. Life transformation is Jesus' goal...changed lives for the better...for eternity! Free pizza and beer will get a crowd...but change no one...except maybe add to their weight problem or alcoholic tendency's...but I digress. A crowd gathered without them experiencing the transforming love of God is wasteful. Now did crowds follow Jesus? Of course, at times they did. But not for free cars or candy...it was because of His reputation as a man who taught about the Kingdom of God in such a way, that people were "amazed". It was because Jesus had so much compassion and love that word spread, "you gotta check this guy out...He's for real". It was because His healing touch on the sick and his grace on the downtrodden sinner, screamed LOVE. People didn't just hear about the Kingdom of God...they experienced it...they got a taste of it, when they were with Jesus. Maybe our churches could learn a bit more from Jesus? Maybe His ways are better than our ways? Maybe His ways draw a crowd... not just any crowd...but a crowd for a lasting purpose? Crowds are not bad in and of themselves...but a crowd gathered is one thing...what you allow them to experience when you have them gathered...is quite another! I can hear the conversation now..."but Lord, we had thousands at Easter"... and God will say, "but they never knew Me...and you didn't get to know them either!" Sadly Jesus will say, "It was quite a show, but I wasn't invited." At ECHO we don't want to miss the point. At ECHO we strive toward Jesus' ways and we recognize that we need to learn His way of reaching people. To often, they are forgotten. Maybe if we are more like Him...maybe then the crowds will come...and be transformed...forever...just maybe...

be God's!

Brian O

Lead Pastor dude, ECHO