Bigger, Better, Best

We live in a culture where the bigger something is, the better it is assumed to be? We see this in lots of things. Homes. Cars. Meals. Restaurants. Stadiums. Multi-Plex Theatres. Even churches. Now we know from practical experience that the place that serves that HUGE burrito...is not necessarily serving your cities "best" burrito. We know that the biggest truck or car, though eye catching and "impressive" initially...its not always the vehicle that is the best in drivability...maintence...gas mileage...and comfort. We know that the "best" home is not always the biggest. A huge home...with anxiety...stress...work overload...and an inability to manage it...can quickly crush your enthusiasm. The same goes in church circles. Biblically, does God like "big" churches? Well, He is definitely into as many people as possible being in relationship with Him as can be...millions...even billions. Clearly Jesus gathered crowds. Clearly heaven is full of angels and multitudes of people. So God is into "big"? Well, not necessarily. Sure God likes big and many, as long as its people gathered authentically, whose hearts are His...but not bigness for the sake of big...or for the sake of status or impressions. We often live like he does, but we have it all twisted and upside down. Look carefully at what God values most. Jesus said "everything" hangs on this..."everything" depends on this...in other words, He was making crystal clear what is of the MOST importance. What did He say? Build huge multi-million dollar churches? Gather large crowds no matter the cost? No...He said, "Love God with your whole heart...mind...and soul. And, love others, as you love yourself." So a huge "clue" into the heart of God is in this bold proclamation of what God thinks. Often we get it at a surface level...but we miss the essence of how important this is. God thinks people experiencing His love and trusting it in relationship with Him is of the highest priority. God thinks that as he teaches us what "authentic love" is...it should flow from one person to another, in real relationships. So the filter should be does "bigger" create the "best" environment for that to happen? Its a good one to ponder and consider. Let's face it, free pizza and beer can get a crowd. A great band and staging can attract a crowd. A funny, skilled speaker can draw a crowd. A knowledgeable marketing guy can suck many people in...to almost anything. But what creates an environment where God is authentically experienced on a personal level? Can that happen in a huge crowd? Sometimes. Sometimes, a very worshipful vibe is created by a mass of people centered in on God and giving Him free reign to touch their lives. More often than not, the large crowd allows people to be hidden, anonymous, impersonal, and if touched...its usually the emotion and hype of a well staged large group gathering. Too often we settle for this. God doesn't. What environment is conducive to people actually sharing their lives together...yes, even their mess...yet learning to love, forgive and persevere together? Can that happen in a large gathering of thousands? Can it happen in large group of even hundreds? Perhaps in isolated and rare occurrences... but most likely...not! The larger the group of people the harder it is to allow authentic relationships to flow as God intended...so we usually settle for surface...rather than whats real. Relationships are centered in trust. In revelation. In process. That doesn't happen in large gatherings of anonymity and hype. Most don't open up to another without knowing them for a while...and being known by them. That doesn't typically happen in a crowded room. In smaller, safer environments, its possible. As that natural process of revelation happens...trust grows...relationships grow...and become. Its the same with our relationship with God...as God reveals His heart to us...we begin a process of trusting His love...that grows as we journey in relationship with Him. At ECHO, we are not afraid to look closely at what God values...and not just glance at it on the surface and go chase after our tendency's which tell us, "bigger is better"...but to look beyond our western, cultural ways of looking at things...to look through that fog to the light of what God says is "best"! Now, that sounds easy...its not. Not as a church. Not as individuals desiring God's best. But at ECHO we want to encourage everyone...every not-yet-believer...every already convinced...every church leader...every church...to look through the fog of culture...yes, even church culture...to see God's best. That's the target. That's where our true value lies. That's where we discover the life that God says is "abundant". Perhaps the reason we don't experience it often enough is because we have settled for "bigger is better"...rather than what God says is "best!".

be God's!
Brian O
Lead Pastor dude, ECHO