When You Don't Know What To Say, Just Say Jesus

"But this is the ONLY message about Jesus I ever gave!"

No, I'm not talking about the song by 7eventh Time Down. (Like I expect you to know who they are! Those reading this blog have a better chance of hearing Home Home on A Range sung by Spock.

What prompted this post was this: There's an individual who dreamed about the lyrics in this song, but it was an altogether different song then the one mentioned above. But for writers, bloggers, and anybody else - it is the manifestation of Christian virtue. He is, after all, the focus of the Christian life.

This got me to thinking about an issue that is in the Churches of God with certain people who really are trying their hardest to play the role of a minister. Many times, you'll find that their versions of sermons are rambling, out-of context, 'thousand-points-of-what?' messages that no one could possibly remember, or care about. Other times, it's been reported to be the same message, over and over, and over again.

I remember messages growing up in my past about every conceivable topic that could be approached by an - ahem - "speaker". (Many had no concept of how to speak - or even how far to stay away from the Mic.)  From the obscure origin of a translated word - to an ancient method of horrible imagery - the things you would hear would make you wonder where you even were. Was this Church? What kind of place is this? Why would I want to know that? How does this help my walk of life?

You would almost think that the speaker really didn't have any idea what they were going to say until the night before, and then thought, "Oh Bean Dip! (Euphemisms were banned. So we came up with some alternatives.) I'm on the schedule tomorrow. Well I'll Be a Green Bean, Gotta whip out a message." (Beans were always safe in the COG's - as long as they were Vegetarian.) You know, those of you in the COG's, that this has happened. I can tell you even as a song leader, that that has happened - when you completely forgot (or avoided) that you had the song service the next day until the minister gave you a call and asked if you had the songs, or in rare mercy gave an idea of what the message was about so you could pick appropriate songs to go with the subject. Then, it's a Friday Night of thumbing through the Purple Hymnal, pulling out that Song Leader's Card and getting it done as fast as possible - sometimes without much thought, (sadly), because you've gotta get it done and call the Pianist if you need to so they can practice, (there's a way to tick them off - forget to do that ONCE.)  and call the Pastor back before bed time. Oh yeah - and then you've got to grab an Opener and a Closer the next day if they haven't been previously scheduled by a very authoritative pastor.

With messages, though, it's a different story. You've got to take your time to avoid bombing. You've got to make sure the sermonette's done in ten minutes (Go over, you might never stand behind the lectern again for a message). You've got to make sure you have your three points. You've got to make sure it's consistent with the doctrinal positions of the Church. You've got to make sure it's interesting, and in line with the procedures taught in Club. But often times, when people never knew what to say, they'd work overtime to talk about ANYTHING BUT Jesus. Even if it's about Why Nebuchadnezzar did not wear Purple or something like that. (I'm joking. We all know Nebuchadnezzar really never wore Blue.)

What was it about Jesus that was so offensive that would cause people to want to walk out and leave? That's happened. Almost as if Jesus was some sort of magneto repulsion device. What was it about Jesus that made people wince, or say it's getting too "churchy"? What was with the hatred of talking about Jesus? Now I'm not saying it didn't happen now and then. But it certainly wasn't the focus. Most put him out to pasture. And it certainly was not something that would be consistently spoken about. Most of the time, it was something along the lines of the historical meaning of the name Jehosaphat and three reasons why it's relevant to a prophetic event or why people named Jerry should study the book of Kings because it's so close to their name (kidding again. The only one who might do that is that guy in Edmond.) or something along those lines. Yes, that is a bad analogy. But it gets the point across.

Subject after subject was anything but. And these days, in the splinter churches, it's members have said it is either the same tiring repeated, hashed out snoozer subjects without substance - child rearing, marriage, obedience, proverbs, the two positions, - submission (bad choice to state that topic after the former one!) - you know them all.

Here's my guess of what the problem might contain.

When you start to get into the emphasis of Jesus as a Church, in the COG's, then you start to become aware of many scriptures that have either been "difficult", or have been placed on the back-burner, or at the very least - can cause one to begin to have doctrinal questions. plus, you'll have to try to find the scriptures underneath all those highlighted markings!  Reconciliation to God - sounds too protestant. Jesus disarming the powers and principalities at his first coming - sounds, again too protestant. It's safe to put Jesus where he's always been in the Churches of God - as a simple newsboy messenger who could not get in the way of the Father's punishment of 6,000 years separation from God for Adam's sin - gave a gospel that was so weak that it got shut down within five decades, to resurge with HWA's massive worldwide amazing work that everyone and their brother took note of - changing history - (sarcasm.exe),then get shut down not even ten years after HWA died. Talk about dud firecrackers. Phhhoooosh.

So why not. When you - as a speaker - don't know what to say - when you're up next to give a message - and you're not sure what to speak about, and tired of the same old messages - why not give Jesus a try? There's not exactly a lack of material out there. And they are certain to perk their ears at your message.

It's got to be at LEAST easier to remember than twenty two topics in an hour message from every corner of the Bible in a message that was supposed to be about Proverbs. And hey. The Pastor might just be interested enough to talk to you immediately after you step off the podium.

And maybe for the first time, you can make an accurate judgement as if your church can truly hold the title of being considered "Christian". 

Oh, and by the way - I think I just got myself marked for this suggestion ;) Fine with me. Matthew, Luke, and John would be too - of that I am positive about.