SIR, WE WOULD SEE JESUS 

John records a day in the life of Jesus in chapter 12. It was the day after a dinner was given in His honor at the home of Mary and Martha. It was the day of triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Jesus was welcomed by the crowds shouting, "Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord." The crowds were spreading the word, and many went out to meet Him. The Pharisees said, "The world has gone after him." There were even Greeks among those who went up to the feast. They requested the privilege to see Him. They asked Philip, "Sir, we would see Jesus." 

There was a preacher who thought that to be relevant and current, his preaching should be a comment and a treatise on the latest philosophical trend. As he entered the pulpit, there was a note taped to the lectern. It read, "Sir, we would see Jesus." The preacher was motivated by the note to change the emphasis of his preaching. Later, a note was found on the pulpit that read, "Then were they glad when they saw the Lord." 

What do you want to see at church? What do you expect? 

Do you want to be entertained? Some want worship to be a high-class production. Some want drama, others look for theatrics. 

Do you want to be coddled? 

Are you looking for a church that will cater to your needs - one that will provide the programs that best meets your needs? 

Do you want to be sweet-talked?

 Do you want preaching that constantly emphasizes love and grace, always positive, with no reference to sin and holiness? 

Do you want to be brow-beaten? Do you want a constant diet of gloom and despair?

 Do you love hellfire and brimstone? 

Do you want to hear a constant diet of how morally bankrupt we are?

Do you want to hear how the church has declined and lost it's focus? 

Do you want to hear preaching that is close-minded to any kind of change? 

Do you wish to hear a tirade on issues Sunday after Sunday? 

How do we balance it all? 

To quote Jason Moon, "I believe in an organized, smoothly flowing, enlightening worship service. I'm not against good programs that minister to special needs. I'm not against positive preaching. I'm not against humor in sermons. I believe there is a time for rebuke. And I believe in standing firmly on Biblical issues and never changing the gospel message. However, the church that seems to specialize in one or more of these, to the exclusion of scriptural worship and practice has lost its priority. 

When we become more concerned about what people need than what God wants, we have canonized the church." Well said! Like the Greeks, it would be better for us to say, "Sir, we would see Jesus." 

Clarence DeLoach