Our church a: Museum, Mall or Mission?
By David Arrol Macfarlane
Earlier this year Diana and I enjoyed visiting some fascinating museums in Prague (photo by WWII monument). Museum displays often show us what life was like in days past, we see outdated items that were once “cutting edge” and feature the accomplishments of hero’s and innovators of history. The goal of most museums is to preserve the past.
Thought: Has our church become a Museum? Are we looking to keep human traditions alive rather than embracing the future and getting the gospel to the next generation?

Someone has suggested that shopping Malls are the temples of our materialistic North American culture. The stores want you to “shop till you drop – and do it here” as they tempt us with slogans like: “You are worth it”, “pamper yourself”,“You deserve it”. Malls encourage us to want “more, bigger and faster” trying to transform us into fickle consumers who demand better service, prices, attention and entertainment – or we shop somewhere else!
Thought: Is our church very much like a Mall, the ultimate symbol of self-centeredness and consumerism or is it clearly a place for Christian selflessness, sacrifice and compassion?

When I was about to leave Argentina to come to Canada as an executive with American Express my Christian friends prayed: “We release David to be a missionary to Canada”. When I told this to Canadian Christians many just laughed at me “We don’t need missionaries, we send missionaries!” The truth is that Canada has always been a mission field (as long as there are lost people who need to be reached for Christ). Sadly most Canadian Christians do not consider themselves missionaries to their friends, neighoburs, business associates or acquaintances - to the point that those people will likely never hear the gospel from them.
Thought: Is our church basically a museum for a seemingly outdated faith or a gathering of comfort seeking religious consumers or is it full of passionate authentic believers doing whatever it takes to spread the good news?

As I speak at conventions across Canada I often meet passionate church leaders in churches where God is clearly at work which bring hope to my heart. But I must confess to being extremely disappointed with what I see in a majority of congregations: Instead of being a Mission (about reaching people for Christ) they are happy to be Museums (trying to preserve the past instead of doing all they can to reach the next generation) or a Mall (where it is all about them, their preferences, being comfortable and entertained and not about reaching the lost).
The good news is that there is hope!
Like David in Acts 13:36 “For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation…” we too can serve God's purposes in our time and impact those that will come after us for Christ, but we will never do it from a church museum or a church mall. When the church, full of loving and authentic Christians, is all about Mission we will leave an eternal legacy for our children and our nation!
David and Diana Macfarlane
e-mail: arrol.mac@hotmail.com
Website: davidamacfarlane.com
Tell: 519 503 8380