Leviticus 10:10 says: “You are to distinguish between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean.”
I want to preface this teaching by acknowledging the weighty responsibility of Pastoring a church. Oftentimes, no matter what you do, you will face criticism or discontent. It’s impossible to please every member of your congregation, and even more difficult to please those outside. I appreciate Pastors who want people in the church, to make them feel welcome, and to keep them engaged and involved in such a crucial Christian discipline.
This is not an attempt to drag any minister or leader, especially since I don’t shepherd a church myself. It’s always easier to be an armchair Pastor.
But I’m not surprised at the trend that has crept its way into many churches. We live in an entertainment-driven society (in the Western world at least). We’re told that people, especially young people, have short attention spans, and can’t listen for a long time. We see everyone’s face buried in their phones 24/7, we hear the Monday morning water cooler conversation. We assume we have to meet people where they’re at and model the church experience around their interests, or they won’t get anything from the service.
The basic premise of the “church at the movies” preaching series is taking a popular Hollywood movie, and finding the deeper meaning behind it. One Pastor said “We can find God in everything”. Evidently, that includes productions created and acted by wicked, sinful people. Is “being relevant” the key to church growth?
We know now, perhaps more than ever, that Hollywood is a demonic institution. It might be a good idea to evaluate what we allow into our eye gate and ear gate. I’m not telling you not to go to the movie theater. That’s at your discretion. I’m not telling you what you can or cannot watch. You have to prayerfully decide that for yourself, and it’s a topic for another teaching. But is it appropriate to allow a heathen movie, no matter how innocent it may seem on the surface, into the house of God?
Should we not have a distinction between that which is holy, and that which is wicked? Why try to mesh the two together for the sake of relevance? Have we run out of Bible topics to preach that we have to look to the world for ideas?
1 Peter 1:14-16 says: “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Jesus came to set us free from the curse of the law. He fulfilled many of the Old Testament requirements by dying once and for all for our sins, particularly the ceremonial laws. We’ve been made clean by his blood. But the principle of holiness and consecration has not been done away with.
In fact, there is an even greater call for New Testament Christians to be set apart. Look at Colossians chapter 3. Verse 2 says: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Verses 5-8 say: “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these.”
You used to walk in these ways. You used to be dead in your sins, but when you come to Christ you are a new creature. You are no longer a slave to sin or live for the things of the flesh. (Romans 6:4-7). Why are we bringing the flesh back? So we could dress up in cute costumes and make people laugh? Because we think the only way to keep butts in the seats is to entertain them like the devil does?
The command in Leviticus chapter 10 that I quoted off the top was concerning how to enter the Tent of Meeting (verses 8-9). Nothing unclean was permitted to enter into God’s presence. What happened to that standard? There is no longer reverence for the house of God, and it’s no wonder since all it took was a flu to shut its doors. The gathering together of the saints became a luxury and not a necessity. Why then would anyone treat it with purity? It’s the same as a mall or sports arena.
You might call me legalistic, and on this subject go for it. Because I will not disregard the sanctity of God’s house. Yes, everyone is welcome. Yes, we want people to come as they are. But they don’t stay that way. There is a change that takes place on the inside when a person is saved. Your conscience must be seared if you see no issue with wickedness being paraded around the pulpit like a circus.
I’m reminded of 2 Corinthians 6:14 “For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?”
Why are we trying to fellowship with darkness? The Bible is always relevant. No outside help is required. But it won’t pierce the hearts of man if there’s no anointing. If a church is void of the Holy Spirit, you will need a dog and pony show to get people there. You will need pomp and circumstance to get people to come back again. You will need entertainment to keep their interest.
And the church, therefore, is nothing more than a social gathering. It’s a community devoid of the power that changes lives. 1 Corinthians 4:20 says: “The Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power”. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2 verses 4-5: “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.”
Fancy words or plays or videos are not what changes people. I want to believe these Pastors are good people. I want to believe at some point their hearts were in the right place. But along the way they fell for a lie that the Spirit alone cannot draw people. They bought into a lie that in order to have a large church, you have to be “relevant” according to the world’s standards. The Holy Spirit is not only relevant, but he’s also transformative!
In Acts chapter 1, Jesus promised that the believers would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on them. There is a supernatural drawing in the anointing. It doesn’t matter how charismatic a preacher is. Without the anointing of the Spirit, there’s no choice but to use other means to attract people and keep their attention.
Do not treat what is holy like it is common. If you view the church as unnecessary, and simply a country club or soup kitchen, it won’t matter what happens inside its doors. But if you recognize the church building as God’s holy house and a place where believers come together to lift up worship and usher in His presence, you will not allow anything common.
Yes, the Spirit dwells within people. Yes, God is not limited to a building. But the church is a holy place, or rather it should be. Why did Uzzah die when he touched the Ark of the Covenant? (1 Chronicles 13:9-10). Because he treated as common that which was set apart to be holy. In the Old Testament, there was an awe of God’s presence and holiness. The people recognized the awesomeness of God.
But now, many Christians bring God down to their worldly way of thinking. The only way we can see God in Hollywood movies is His disgust and dismay at the sin and wickedness of that industry. Do you want to preach about movies? Point out the error of condoning sin, and how we should flee immorality at all costs. To suggest that we, as children of God, could learn something from a secular, reprobate movie writer is to spit at the feet of the cross.
There needs to be repentance for this kind of behavior. And if you think my language is too harsh, then you don’t know God. There will be a firey consequence for those who treat God’s presence and holiness as common. Is God pleased by what He sees among His people? I believe that God has lifted His hand from many churches that have abandoned the truth of the Word.
2 Timothy 3 verse 5 says that in the last days, people will “have a form of godliness but deny its power. Have nothing to do with such as these.”
Precious souls are bound, hurting, and dead in their trespasses. They need to be set free. They need the power of the Spirit to put them back together. They need help. They need Jesus. Ken and Barbie aren’t going to do that, no matter how deep you dig.
We must hunger and thirst after righteousness. But without a sincere love for God and His house, anything goes. There’s no hunger and so you need entertainment. If spirit-filled preaching is boring, you have lost your passion for the Lord.
Titus chapter 1 says in verses 15-16: “To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.”
A Christian with a pure mind could not see any benefit or sanctity in using wickedness to find a life lesson. The Bible gives us our life lessons and is relevant for all time. Do not let anyone convince you otherwise. We are to be guided by God’s word, not the practices of the world. Psalm 119:37 says “Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.”
The church is not a show or performance. There is participation, as we praise and worship God, and God inhabits the praises of His people. When there’s no movement or manifestation of the Spirit, entertainment is the only option. We are called to a higher standard. We are commissioned to teach the truth of God’s Word and demonstrate His power. It’s all that’s required.
2 Peter 1:3 says: “For His divine power has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”
