« September 16, 2004 | October 6, 2004 | October 6, 2004 »

Pastor's Page

Posted on October 6, 2004 ...

Along my daily commute I drive past the branch of a local bank. Several weeks ago a sign was posted along the street in front of this financial institution. In bold letters the banner pronounced a single message: WE MAKE LOANS. I found this to be a most interesting (and somewhat humorous) marketing strategy: simply state the obvious!! Think about it. Is not “making loans” what banks do by nature and by design? Isn’t that obvious?

Has anybody ever heard of a bank that doesn’t make loans? Can you image a bank without loan officers or a loan department? Could someone walk through the door of a bank, step up to the receptionist and inquire about borrowing some money and be told in reply, We don’t do that here? The sign outside this local bank simply declared that this financial institution did a task that it was designed to do.

Driving by that sign every day got me to thinking…. What if our church adopted a similar marketing strategy? What if we placed large signs in front of our property, declaring to people who pass by the fundamental things we as a church DO by nature and design? What would these signs say?

One such sign would certainly say WE WORSHIP THE LORD. God created us for the purpose of giving praise to Him. Therefore we routinely gather to participate in expressing honor to God and to His Son, Jesus.

Another banner would surely read WE PRAY FOR YOU. A key function of the church is to intercede on behalf of others to the Lord, asking Him to give help in their need.

Yet another sign would declare WE MINISTER. By design, God has given each of us unique gifts for ministry. As we practice these gifts, we contribute to the overall health and effectiveness of the body of Christ.

Hopefully, the BIGGEST sign would read, WE LOVE YOU. As God’s people we are to follow the example of God’s unconditional love for the world. Jesus also noted that it is because of our love for one another that people recognize us as His disciples.

Should I start ordering some signs for the front yard? To be honest, there is no real need to. Why? Because it ought to be obvious that we do these things here! We are a church. These are the tasks we are created and designed to do. Yet, I wonder…Is it so obvious? Is it obvious in my life? Is it in yours?