The problem is that so many that are breaking outside of the box in terms of ministry are also failing to take a firm stand on Scripture.  As a result all who are non-traditional in church format are often labeled as unbiblical. We need to realize that many of the churches that are non-traditional are not unbiblical…just different.  However, there are many who do fail to take a strong stand on issues that our society deems controversial.  Here are a few.

Homosexuality- Many in the non-traditional emerging church movement fail to take a stance on this issue.  While I admire and respect their effort to reach out and minister to this often avoided and even hated group of people, the Bible is clear that homosexuality is sin.  There must be a balance between taking a biblical stand on this issue (which the emergent church does not do) and reaching out and intentionally ministering to those who practice homosexuality (which those in traditional churches do not do). 

Holiness/Morality- Many in non-traditional churches focus so much on God’s love and forgiveness that the reality of his perfect holiness is ignored.  I am all for telling people about God’s love and forgiveness…it is who God is.  But at the same time God is holy, and a holy God demands holy followers.  There must be a balance between focusing on God’s love and on His holiness.  A neglect of either has a significant impact on the lives that believers live. 

The Reality of Hell- This is another issue that is often avoided in the emerging church movement.  There is such a focus on discovering God in this journey that we call life that the destination is ignored.  I firmly believe that we should desire to know God more and grow spiritually and be all that we can be in Christ.  But there is a reason that Jesus talked about Hell more than any other person in Scripture.  He did so because it is a reality.  There is a coming judgment, and it should not be ignored.

Again, I am all for breaking out of the box of traditional ministry and trying new methods and new approaches.  But doing so to the neglect of taking a strong stand on biblical issues is foolish and ultimately undermines the cause of Christ.  We must remain true to the Bible in the midst of traditional as well as non-traditional ministry.

Worship isn’t just something we do at church.  It isn’t just the music part of our church services.  It is so much more than that.  Whenever we make statements like “come to worship, leave to service” we are teaching people that worshipping God is just something that can be done at church.  Whenever we refer to worship as the music part of our church services we are limiting it to a very small aspect of what true worship is.

I think that in order to be accurate the church sign I saw should read, “come to serve, leave to worship” or “come to worship, leave to worship.”  Worship is a lifestyle not an event.  It is what should consume our lives.  We should worship God through our jobs, families, church services, and extra-curricular activities…everything!  Serving others is not the goal, it is a result of achieving the real goal…worship.  When we worship God 24/7 we will serve…we will be evangelistic…we will love…we will disciple…we will live holy.  The key is worshipping God in everything we do.

When we focus on worshipping God in everything we do, everything else will fall into place.  The need will not exist to do anything out of duty because everything in our lives will be an out-pouring of our worship. Be careful that when you use the term ’worship’ that you are using it in a way that is consistent with Scripture.