Life in the Way

Questions of Fringe Benefits vs. Purpose.

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-20 TNIV)

In the past 9 years in ministry, once in awhile a conversation surfaces about having a Chinese Auction for a fundraiser at church. Over the years it has progressed to a deeper discussion regarding focus and purpose. I feel that the challenge to any “game of chance” is whether the individual is engage in the game for fun or prosperity. You may feel different, but here are some questions that I consider…

What if the church was to have game night with, say Pictionary or Balderdash and the winner get a prize that the host pays for? What if everyone who came “threw in” some money for food? What if they were asked to threw in a fixed amount of say, $10 for the food? What if they threw in $10 for the food and the prize for the winner? How about bingo with prizes, but no outlay of cash to play? What about bingo for $10?

Does the game lure someone in with the possibility of fun or gain? Is there a prize for everyone regardless of the fact that someone might win something “more?” Can part of the entertainment factor be a gift at the end (or a possibility of gift)?

Isn’t entertainment a social or psychological gain? What is the difference between someone receiving an emotional gain from a good dinner that they just offered a $10 donation for or the emotional gain received from a financial windfall? Isn’t investing in retirement accounts a form of gambling? (I digress…)

One might argue that human nature would dictate that an individual or group would not engage in an activity that was divergent from their focus in life or our purpose of life (however far off from the “true” purpose or short-sighted others might think).

Might I venture to say that we invest day to day in our personal focus or purpose because we find it valuable. What brings people to church or God in the first place? Is the job of the church to help people see that any fringe benefit or divergence from “truth” actually is pointing to Christ?

What brought you to church or God in the first place? Did the church help you to see that the purpose of life is not about the “fringe benefit” of Christ, but Christ himself?

Tags: Evangelism, Theology, Too Strange