Satisfied?

As we look at the church in the 21st century, one can't help but see a group of people who are satisfied with where we are in our spiritual development. Now, don't get me wrong; I beleive in the church. I believe that we are the bride of Christ and that one day we are to appear before Him pure and holy and without blemish. My complaint is not with Christ's establishment of the church; but with what we have become. I know that Jesus Christ loves the Church and gave His life for the church. As a pastor, I also love the church and desire to help her mature so that one day she may be presented before the Lord, pure and holy.
However, I see a heatbreaking tendency within the church of America. Throughout the churches there is a spirit of complacency. This shocking sense of complacency runs from the pastor to the people. We are satisfied with what we are doing (not doing) as a church. Too often, as pastors we are satisfied with picking a topic to preach on and then waxing eloquently on that topic with little unpacking of the biblical text. Other pastors are content to attempt to feed the flock on leftovers from years gone by. If we are going to stir a fire in the hearts of God's people, then pastors need to start preaching the whole counsel of God. Its time for preachers to stop giving their opinions and preaching on felt needs, and start walking their congregations through the pages of God's Word, exposing the Truth of God so that the church can hear the Word of God and walk in it. In Revelation 3:14ff we read the Lord's letter to the church at Laodicea. Jesus tells them, "...I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So because you are lukewarm -- neither hot nor cold -- I am about to spit you out of my mouth." There are very few churches in America that Jesus Christ would designate as hot after God. If we are honest, most of our churches are lukewarm. We are content with the fact that more times than not we show up on Sunday. We are satisfied as long as the bills get paid and there is money in the account. We enjoy meeting, enjoy singing, go through the motions of worship, yet our lives do not change. No one in our communities accuses us of being a "fanatic" for the Lord. Truth be told, we are more passionate about our favorite football team, televison show, or other worldly pleasure than we are about our God. My friends, we may be satisfied with where we are in our walk with the Lord, but the Lord is not. In fact, the letter to Laodicea tells us that when harbor a spirit of complacency and self-satisfaction we make the Lord sick (I am about to spew you out of my mouth). This week, may we seek the heart of God and repent of our complacency and become a people after God's own heart.