"Pilates, Now!"

On my way to work this morning, I passed a large, beautiful uptown church.   I could not see it's name or or it's denomination.  What I could see though, was  big banner on the front yard declaring "Pilates, Now!"  Pilates, in case the reader is uninformed, is some kind of aerobic exercise class.

How curious!  Most of the time,  churches want their name known.  After all,  they are lighthouses to the world, beacons of hope and faith in a world of darkness and despair.  But in this case, the most visible thing about this church was that they offered Pilates classes.

It made me think od other churches I've seen around town with similar banners advertising English classes,  day care,  and sports teams.   They are all over Charlotte.  Every church competes to get its message out about it's wonderful programs. 

It isn't hard to follow their reasoning.  After all, don't we want people to come to church?  What better way to get them in than to offer courses in something that meets the "felt needs" of the community? If people won't come to get in shape spiritually, why not invite them to get in shape physically? Maybe they'll stay around to hear the Word after they've showered and changed into their street clothes. 

It made me think of the disciples, and the wonderful missed opportunities they missed.  At first, it was easy for them to get people to listen to Jesus,  with all the miracles and stuff. But after they realized that Jesus did not do miracles on cue, and the casually curious had stopped coming,  why didn't they offer classes in other things?  Maybe Peter could offer classes on fishing.  Maybe Matthew could have volunteered to help people fill out their taxes.

Pilates may be a good things.  (I don't know personally, since I've never done it.)  My problem is with the class, or that the church offered it.   What bothered me was that the advertisement for the class was more visible than the name of the church.  From the street, you could not tell if it was a Baptist Church, or a Presbyterian Church or even a Christian house of worship, but anyone could hear about Pilates. 

It's one thing to seek to attract people to church, but it's quite another thing when the attraction overshadows th message. After all, a church is not a gym, health club or social hall--it's a church.

Could you imagine a first century  sign saying "Free carpentry lessons.  Course taught by our Pastor.  Stick around afterwards for his wonderful message."

It's easy for churches to become distracted from their purpose.    Is our product so unappealing that we must be cajoled into coming to hear the most exciting offer of all times.It's  even easier for outsiders to lose their way when they are tying  to understand us.  Are we like a gas station, offering a free china plate with every fill-up? Are we like Burger King, offering a toy with every happy meal?

It's not the world that devalues the Gospel. The world places the value on the Gospel that we set on it If we do not let them know what God is worth,  how will anyone know? 

Don't get me wrong--I'm not against Pilates in church, or any other morally neutral activity.  What does upset me it the assumption that people  are not interested in what God offers through us. God offers eternal Life. God offers forgiveness and happiness in Christ.  God offers love, acceptance,  forgiveness, hope,  charity, and  a changed life.   People will  come, if we let them know what we really have. 

Or, we could settle for Pilates.