Published by admin on 12 Nov 2000 at 10:22 pm
DON’T DO THE “HOKEY-POKEY”
Today my memory went waaaaaaay back to the times I went to the roller skating rink when I was young. You know, just after the Civil War? You do remember roller skates, don’t you? Or am I getting too old? Roller skating was prime entertainment in those days. Saturday night found you either skating, or else you sat along the outside of the skating floor and watched the beginners who couldn’t make the turns slam into the wall. Other ones falling down got into some of the weirdest contortions on their way down to the floor. I remember seeing this guy who could somehow manage to get his skates about 7 feet into the air and land head first almost every time. Either way, it was lots of laughs. And then, there were also the little “bowlers” who crouched down like a cannon ball and flew into people about their knee level and knocked them over like bowling pins. That is, until they got thrown out. But it was always a fun time.
Then I remember this game we would play, called the Hokey Pokey. Everyone stands in a large circle, and the music starts: “You put your left foot in, you put your left foot out, you put your left foot in, and you shake it all about. Do the Hokey Pokey and you turn yourself around, that’s what it’s all about.” Then you do it all over again using your right foot, then your left arm, then your right arm, then your backside, your head, and finally, your whole body, each in it’s own turn. Have you ever done that?
Sounds a lot like church, doesn’t it? Some people want to play Hokey Pokey with God. They want to stick their left foot in, then if they agree with what they hear, fine. They’ll be back. But if not, they take their left foot out. Next week they go to another church and if the preacher says something that tickles their ear, they put their left foot back in again, and they shake it all about. Then the Holy Spirit convicts them, and they turn themselves around and leave, and that’s what it’s all about. Or is it?
Church isn’t supposed to be like that. The Pastor is supposed to hear from God, teach the flock, and they are to obey so they can grow up into mature Christians….THAT’S WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT! Assuming you have a Pastor who hears from God, lives for God, and walks what he talks, then you have an obligation to line up with the Word of God he is preaching to you. It isn’t up to you to decide if you agree or not. Your job is to get into that church and put your left foot, your right foot, and every other part of you behind your Pastor’s vision for what God has told him to do in that Church. Your job is to listen to what is being preached, compare it to the word of God, and if it agrees, you are to obey it. None of this left foot in, left foot out stuff.
The Pastor’s responsibility is to seek God, hear from God, and deliver His word to the congregation. It isn’t the Pastor’s job to prove to you that God exists. Only a fool thinks there is no God. It isn’t his job to give you faith. God already gave every person the measure of faith. It isn’t his job to prove to you the Holy Bible is true. Of course it’s true, or you wouldn’t be here. His job is to feed the flock with the truth of God’s word. And you are part of the flock.
I have a saying, You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him walk on it. Pastor’s job is to put the food out for the flock. The flock’s job is to eat it. Of course I realize, there are some sheep just too dumb to eat. They become wolf snacks. According to Ezekiel Chapter 33, Pastor’s job is to sound the warning of the return of Christ Jesus, and for you to repent of your sins and be saved. If he doesn’t do that, and you die in your sin, you will be cast into the lake of fire. But your blood will be required at the Pastor’s hand. Not good for the Pastor.
If, he warns you to turn from your sins, and you don’t, you will die in your sins, but Pastor gets off the hook. He told you but you wouldn’t listen. Speaking of his overall job, the Pastor is responsible for his flock, and he will have to give account for each one of them. Hopefully, when your name comes up, he will be able to give an account of you joyfully. And he will be able to, if you don’t play Hokey Pokey with God.