It's no "Playing" matter...

...even if you're on a "stage" (Puns intended).

I believe that the world is our pulpit...not a stage. I understand what the original saying:
"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players..." by William Shakespeare
implies but I no longer fully agree. This belief came to mind when I recently listened to a pastor who said something about the altar vs. a stage.

He talked quite a bit about how (very sadly) many altars have become a stage - with more Entertainers than Edifers being given the space to impact people's lives. He gave examples of the new 'trend' of inviting Comedians (who may not be Christians), to church.

I appreciate that church has to be an attractive place where the world - people of all ages -should look forward to coming to regularly. However this thought was implanted in my heart: Every word or act (including Acts) that proceeds from the altar MUST alter lives for the better (all puns intended).

The minute the altar stops altering lives, it is nothing more than a stage. A stage is the platform for entertainment - it rarely leads to encouragement and edification of people.


Today, we remember a man who used the pulpit effectively to his last day - Dr Myles Munroe - let me wrap this us up with something he said:

"The value of life is not in its duration, but in its donation.

You are not important because of how long you live,

you are important because of how effective you live."

Our lives and ministries must be a donation to the altering and improvement of people's lives... and that's no "playing" matter.