What Business Are We In?
Eastman Kodak Co., that 132-year-old trailblazer, has finally called it quits—at least for now. They filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week. One article mentioned that everyone feels saddened by the demise of Kodak "because it was the company we entrusted our most treasured possession to—our memories." The article quoted a former employee who summed up why it was such sad news: "It's one of the few companies that wiggled its way into the fabric of American life and the American family." But that wasn't enough to save the company. Why did it get so far off-track?

James Emery White, who writes for churchandculture.org notes that Kodak developed digital photography but in the end they "didn't know what business they were in." White recalls the words of business guru Tom Peters who wrote in The Search for Excellence that the railroad barons encountered a similar end: "they thought they were in the train business. But they were actually in the transportation business." White contends that church needs to ask the same question: What business are we really in?

Is the church today a gas station? Is it a place where you fill up your spiritual gas tank when you're running low? Get a good sermon, and it will keep you going for the week.

Is the church today a movie theater? Is it a place that offers entertainment. Go for an hour of escape, hopefully in comfortable seats? Leave your problems at the door and come out smiling and feeling better than when you went in.

Is the church today a drug store? Is it a place where you can fill the prescription that will deal with your pain? For many the church is therapeutic.

Or, is the church as a big box retailer? Is it the place that offers the best products in a clean and safe environment for you and your family? The church offers great service at a low price—all in one stop. For many people, the church is a producer of programs for children and young people.

What business is the church in? The answer is simple. The church exists to worship God (Luke 4:8; John 4:23; Rev. 4:10), study His Word (2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Cor. 4:6), pray (Acts 2:42), love one another (John 13:35; Phil. 1:1-4), help each other (Gal. 6:2), celebrate baptism and the Lord's Supper (Luke 22:19-20), to learn how to live as godly people (Titus 2:11-12), and to be equipped to evangelize the world (Eph. 4:12; Matt. 28:18-20). Nothing more, nothing less.

It must not forget what business it's in, or it might as well call the bankruptcy lawyers.

In Him,

Pastor Mark