You First

^{You First}

^{The new Christ Life Center has something to
say. By its imposing stance on the landscape, it's making an architectural
statement that has changed the landscape. Its bricks and mortar, its carpeted
basketball court, its parquet floor on the platform, its 47 foot long kitchen
that deserves a cover in "Southern Living" (perhaps that can be
arranged as I know the husband of the food editor), and its connecting
classrooms make a silent aesthetic statement as well.

The Christ Life Center - sparkling clean
with that new carpet, new paint smell, matched only by the two other olfactory
delights of homemade bread or a new car. During the day and, as special lighting
illuminates it by night, the Christ Life Center makes its geographic and
aesthetic statement.

But if we listen closely enough, and if our
spiritual ears are tuned just right, we can hear the Christ Life Center say
something else: "You First!" When it says, "You first," it's
not being original. The Christ Life Center is plagiarizing Paul who wrote some
words about those Christians in Corinth.

In II Corinthians 8, we read of a church that's given Paul an offering to help
their Jewish brothers and sisters in Jerusalem get on their financial feet. Aid
and comfort for the brothers - converted gentiles - helping saved Jews
financially. This is truly a refreshing thing; this thing called the church.

Right in the middle of the chapter (8:5), Paul forgets the money and writes
about the people who've earned and given it. He points to what those grace
givers did when he writes, "Before they gave their money to God and His
people, they gave themselves to God." Saying it with a Romans 12:1 slant,
"Before their money, they put themselves on the altar as living sacrifices
to God." That's the order: you first.

Christianity is wonderful. Jesus puts the emphasis on individuals, not groups,
buildings, money, quarterlies, sermon outlines, curricula, or hymnals. He says,
"You first."

It's unusual. Sacrifices on Old Testament
altars died. Now God wants living ones. You first. You first make the
presentation of yourself to God - your intellect, your emotions, your will, your
arms, legs, eyes, and ears - you first on the altar.

If there are no living sacrifices in the Christ Life Center, the building
becomes an architectural husk with a form of godliness, but no life inside (II
Timothy 3).

Yet in the hands of living sacrifices, the building throbs with spiritual life,
alive to God and to God's mission. In the hands of living sacrifices, sermons,
Sunday school lessons, quarterlies, hymnals, singers, and songs have and bring
life and life more abundantly.

You first. Today. Paul says that's
reasonable if you believe Romans 1-11. You first? Today?

Dr. Mike Halsey, Pastor}