The "Lite" Church

I have a cartoon in my office from a preacher's magazine about "The
Lite Church." The sign in front of the church proclaims, "24% fewer
commitments, home of the 7.5% tithe, 15-minute sermons, 45-minute
worship services.  We have only 8 commandments - your choice.  We use
just 3 spiritual laws and have an 800-year millenium.  Everything
you've wanted in a church and less."
 
I have often chuckled at this cynical look at what some people look
for in a church.  However, in my more reflective moments, I realize
how this cartoon has challenged me to become a better Christian and
godly man.
 
If you could choose to eliminate two of the Ten Commandments, which
would they be?  Once you identify the commandments for which you would
not want to be held responsible, you immediately identify the areas in
your life with which you struggle the most.  Those are the areas that
require the most prayer and care to fortify you against falling into
sin.Satan will use those weak areas to tempt and to attack you.
Yielding to temptation does not have to knock you for a loop; it only
has to knock you off center.
 
To assess my own weaknesses in an honest moment, I would be tempted to
remove the First Commandment.  It is not that I do not want God in my
life; it is just that it would be easier to have God as part of my
life instead of my first priority.  I am a busy man with many
interests and sometimes the demands of the God-relationship can
intrude upon my interests.  If this sounds familiar to any of you, can
you be honest with God and tell Him about whatever is on your heart?
 
More and more I tell God out loud what I am thinking, including my
doubts and temptations.  We sometimes think that by concealing our
doubts within us that we control them or that somehow God will not
discover that we harbor doubts about Him.  We are like children who
think we can hide by covering our eyes.  Our thoughts are not hidden
from Him.  More importantly, God is not surprised, disappointed, or
angry by our confessions.  On the contrary, He has asked us to cast
our cares upon Him.
 
You will never receive a higher compliment than to be known as a man
of God, but you cannot be a man of God on a part-time basis.  God must
be first priority, even in the busy and interesting parts of life.
Knowing the commandments that my fleshly self would eliminate helps me
to keep vigilant until the race is won.  When I consider how the First
Commandment helps me to put things in their proper place, I realize
that nurturing this one relationship between God and myself, with
candid and open communication, grants me God's power to keep all of
His commandments.