YMCA...

With apology in advance to Reggie McNeal and his book, The Present Future.

My wife and I are thinking about joining the local YMCA. It's a wonderful modern, clean, family-friendly place not far from our house. They have a pool, exercise equipment, and trained staff that can help us learn how to use all that great stuff to exercise and maybe lose a few unwanted pounds, tone up, and be healthier. Great idea- right?

How about if we went once a week and hung out in the equipment room for an hour or so. What if we watched the people using the equipment and maybe clapped a little when they finished a set with the Nautilus machine? What if we never got wet, but became great critics of the swimming styles of the people in the water? What if we never broke a sweat? Would we benefit?

That's the approach some people take to church. They spend a little time once a week hanging out with people who are exercising spiritual muscles and hope something rubs off on them. They watch from the sidelines and never actually get engaged. They never break a spiritual sweat and wonder why their spiritual muscles are flabby.

Hal Hunter
Ministry Pastor & Administrator