Church Cake

I am by no means a cook. Well, I can read and follow directions so the end product is editable. However, if I start to get creative by venturing away from the plan then I will either add too much, not enough or destroy the original product. A good cook, unlike myself, can taste something, recognize what is missing and add the exact and appropriate ingredient with the end product being amazing. Another sign of a good cook is to take individual ingredients, which on their own may not be very tasty, and blend then together to form a pleasing union. The final step in most cooking procedures is to apply heat. This step involves the right temperature as well as timing.

The church can easily be viewed as a cooking project. We need the right ingredients, instructions, blending, knowledge of when to add or take away ingredients and heat. Let’s use the imagery of the church being a cake. So today let’s bake a Church Cake. First, we need the ingredients. We will need people, a place to meet, music and a preacher. We will blend this and taste. Something is missing. We need to add a children’s ministry and improve our music with a new sound system. We will blend and taste. Still something missing. We will build a new modern worship center with all the best technology and comforts. We will blend and taste. Still something missing but the time for the heat has come so we hope the end product will be pleasing. The heat is applied and the cake falls into a heap of gooey mess. None of the ingredients in our Church Cake were toxic or harmful but yet the cake was ruined. Every good cook knows there is one ingredient which brings the entire creation together and is the center of a consumable product. In case you didn’t notice, we left out that primary element in our Church Cake. If Jesus is not the center which holds your church together then when the heat is applied it becomes a gooey mess.

Matthew 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Jesus had just asked the question regarding who he was and Peter’s mouth was used by God to give the correct answer. Jesus was going to use Peter as a key ingredient in the making of His church. The gates of hell would not defeat Jesus’ church. The Western church for years has focused upon the church building, programs, entertainment, music and comfort. Our churches have become social gatherings filled with cliques of people who look and sound alike. Jesus’ Church is one which is centered upon Him and outwardly focused upon spreading the good news of His love and salvation. This past year has placed tremendous heat upon the church. If your church is a gooey mess right now then maybe it’s time to add the core ingredient of Jesus. We first have to ask the question, “Is Jesus the core and key ingredient of my life?” When the heat is applied in my life does Jesus hold me together or do I fall to self-reliance. Everybody wants to get back to “normal.” Well, maybe our “normal” or old church activities had lost the flavor of Jesus. Your church may not be a gooey mess right now but you realize it needs more focus upon Jesus and less upon human endeavors. Remember when the heat was applied to Peter, he denied Jesus. It was not until Jesus restored him and the Spirit came upon him was he ready to build Christ’s church.

Let’s take this season of “heat” to examine first ourselves and then our corporate church life. This season has given us the opportunity to minister to a fallen world which has no hope. The real church is Jesus and we are to be the temple of His Spirit. Now that’s a tasty Church Cake. Be that piece of His “cake” and let those around you taste the goodness of His Love.

Jonathan Jones, Perfect Hope President