A Word from the Vine No. 536: The Church is Not a Stage

Welcome back to A Word from the Vine. I’m Pastor Loren Christensen, and I’m glad you’re here.

Let me start with a question:

When did church become a show?

Now, I’m not trying to be cynical. But I’ve seen it—and maybe you have too.

The lights. The fog machines. The countdown timers. The pastor with a headset mic and a personal brand.

And I wonder…

Is that what Jesus had in mind when He prayed for His Church?

Let’s go back to John 17—Jesus’ prayer before the cross. He says:

“That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you… so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

Not, “That they may be impressive.”

Not, “That they may go viral.”

But, “That they may be one.”

Unity. Humility. Love.

That’s the heartbeat of the Church.

Now, let me tell you about a little church I visited last fall. No stage lights. No screens. Just 18 people, wooden pews, and a piano that was slightly out of tune.

But you know what I saw?

I saw a teenager reading Scripture next to her grandfather.

I saw a widow being hugged by three generations of neighbors.

I saw a man who fixed the church roof on Saturday lead the opening prayer on Sunday.

That’s not a performance.

That’s a body.

And that’s what the Church is meant to be.

You see, when we turn church into a stage, we start acting. We start performing. We start worrying more about how we look than who we love.

But when we remember that the Church is a body—Christ’s body—we start serving. We start listening. We start belonging.

So here’s the word from the vine today:

You don’t need a spotlight to be the Church. You just need each other.

Let’s pray.

Lord, thank You for the gift of the Church—not as a show, but as a family. Help us to stop performing and start participating. Make us one, as You and the Father are one. And may the world see You—not in our polish, but in our love. Amen.

Thanks for spending a few minutes with me today. This is A Word from the Vine. I’m Pastor Loren—stay rooted, and I’ll see you next time.