The Price of Admission

John 19:33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.

As we pulled out of the Church lot last Sunday, my daughter Alison asked the question: "Daddy, does it cost anything to go to Church?". I quickly replied, "No, baby, it's free". "Well then why don't some people come if it is free and doesn't cost anything?", she asked. "I don't know baby, maybe they think something else is more important". As I drove down the road, the spirit started to move on my heart deeply. Alison's direct question was about the cost of attending Church had prompted a far too quick response. My answer seemed right at first, as obviously no one was taking up money to gain entry to the building. But the more I thought about it, the price of admission is very expensive.

God began to ignite my soul, and in turn my brain, about the worth of His Son. That is indeed the price of attending Church. As this high price began to dominate my thoughts I said ; "Huggy bear. I was wrong about that. The cost is high. The cost of going to Church was the value of the Son to God the Father and it can't get any more pricey than that. He paid our entry fee. So forgive me for saying that it is free. We should praise God for paying our way." She thought for a minute and smiled back.

Could one of our greatest blind spots be our minimizing the High Cost of Church? We seem hard at work trying to kind of lure folks in to kind of introduce them to Jesus on the fringe of our services. When we do this we act as if His Blood, His Word and His Life are not powerful enough to convert rebels. When we combine 21st century entertainment techniques to "help" out, we miss out. We wouldn't say it out loud, especially in Church, but we at the core of our soul don't believe that the Cross is powerful enough to give life. We can so easily replace the power of the Word with jokes and stories that hold no life giving power. We can compartmentalize prayer so that it keeps us on schedule to leave on time. I mean, who wants to stay longer than an hour, right?

When you look at Johns' words above, the answer to that last question would be those who truly worship Christ. The blood satisfies the wrath of God and gives power and life to the Church. The water cleanses and removes sins and stains. Notice I said removes the sin - not just punishment from the sin. In talking, it seems that most people just want Jesus to justify the sin they enjoy more than Him. Does that make any sense? Would any father sacrifice His son to promote and condone what He hates. He loves sinners indeed and that is a mystery. He hates, no despises, sin and Jesus came to destroy sin.

As we are allowed to be the Church, we should praise the one who paid the cost, who calls us to give our lives back to Him in sacrificial praise. If we think that there is no cost to go to Church, then we will have no true praise for the one who paid it!

Do you see being a Christian as a freebie to that allows a passive engagement with God when your schedule allows? Or do you see it as an opportunity to praise a God that bled out in your place knowing you could muster nothing good of your own?

The cost he paid to purchase His bride is high!