What I Learned In Vegas–Part One March 29, 2007

Lucretia and I went to “sin city” last week…which I have renamed “grace city” after meeting Jud Wilhite, who pastors this church–wow–talk about an amazing guy…but more on that later…

Anyway, we got to hang out in Vegas…see some shows & sights and basically relax…BUT…while I was out there I managed to learn a thing or two…and I will be sharing them in a series of posts over the next week or two.

If you have ever been to Vegas then you understand that EVERYTHING that happens in Vegas has a purpose behind it…nothing is an accident…everything is intentional and well thought out–and excellence is a core value there.

MAYBE that is why the day we arrived we did so with about 50,000 other people…and the cab driver told us that they were expecting over 80,000 the next day!

MAYBE that is why on the first night of the NCAA tournament over $400 million dollars were bet on the games in Vegas alone.

MAYBE that is why we stayed right next to a construction project that is being built that, when it is completed…the bill will be around $7.4 BILLION dollars!!!  Folks–read that again, BILLION!!!

I was blown away by the sheer numbers of people–seriously, everywhere I went there were scores of people…it was even crowded in the restrooms!!!

AND so I had this thought…there are many churches across America that say that church isn’t about the numbers…and it shows because with over 80% of our churches in decline the fact is obvious–numbers simply do not matter.

BUT Vegas doesn’t seem to have a problem with people OR money…why is that?  Some would say, “It’s just the devil.”  But hold on…doesn’t the church belong to Jesus?  Isn’t He more powerful than the dude in the red suit?  The last time I checked God kicked his sinful butt out of heaven…and the last chapter in the BOOK says that he’s due for another butt beating.

AND if it is the devil…well…the church has the power of the HOLY SPIRIT who brings dead things back to life…so saying that it is all spiritual is merely a cop out because in doing so one actually admits that he believes that satan is more powerful and creative than God.

Some would say that people just go to Vegas to be entertained.  AND there is NO LACK of entertainment out there; however, I believe people go to Vegas to meet a need–they want to accomplish something, they want to laugh, they want to enjoy themselves…uh…why can’t they do those things in church?  MAYBE it’s because the church in general has shut itself down to the idea that reaching people should be our primary objective.

It’s like this…if a restaurant opens up and people do not go then it is safe to assume that it is a bad restaurant…and the workers in the restaurant can complain all they want about the “stupid” people outside who do not like the food…but in the end–if the restaurant doesn’t change–it will go bankrupt.

It’s the same with a church…if people are not going then something about the church needs to change.  AND I personally think it is the attitude of those inside the church–realizing that what the church does should be done with passion, excellence…and with a desire to bring those who are outside inside.

Vegas understands this…and just take a trip out there and you will see the results.

Am I saying that we should be doing church like Vegas?  NO–I am saying that we should be doing it BETTER!!!  Our services should be better than there shows!  People should want to come to church more than they want to go to a casino!  Our passion to bring people in should be greater than theirs!  Our music should be better than theirs!  Our message IS greater than theirs.  Our God is greater than their god.  Our facilities should be NICER than theirs…and I would argue larger than theirs.

We should take a look at Vegas and use it to challenge us to be better!!!  If you think I am saying that we need to be more worldly…then STOP IT…I am NOT…I am saying we should look at the things of this world and say, “Is THAT all you’ve got!!!  I am so sorry that you are limited in your creativity and excellence!!!”

It is MY passion that the church can turn the corner on this one and make so many necessary changes that Hollywood and Vegas begin to look at the church for ideas!!!  THIS CAN HAPPEN!  THIS SHOULD HAPPEN!!!  OUR GOD IS THAT BIG!!!  That is our passion here at NewSpring…and I can’t wait to see what happens next!