I feel like this might become like True Confessions but I have to admit how easily entertained I can be. We have this awesome (and I mean awesome) new vending machine at work. There is one for snacks but it’s the one with drinks that has me giddy. There have been days when I’m having a really tough time and getting a diet Coke from that machine has cheered me up. Before you think I’m nuts (and you probably still will), here are the features:

• it has an arm that slides to get your drink and then deposits it gently to where a little clear door opens for you to retrieve it
• it takes credit cards!
• we have power drinks, flavored waters, and a huge variety of soft drinks in both bottles and cans
• and, my discovery today, it takes a $5 bill and gives you ones back, not 16 quarters!

I like to say that I’m childlike, not childish. There is a huge difference. I believe I’ve mentioned that before, probably when I rode the Go Karts. There is another experience that my husband loves to tell people. It involves boats in Mexico (the Epcot version). We had dinner in “Mexico” one evening and, if you haven’t been there, they’ve made it to feel like you are eating outside under the stars with a view of a huge volcano in the distance. From where we were sitting it looked like there was something going on just beyond the stone wall. So while we were waiting for our food I walked over to take a look. Low and behold, when I looked down there were boats….with people in them! I didn’t quite jump up and down but our waiter was somewhat amused at how excited I was about boats. My exact words were “There are boats {looking down again and upon noticing people}…..and you can ride them!” Obviously after dinner we had a nice boat ride.

I also have a Play-dough set, bubbles and many Veggie Tale DVD’s. I use the excuse of not having children. My theory is that when you have children you live out your second childhood with them. Since I don’t have children I had to do it on my own.

It’s OK to be easily entertained with the small stuff like vending machines and amusement rides but it gets dangerous when you rely on being entertained during worship.  Yes, there should be joy but there should also be depth and growth.  Growth will only come as we study God’s Word for ourselves and hear it taught and preached.  We need to give up our childish ways as far as our faith is concerned.  Paul said it to the Corinthians like this:

“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.”  1 Corinthians 13:11 

As a society we are longing to be entertained all the time.  It makes sense that this attitude would follow us when we go to worship on Sunday’s.  We want to be entertained more than we want to be challenged.  But as advanced as we think we are, it’s nothing new.  In fact, this was written by Paul to Timothy as he mentored him about preaching almost 2000 years ago:

“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”   2 Timothy 4:1-4

Paul was telling Timothy to preach God’s Word even when it was unpopular, even when people turn aside because they are not being entertained or hearing things that make them warm and fuzzy inside.

So, how about you?  Are you easily entertained?  While you think about it, I’m going to go get a soda!

Have a great day!