My husband and I attend a pretty small church in Southern California.
Hi, I'm Joni Eareckson Tada and when I say small, I mean it. We’re doing pretty good if, on some mornings, we reach 75 people. The Church in the Canyon, as it’s called, is, in fact, situated at the head of Malibu Canyon, not far from where my husband and I live. It’s a small PCA church and we are the only church in our town. Secondly, Church in the Canyon, as I said, is near the entrance to a canyon and just a mile down the road is a big Buddhist temple and, maybe a few miles after that, the center for Scientology on the West Coast. Malibu Canyon is one of those places where there’s lots of psychics and palm readers, astrologers, and who knows what else. And I'll tell you… our little church feels very small in the midst of so much high-powered New Age surroundings. You can tell there’s a real spiritual stronghold in Malibu Canyon and, like I said, our small congregation often feels like we are a tiny little light shining in a big sea of darkness.
This is why I particularly like the book of Ephesians – especially the first chapter -- because our congregation reminds me so much of the Church in Ephesus. Think of it: Ephesus, at that time, was the fourth largest city in the Roman Empire and was the home of the Temple of the Goddess Artemis (that Temple was one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World) – and of all the deities in Asia, none was more sought after than Artemis (or as she’s often called, Diana). The big cash cow in Ephesus was any and all industry related to Temple worship. Tourism was a big deal in the city; and so was sorcery!
Well, just consider: the Temple treasury served as a bank, loaning large sums of money to the wealthy. The Temple also fed a huge prostitution ring (Artemis was the goddess of love; so, yes, when you came to the Temple to worship her, you did so with a prostitute,). So, just think of it: right there, you’ve got power, money, sex, and astrology – sounds an awful lot like Malibu Canyon to me! And not only that, but get this: In the shadow of this mighty Temple to Artemis, was planted a small local church. Can you imagine early Christians gathering for worship just a block away from the Temple of Artemis, the seventh sordid wonder of the ancient world? Those believers must have felt overwhelmed, intimidated! But Paul, when he’s writing to the Ephesians, reminds us that the church – whether then or now – is not small and insignificant. Before the world began (he says in verse 4), the Father in heaven chose believers to be to the praise of the glory of His grace… a witness to all the universe! So whether yours is a small church like our Church in the Canyon, or maybe a house church… there’s no need to feel overwhelmed, intimidated, or insignificant or over-shadowed in a world obsessed with power, money, sex, idolatry, and sorcery. God is on His throne and all is right when it comes to His will for the church!
And, hey, to help your church influence your world, I want to give you a booklet called “Access to God” – it’s filled with great Scriptures that point people to Jesus as Savior and Lord. And there’s a prayer at the back of the booklet for people to follow should they wish to embrace Christ as their Savior. I’ve got a copy in English and one in Spanish for you, and both are yours for the asking on my radio page at joniandfriends.org. Remember, friend, before the world began, God chose your congregation to showcase the love of Christ exactly where it is.
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 91376
© Joni and Friends