HOW WE CONDUCT CHURCH AT CICF

Sometime back in 1999 a well meaning Christian couple visited our church, and after worship service the woman approached me and said, “Pastor Ed, why doesn’t your church sing this hymn (she mentions the title) after the offering like all other churches do?” After hearing that, it was a reminder for me of how some people put repetitive traditions and ritualistic ceremonies with so much value – that it removes their “focus” of why they’re at Church in the first place.

Although I do believe there are well-meaning traditions, if used excessively to a point wherein people “just can’t live without it” and become fixated on those "other things", then it can dangerously remove our focus on Jesus and become an “idol” in and of itself. The Bible says in Hebrews 12:2, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith...”

The Pharisees always “missed the point” of God’s Word and put tradition before the “application” of God's Word. Because of this Jesus said to them in Matthew 15:6, “…You nullify the Word of God for the sake of your tradition?” In the same context, Jesus also said to the Pharisees in Mark 7:8, “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men”

The Bible says in Colossians 2:8, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”

At CICF, we try to do without ritualistic ceremonies and repetitive tradition so that Jesus would be the main focus on everyone’s mind – because the Kingdom of God is not about rituals, it’s not about a certain hymn or song, it’s not about the color of the carpet, the church bulletin, or the order of worship – but it’s about JESUS.

Since the start of our church, my deep conviction has always been to conduct the order of our church worship services in such a way, that when a visitor/guest leaves those church doors they’d be able to honestly say to themselves four things:

1. “I was blessed as I worshipped and praised God.”
2. “God spoke to me through the sermon.”
3. “I felt Christ’s love in that church.”
4. “Jesus was glorified today.”

Please visit us and see for yourself how we conduct church! I’ll be looking forward to meeting you! Click here for directions.