“Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. ³ In these lay many invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. ⁵ One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” ⁷ The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me.” ⁸ Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.” ⁹ At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.” John 5:2-9

I remember, when I was about eight years old, having a visit to the dentist. I went because one of my older brother or sisters could not attend. I went knowing I had a few loose teeth. When I returned home, my mouth was minus eight teeth. Not only did the dentist find loose teeth, he found some that he believed were “in the way” and he removed them with his pliers. I would not return until I was in my early twenties, and then only because my wisdom teeth were coming in at such a bad angle they were impeding the function of my jaw.

Now, when you go to the dentist you go two times a year, right?  Your dentist plan allows you to see your dentist — so you schedule a cleaning twice a year giving you the opportunity to show them you have flossed and brushed twice a day. And most of you go to the dentist twice a year. You hope that this is enough for you to ward off plaque and the development of cavities (maybe). But two times a year is all the dentist requires.  

Here’s my question: why do so many people believe attending church two times a year is enough to ward off the devil? We cannot run to G-d only when our lives have gone bad or we have run into problems, and then wait to return to G-d in similar circumstances. Yet this is how many people treat Jesus. They stay away when everything is fine. But as soon as something happens that severely impairs their life’s functioning, they run to Jesus looking for a fix. Once the fix is in, or not, they run away either complaining about the cost, complaining about the intrusiveness, or complaining about the fix.

This is no way to treat your relationship with G-d, or your dentist. Your dentist prefers to see you twice a year and so asks you to do certain things daily to avoid seeing him or her more than twice a year. G-d does not want to see us only twice a year (like many do) but wants to see each and every one of us every day. G-d does not want to see us only when there is a problem, but gives us daily activities to strengthen our relationship with G-d. And G-d doesn’t only want to see us twice a year, but asks that we go to G-d daily in prayer, and weekly in bible study, and weekly in worship. We may not be able to avoid problems, but we will have a scheduled appointment daily and weekly to help us with all of our spiritual decay.

We cannot treat our faith lives like we hope to avoid Gingivitis — going twice a year and maybe rinse your mouth with some holy water once in a while. Attending church should not be such a bother or just another thing to junk up our schedule. It is supposed to be life-sustaining, life-producing, life-enriching, life-enhancing, life-saving discipline.  

You see, the Great Fisherman, Jesus, catches us when we feel as if we are sinking, and never lets us go — even if we only recognize his Fisherman’s Sovereignty on the same level as the Great Dental Plan in the sky. And thank the Lord we are not depending on our dentist for salvation, for if we are, then we won’t be able to afford the co-pay. Thank G-d the Fisherman, Jesus, offers all of us a free meal every Sunday — and in some places, every day.  That is a table we should want to go to often — it is a “treatment plan” we need every day.  

My friends, don’t turn your faith life into a dental plan — because the devil wants to rot away your trust, your hope, your love, and your faith. Come to the banquet — all is ready — all are welcome…     

Pastor Dave