So I've had this thought swirling around in my head lately. Well, not so much lately as the last three years. I'm not sure I'll be able to articulate it the way I think it in my head, and worse, once I put it out there I'm a bit afraid of the reaction I will recieve. First of all, let me start out by saying I love Jesus very much. I've learned in the past three years to love his church with all my heart. And it's because I love her that I find myself in this place. I know I'm no church expert, but being that I was in one every sunday the first 25 years of my life, I do feel like I have some ground to stand on.
I'm not happy with what I see going on. We've turned the Church into something we do on Sunday. I know this is something the "Blue Like Jazz" generation has been saying for some time now, but what are we doing about it? I hear of new church plants and they all say the same thing. We are finding a new way of doing church. I'm not even sure that's what our world needs.
What if the way we do church is fine. What if some people will get it (there are a large number of growing churches out there, and I would venture to say every major city probably has at least one growing church in it) and some people don't? Not everyone is going to be a Christian right? So maybe we aren't so screwed up...maybe.
But I don't think that's true. I think we are screwed up, but I also think it's because we are asking the wrong questions. I think we are so pre-occupied with a new way of doing church and leave our faith by the wayside. The early church did church in the way they did out of a survival instict. They met daily because they had to encourage one another on a daily basis or deep depression might sink in. Some were being persecuted in a very painful way, so they had to develop these communities of faith for support.
But above all, they were people of faith.
Maybe instead of finding a new way to do church (as if there is this secret formula which will win the masses) what if we need a new way to live our faith? What if we are missing a connection among all christians. That's how the ixthus came to be. Christians would use this as a secret marker identifying the local church. It was a new way to live out their faith in a world hostile to them. Does this world really need a new church meeting in any available school closest to them? Maybe. But what I think this world really needs is the church living out their faith in a new and fresh way. When we figure that out, I think the "doing church" part will take care of itself.
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Religion, Politics, and Stupid Videos
9 comments:
Oh, Jake, I wish I knew you. The spouse and I have been part of three new churches and three well-established churches. Style and structure were all over the map, but the people were basically the same. Some were there for the show, or to see and be seen. Others were there to make disciples, to do what they could with what they had and leave the rest up to God. And others were there because they literally had nowhere else to go.
The "successful" churches by worldly standards had a lot of type one people. The church we're in now has very few type one people. But we have just enough type twos to make disicples out of the group three folks who dare to wander in.
And I'm not talking about young, good-looking, gifted types who are trying to find a church that is "worthy" of their service, then lament that the church has nothing to offer them, the church isn't relevant. If they claim His name and are not making disciples, then they are the ones who are irrelevant.
I'm talking about crack addicts, alchoholics, abortion survivors, beaten spouses, adulterers, abandoned children, and the homeless. There was at least one on each in our Sunday service this week, and that's just among the people I know.
When you see someone whowas a recipient of a food basket two years ago, come in with a basket of Thanksgiving goodies that she bought herself to give to another family, you don't really care who thinks your church is cool.
When I see a little girl visit youth group with so many different colored bruises on her legs that there's little doubt that she is being abused or neglected, I'm confident that we can help her because the woman she's talking to was raised by the man who married and then murdered her mother.
When a man 55 yearl old who begrudgingly comes to church with his wife and finds so much love that he smiles for the first time in years, makes a decision for Christ, and starts living it, I don't care if we have a choir or a worship team, acoustic or electric, drums or no drums, generic coffee or premium, he doesn't care and I don't think Jesus cares either.
Sorry to blog on your blog, but you hit a nerve. Do what you can where you are with what you've got, and you'll accomplish more in His name than the ones who are trying to "get it right" before they make a commitment.
Dear Anonymous,
Ummmm....Wow. Thank you for your comment. I just get frustrated a lot because of the things you mentioned about churches. I just feel that if you boil it down all church "programs" are the same. Worship, preaching, and some announcements in between. No matter how much we shake and bake it, we're not really going to do it different, because frankly that's what the church is supposed to do when we get together. We need to worship God, we need to be taught, we need to serve others. I just appreciate your thoughts and your experiences. I'm glad I belong to a savior who wants his church to be made up of ex-addicts and the abused. I heard of a church who named themselves "scum of the earth church." I like that. I don't think they are winning style points for the name, but I hope they are living it. Thanks for stopping by!
jake
Again, sorry to unload on your comment space, but your comments were right in line with some recent discussions and reflections of my own. Whatever it is you do, keep the faith, Jake. I can tell you're His even in cyberspace!!! Peace.
Hey man...I appreciate it, and I'm stoked! We'll stay in touch.
Here is some problems I have with people like you. You don't see the church as a whole. You are saying "some" churches. I am saying "THE" church. People who call themselves followers of God that make up the bride of Christ. And yes, as a whole, I don't think the church is healthy. I think if it was, we would be making more of a difference in this world. Secondly, I don't think acts 2:42 is some sort of blueprint for the church. I think it says what the early church did to be followers of Christ. I don't think it says, "if you are going to be a church, you must do these four things." What am I doing about it? I am going to a job that I hate every single day and being a light to those people. I am speaking love to the unlovable. I am being patient when everyone else loses their cool. I am setting an example of what a Christian employee is. I'm a part of a fellowship of people who believe our time on friday nights might be better served at a homeless shelter. Just because I'm not in a pulpit doesn't mean I'm doing anything less than God's will. Just because we don't have programs doesn't mean we aren't devoted to the apostle's teaching, the fellowship, the breaking of bread and to prayer.
we had six last week thank you very much.
Do you think God has called you to spend your life working a job you hate? And if that job didn't pay so well, would you still be working it?
You see things wrong with the church. What are you doing to make it right?
I think you are wrong about Acts 2:42. If the early Christians did it to follow Christ, why shouldn't you or I?
well, anonymous, maybe, maybe, stuff, because that might be the best.
I don't know God's will. I know that I have felt a 'pull' towards the people of Las Vegas. Maybe that's God, maybe it was the burritos I had for lunch, I dunno, but I know it's there. At the momment, this is the only job that is available to me (save mcdonald's of course). My point in saying that is I have seen two of my co-workers come to Christ that I feel I've had somewhat of a hand in. If this is the calling God has given me, I can accept it. Even if I do hate my job.
No, if the job didn't pay so well, I wouldn't be doing it. But I don't think a beach bum pays so great, so I'll stick with what I have for now.
As for what I'm doing about fixing the church, well everything and nothing I guess. I don't have a pulpit and I don't have a massive following. I, like many christians I know, simply wake up everyday trying to be the church as best we can. I'm avoiding supporting those things which I feel like do not support the mission of the Church (which includes some places with the name 'church' on it) and try to spend as much time as I can on the mission of the church. I blog. I have conversations with people. I love people. Maybe someday God will grant me the grace to do more. Maybe not. That's up to him, not me.
I'm okay with you thinking I'm wrong. I have been wrong about many things in my life, and I enjoy conversations with people who think I'm wrong. I don't believe the Bible was made to be a step by step guide, or a how to manual when it comes to 'doing church' or being a christian. I think it's one of the best ways to get to know God and his redeeming plan for mankind. But the Bible isn't God. Acts 2:42 explains what those people did to further the kingdom of God and to be the church. Should that be what we are doing? Maybe. Probably. But Paul also said for us to be the church the women had to cover their heads. Last I looked, we weren't passing out head covers to the ladies on the way into the alter. I know there are cultural and universal principles in the bible, but hopefully you see my point. Our goal should be glorifying Christ, not making sure we've fellowshiped, broke bread, listened to teachings, and prayed. If that is what get's us closer to God, then by all means, but it leaves out service to the poor, evangelsing to non-christians and corporate worship. All I was trying to say is people try to use Acts 2:42 as some sort of purpose driven church proof-text and I don't think it is. But if you do, then good for you, because either way, Christ is glorified.
He must become greater, and I must become less.
here is the thing i LOVE about people like you: most of you have the last name keck. church or no church...i support the keck family.
Post a Comment