“Boring” comes to mind but doesn’t speak directly to my feelings. It’s not that I want more excitement. Even though I like John Reuben and Jeremy Camp, I don’t really care about drums or guitar in church. Fernando Ortega works for me. I’d be happy with just a piano and singing; I don’t need electric guitars, drums, synthesizers… or organs. I’m pretty simple.
Safe. Slick. Hygenic. That’s getting more to the issue for me. The way we do church is so safe, controlled, and clean—kind of the opposite of this untamed lion I’ve wrestled with.
I mean could Jesus’ message be any more revolutionary, wild and intense? He was out to change the world. But we follow with organ interludes, the right shoes, and air conditioning.
So our marketing package is 180 degrees from the content of our message—the mission of the life. Isn’t that false advertising? Is there another word for that?
“Come to our church with comfortable pews, sweet melodies and pleasant handshakes, and now… sell all you have and give to the poor, take up your cross daily, go into all the world, and be happy when you’re persecuted.”
Don’t we usually get caught up in the church part, and skip the majority of Jesus’ hard teachings?
It seems, and this is a broad over-generalization, that there are three groups of people who make it in the church—those who have it all together, those who think they do, and those who pretend they do. Is the church any more accepting or comfortable with the people Jesus hung out with now than then?
But not all churches are like that, and I want to end this post celebrating those non-traditional churches that fit where I’m at in life. Cause that’s what this is about—what works for me and what I perceive the state of the union to be (and yes, I’m glad safe people have a safe place to hang-out. It works for them).
- The Adventure. “For those who have given up on church, but not on God.” Come dressed as you are; the disciples didn’t have “Sabbath best” either. People in our class talk about their real lives—job loss, overcoming drug addictions, the food bank. Maybe people are real like that in more churches than I realize, but it hasn’t been my experience.
- RiverTree. My sis took me here in
- Timberline Church (Everyday Joe’s). More on this downtown
And the architecture… It seems like there are three basic categories of church buildings—old-school (40’s), bad ideas (60’s-70’s), and modern convention halls. Why do only the microbreweries and restaurants get the inviting atmosphere?!
A church in
So share your thoughts on this question: What do you like about your church?
7 comments:
i like that they had a pantry-stocking welcoming potluck for new teachers and pastors this Sabbath. makes me wonder if they do this for every new family. i would hope so. then they too can experience the blessings that come with bags full of paper towels, lentils, and fresh corn on the cob, among other things.
and thanks for the congratulations. :) by the way, a certain editor-in-chief with whom i worked this summer commented that there seems to be a dichotomy between te way we "do" church today and the way Christians approached "church" in the New Testament...
Wow, what can I say? I just preached on the topic of our church using the 7 woes of Matt 23. Did some toe-stepping, fun stuff. I like the glimpses of reality we have in my church. Every now and then we are willing to admit that we don't have it all together, that there may be more to this church thing. I like its commitment to the scriptures. And I like that God has chosen others like me to be a part of it and recreate or help shape what my church will be like in the future. What a nut God is...
I'm going to a church here in Christchurch called Grace. They have just started a church-wide 21 day fast!!! They are encouraging all members to be involved to some degree in the fast and in prayer.
They are fasting and praying for direction, healing, spiritual growth, and their nation.
I think that is pretty dang cool.
Thanks for sharing. Good stuff all. Any more thoughts?
Thanks for the comments about Timberline Oldtown and Everyday Joe's, of which I'm a part. As to the question, what I like about my church is the authenticity, the freedom to be ourselves, or rather, that I feel a certain amount of freedom to not pretend, and just BE.
We've had a few conversations about our church culture, and really, we don't want to be cool or different or emerging or whatever. We want to be what we are, and in the process, remember the foundation of loving God and loving our neighbor.
Honestly, I think a lot of non-Christians (and even Christians) are turned off to Christianity when we try too hard to be something we're not, and lack authenticy, humility, and humanity.
Seth, thanks a lot for sharing. That makes a lot of sense to me. I don't know if they'd remember me, but say hi to Daryl and Chris for me. God bless your community there.
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