Nov. 28,05

I talk about 'church' with many people, many of whom are not terribly satisfied with their experience. This will immediately evoke a defensiveness on the part of some of my readers, but for those who relate to the less satisfied folks, I would love to hear your thoughts. What makes church great? What makes it engaging and interesting? What do you look for in church. Again for those who are of the belief that we should simply march in and march out without question, without reflection, blessing to you. There are some of us who simply can't do that. I haven't been able to do that since I was 11 years old. I really became curious as I studied the Bible and then compared it to my church experience and it was troubling. I asked a lot of questions and for the most part I was given answers that didn't answer the questions at all. In fact they seem to avoid the question and focus instead on me, implying rebellion or divisiveness. It is a tried and true method of dealing with serious and valid questions to this day. Instead of answering the question, question the one who is asking. For instance when I asked one time' How much of the church budget was set aside of evangelism?', I was asked about my own personal commitment to evangelism. 'Have you witnessed for Christ today?' I didn't mind the question itself, what bothered me is the unwillingness to be open about the churches finances and the general feeling that any question was an attack on the church itself. I wonder how we can do it better (and we can do it better) if we never seek to find out where the weaknesses are. The term community is bandied about quit a bit these days and community is great. But we have to remember community is inclusive and embracing. Community looks at things from all sides and decides in a sense together, because in fact community is life together. I am all for leadership, I believe in some cases it's a gift of the Holy Spirit, but leadership in a vacuum is devoid of the essence of community. Community is critical for a people who are willing to reflect, listen, question, and challenge the status quo. Community is not hierarchical rather it is inclusive. It is a place where the fast slow down and the slow speed up so we can go together. Frankly if the stats we read about 57,000 people a week leaving the church are any where near correct, we probably should be asking some questions, seeking more answers and being a bit less defensive.

A simple question

Has your church become so seeker sensitive that it feels hostile to believers? I know there are many views on this, what's yours?

Interesting

Someone I know once observed that there is a three point message commonly given in churches today.
"God is good. You are bad. And you need to try harder?"

Unfortunately I think he is right.

Relationship or Religion

When I first became a Christian, one of the statements that I heard often went something like this, ' The difference between Christianity and other religions is that Christianity is a relationship not a religion.' I believe that this is true.

I'm wondering though do we talk relationship and do religion? Do we rely on ' principles' 'keys' 'steps' and 'choices' or are we engaged in a relationship that is, in a sense, renewed each day. Do we do the disciplines so we can have relationship? Or Do we have a relationship and therefore do the disciplines? Is it 'walking in the Spirit', that leads us to not fulfill the desires of the flesh? Or Is is simply a matter of making right choices? Is there a difference? I think there is, one is relationship based and one is more programmatic and frankly self reliant. One can be done in ones own strength and ability, the other can only be achieved through dependence and need.

Embracing my weakness in wholeness

I wasn't quit sure how to express what I want to say in the title. What I have been thinking about recently is how far God will go in bringing us to a place of brokenness. To a place where we are able to 'glory in our weakness'. I am much more comfortable when I feel strong and competent. I am certain that God does not take pleasure in the breaking process, but I am also certain that if it is what we have to go through to enter into a place of dependence he will allow it. I have gone through many things that have broken me down, lots of loss and pain, grief and sorrow. It has been very difficult, but it has been the road to recovery. Not a recovery of my strength, but of my dependent relationship with Jesus. I live in such a way that he truly is my 'daily bread', he is the one I turn to and depend on for what I will need to make it through today.
This is so good and I am so much more content and at peace in this place. My concern is as I begin to feel strong and able again that I will lean again on my own understanding. I want very much to move on in life, embrace God's call and give expression to my faith in Him, but I want to do that from a place of being in a continual state of knowing my need. It is in the place of not feeling and knowing my need that I begin to rely on myself for what only God can do. I have lived there for many years and although I was successful by all appearances, my relationship with the Lord suffered and I experienced a great emptiness, rather than the fullness I know now in a place of rest and dependence.

Church?

What is church? Really! Is it a location? How many people do you need for it to be 'church'? I'm serious, do we really believe that it is where 'two or more are gathered' or do we need to have Annoucements, Sunday School, Special Music and take an offering for it to be church? Do you have to have a sermon for it to be church? Hey I'm just curious, I sometimes wonder if everything we call church is really 'church'.
I know this with 57,000 people a week disengaging from church, we probably should be rethinking how we do church.
I think there are lots of ways to do church. My Orthodox and Catholic friends wouldn't agree, they seem to be pretty clear on what they think church is and I like to go to their meetings from time to time. I find it enriching and stimulating to my mind and my heart, but I'm not convinced that what they are doing is a replication of the early church.
There are many people who think they know what church is, there are 10's of thousands of examples of this in the Yellow pages across America. What if what Jesus said is true? What if He meant what He said? Just curious, what do you think?

Be a good follower

Along the lines of being a good follower I would advise: Don't check your brains and your Bible at the door! If you're in a place where it is not alright to ask questions, you are probably in the wrong place. At least not a safe place. Remember though, there is a big difference between a question and an accusation and sometimes the way we ask a question makes the person to whom the question is directed feel as if they are being accused of something. If a person feels like they are being attacked it is only natural for them to respond defensively.
I suggest that you seek clarification regarding a matter so you can fully understand either a decision that has been made or a statement you may have heard incorrectly. If it's not alright to seek clarification, agian you probably are in an enviroment that isn't all that healthy.