Sunday, December 28, 2008
Church
So I'm wondering how everyone feels about the modern day church. Not just as a whole, but also specifically about your own church. Frankly, I've been to LOTS of churches. Some were way off based, some I consider to be great churches. But I am at a loss. I just don't think I can do church anymore. OH NO! Don't everybody freak out. I will still go to church until I find something better. I just look at church, and look at Jesus' ministry, and they really don't look anything alike to me. We all get dressed up nice, go to SS, eat our little snacks, spend the whole time talking about our week and how things are, then squeeze in 15-20 minutes of the same stories we've heard since we were kids. Then we have "Worship Service." Everyone sits together, half heartedly sings a few songs, searches for things to criticize in thier heads, smiles and shakes hands with the few people around them at the appropriate time, and listens to a message that is not so different from what the kids hear in children's church. That wouldn't be so bad, but that's all there is. Now I look at Streetscape Ministries. Everyday they have devotions in the morning, which may consist of preaching, singing, and (real)discussion. Then they spend most of the day reaching out to those around them (prostitutes, drug dealers, addicts, homeless, homosexuals, satanists, whatever). Every Saturday they feed the hungry. Whoever needs them. Which one sounds more like Christ's ministry? Really. Don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about the people. I know that noone is perfect, and Streetscape ministries has just as many flaws a my church. But is the way the church is today(even the best of them) really how we want it to be? Scratch that. The way it should be? You know my father has an interesting thought that I agree with. The "Great falling away of the Church" in end times probably doesn't mean a lack of attendence. It probably means that there will be a lack of Spirit in the attendees. Sadly, that is what I am seeing more and more. So, here I sit. Pondering my options. I just can't do "church" anymore. I'll attend until I figure out something real. But I'd be interested on hearing anyone's comments if you do read this. Don't get me wrong.... I don't hate the church or the people in it. In fact I love them and it breaks my heart to see what most have resigned themselves to. Hope everyone understands. If not, so goes the story of me. Its fun being unusual:)
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6 comments:
Huh Where to start? I think I agree with you discription of the modern church. This has always been a problem when looking for a church. It is hard to find a balance of good teaching and worship. Because of this it is mostly a time of Worship for me, and I need authentic worship, not loud, or amazing,I want REAL. I've started to look outside of Sunday morning to do my learning, Bible Studies, extra classes, self study and the like. Thats not to say I don't learn anything from my Pastor but like you said a lot of it is very basic.
wow
Your post was very interesting! My husband served as a pastor in the Methodist church for 10 years until last November when a series of events brought us out to begin a ministry that God specifically said was not to be "church" as people know "church". We have received many prophetic words with a LOT of correction about how we are to operate this ministry. We are trying to be obedient and fulfill this call that God has placed on us. Pray for us when you can. Our ministry is The Way Of God in Truth Ministries located in north Alabama.
I wanted you to know that if you are struggling with the idea of "church", you are not alone. God is changing things and positioning people for His plans and purposes!
Just read through your blog. Are you still out there? Your last post was in December of 2008. Your plight rings in harmony with my own experience. I just recently read something that made sense to me: "You've lost your first love. Go back to where that happened. It's easier to forge ahead 20 miles in the wrong direction that it is to go back one mile to where you went off track." Also, many Christians are afraid to show who they really are to their brothers and sisters in Christ. If we let people really get to know us, they might find out our (gasp!) shortcomings. So, keep being real. It's refreshing and even inspiring. Jesus never stopped loving you and does not run from your questions.
Short story:
I came to faith right after high school. Went to college, got married, had kids, started a career and volunteered at church. Eventually I got on staff at a church. That finally put the effluent right in my face... and I asked God what to do. I knew the answer involved "different". We started a church, to be utterly real, led by his Spirit and the Bible, and reach out to those not enamored with "church". That bore some fruit, but was overall very painful. Crap, now what. ... Burned out... I deliberately emptied everything I was out to God and said, "Okay, please burn up whatever is not of you. i don't care about what I've always thought, or been told, or thought mattered. Jesus rose from the dead and I love my wife and kids. Everyone and everything else... light it up." That was late 2006.
It was a painful, but beautiful liberation. Much unlearning has taken place. The church we started shut down in early 2008. We now are free of any thoughts of building an organization... a thing... there is just life, with Jesus at the center. I just want to simply follow Jesus, right here, right now, together... with others who think and feel the same. And we are.
The fruit of the last 5 years is at: http://livewickmedia.com/
Ha. I had NO idea how different He meant...
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