Elvis has left the building
I love this title- but only if I understand what this author is saying. I don’t believe that God has left the church. I don’t believe that the Church will ever die- that doesn’t fit with Scripture. But I do believe that relevancy has left the building. That somehow the center of our mission has to do with taking care of the Christians, building maintenance and hoping someone new will come in and raise their hand to accept Jesus. Maybe if they don’t raise their hand then maybe they will come back because we gave them a nice gift with a Starbucks card in it. Hmmmmm.
I have to admit something here- I am not relevant either. I have been in church mode- in full-time staff mode for so long- that relevancy in my life has been lost or buried with so much busy church work. I have to admit this because the evidence points to that. I got so busy being a pastor that I quit volunteering at my kid’s school. (Sure I volunteered because it was important for my kids- but I really volunteered because I got to be with so many other moms and teachers and kids in our community! It was awesome to walk down the hall at our elementary school and have all the kids know my name! It was awesome to go to a bunko night with other moms while they drank the night away and began to tell you things they might not have if it wasn’t for the vino. But I quit. I was too tired to work and do that.) I also quit hanging out with my neighbors. I was too busy.
In the meantime- something has been lost in me. I feel it and I don’t like it. How do I become relevant? I believe it is simple- I need to be with people. I need to love them with no strings attached. We all work- we are all busy. But- if church is not about keeping us so busy in the building, then maybe I will have the time to be the church to the people who live next door to me. It’s a thought.
On page 9, Hugh says, “Although we call for church to change, we do not suggest that we obliterate all the forms and habits of Christianity.” Not all that we do is a bad thing. Actually most of it is good- I just think that as we plan our church we just need to ask ourselves if what we are doing is for the greater good. I believe we need to be a church (people) who pray- who are devoted to Scripture- who meet together- who worship- who loves each other and takes care of each others needs. I also believe we need to disciple people- which means that we train people who not only does these things at our weekly gathering but also does so at home: devoted to worship- at home - filled with the Spirit- at home- participate in communion- at home- at home we also take care of the needs of our neighbors. It is sharing life with people- the very people that Jesus came for- that we will be the light of the world. The light of the world will not be just the church service.
Interestingly, when I think of the people I know who have decided to follow Jesus this year- they have because they were brought into a relational community of friends. In time- those friends were so engaging that it made them ask questions and seek. Those seekers became believers because of those friends and then because the church service also pointed the way to Christ. I think we need to have a very good gathering that is especially noted for being real, honest and a place to experience God’s presence. But I also think we would be missing it if we ended there. We also need to cultivate a loving community that is open to bringing people into our lives.
That said- let’s be the church together. We are at such a beginning point. We are at a place amongst ourselves that we don’t all know each other really well. I say- let’s enjoy this part of our journey while we do get to know one another. I am looking forward to our team becoming a closer knit of friends. We will be adding new families in the upcoming months, too, who will not know each other. I hope it will always be that way- bringing new people along in our lives to get to know- love- and care for.
Amy
3 comments:
"Hi, my name is Monica and I'm a part of a national Christian movesment that doesn't tast good anymore."
I like that he wrote, "it's not anti-church; it's pro-church. It's about being faithful to live Christ's alternative ways in the world again."
I've recently read another book a lot like this one called Pagan Chrisitanity. Obviously there is a problem with the church and we are all trying to be faithful to hearing what God is going to do. Not just at our church in Vancouver, but I really feel like people are grasping onto this problem arond the US.
So how do I throw out traditions that I've done all my life and learn what is Jesus really saying in the Bible? I need to just keep spending more time listening to what he is saying to me.
A fear I have is that people will not just question "what is the church doing" but question what the Bible says. I want to be strong in scripture to know the difference.
I guess I just have a lot of questions and it's always hard to not know the future. But I'm trusting God that he will give the answers at the perfect time and equip me with what I need to do the job.
Yea, obviously there is something wrong. It's like our American/western culture has turned our churches into big businesses with CEO's. Somehow the church as a whole has missed it somewhere along the way. Truthfully though, my heart breaks for all those churches out there who TRULY want to do God's will. I'm sure there are thousands of pastors who are just doing things the way they were taught to do them and they don't know what to do. It sure would be awesome if there were not only a movement of new churches who were more kingdom-based, but a sweeping revelation to the well established. It would take a lot of bravery, that's for sure. Anyway, I am totally for the church. I do wonder how God is going to do this (turn us all around I guess), but I know He is capable of it. My biggest desire is just to be a part of what He is doing in the world. I also don't think it's necessary to get rid of every church tradition- just to re-evaluate and make sure it's actually relevant to the heart of Christ. And I think those traditions can change too, along the way. Later Taters....
back from the basic of the hip hop sceen...
Well I am back from my little vaca so I thought I better get caught up on like 4 posts, so I may make these short.
The main thing that blew my mind and I am sure I have heard the satistics before, but that there are about 100 million americans unchurched people in america. That just freaks me out and makes me just say what the crap, I really don't understand why people are running from the truth. I understand we may not all be doing the best job but I don't feel like we are doing that bad at times either. It just scares me that there could be all these people who would not spend eternity in paradise with me.
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