September 17, 2012

church

Here's a scenario:

Bob and Mike meet.

They soon discover a mutual interest in following Christ.

They decide that they should partner up and do this together.

So they meet regularly, bringing their wives and their kids all together to talk about Jesus.

They read their Bible. They praise God, often in song or poetry.

Over time, their gatherings grow and a few other friends and families begin to attend as well.

They don't write up a statement of faith or anything, but they never get into any weird, unorthodox stuff.

They begin a few traditions, a few standards (think: meeting every other Saturday afternoon, favoring discussion over a sermon, using recliners instead of pews, singing a capella because no one's a musician, no age division, laser lights, arm-wrestling, an occasional post-church stein-hoist). They've got a culture of sorts.

Maybe some of their customs and traditions and methods are unique, or even a little strange. So much so that it might not feel like church to a church-going outsider.

So what is this gathering? Is it a church? Is it the church?

What does it mean if we call Bob and Mike's as-yet-unnamed gatherings "church?"

We're past the point of assuming a church is a building, right? Lots of churches start and meet in people's basements. We'll call their gatherings a church.

So if it's just a couple of dudes and some friends gathering weekly to follow Christ, unusual traditions and all... does this thing, suddenly a "church," immediately get lumped in with the rest of the church (or churches) as a sacred institution? Are they part of the Holy Priesthood, entrusted with the Great Commission, held accountable for all of its blessed finances and how they spend every penny? Holders of the talents while The King is away?

Is every church subject to scrutiny as a sacred institution, or can a church simply be a community of people seeking Christ with their own customs, much like any other earthly, human community - chamber of commerce, moose lodge, Boy Scouts, sewing circle, carving club - except focused on following Christ? Are there sacred churches and non-sacred ones? Where do you draw that line, and what separates them? Rigidly structured organization?

I ask these questions because I have often, in the past, been a bit of a church cynic. "Can't believe they spent money on that." "Why aren't they doing (insert thing I suddenly started thinking was deathly important while in college)?" "What's a "liturgy?" "Why is there no liturgy?" "They should really talk more about (insert thing they didn't talk about the week I was there.)"

I am beginning to think that maybe it's no big deal for a church to have some customs that I don't really identify with, or to lack some that I really do, or to use their money in ways that I wouldn't immediately think to, and simply trust that they probably know what they're doing and don't need me to get all teenage-angsty about it.

I suppose I pose those questions in defense of weird churches.

In the end, there are far more important things to consider about a church than how much money they put into their multimedia, or what the worship team is wearing. For example, what its members are doing the other six days of the week.

2 comments:

Heather Ingram said...

Great article and thought provoking! A few cents to share:

"does this thing, suddenly a "church," immediately get lumped in with the rest of the church (or churches) as a sacred institution? Are they part of the Holy Priesthood, entrusted with the Great Commission, held accountable for all of its blessed finances and how they spend every penny? Holders of the talents while The King is away?"

Unfortunately America thinks that the church is the building, pastors, and deacons etc but really what is a church without people? An empty building! People make the church, every member needs to consider themselves a minister. Jesus says wherever 2 or 3 are gathered there I am in their midst. It doesn't matter where, when or with whom, all that Jesus wants is for people to gather to edify, worship and preach His Truths. It's not up to other people or organizations to decide whether or not they should be included in whatever it is that "they" are in charge of. Man made rules all too often are placed at the same level as preaching whats in the Bible. Or man can add and take away from the message simply by forcing the congregation/small group to follow guidelines or worship/preach in a certain way. The style, as long as it doesn't add/take away/distract from Gods word is just semantics at best and should be left to the "freedoms in Christ" category. On the other hand, sometimes a show (what others would call praise and worship) is really just that, a show, because it's all about attracting outsiders and wanting to make the church "look cool", that's where the line gets crossed. God doesn't want a three ring circus as our offering of worship, He wants an honest and committed heart. When Jesus came He didn't come as some hot, rich guy who would stand out. He came as a lowly, humble child birthed to earthly parents who were poor. When He traveled He didn't demand to stay at the Hilton's of His day, He was humble and didn't even have a place to lay His head down at night to sleep sometimes.

Heather Ingram said...

.....
"In the end, there are far more important things to consider about a church than how much money they put into their multimedia, or what the worship team is wearing. For example, what its members are doing the other six days of the week."

There is no need to have one or the other. Church leaders def. need to be held accountable for how they spend others' money for the "sake of the church". David and I have been to mega churches the size of football fields who've spent hundred of thousands of dollars on a full wall exotic fish tank but then only give each missionary $50 a month!!! Then there are other churches hiding their "talents" in the ground while their 2 missionary's they support struggle month to month to do ministry. If the church is pouring thousands into their multimedia add on's to make the church more "fun" while they neglect other more essential areas, then that is where they DO need to be called out and confronted. It never needs to be one or the other, it's a balance. While I agree most people major on the minors (i.e. color of the carpet) while the person sitting next to them goes out every Friday to strip clubs, then yes that is another area where the church as a whole is neglecting an essential part of a church body, confronting/eradicating sin in the Body of Christ.
"and simply trust that they probably know what they're doing and don't need me to get all teenage-angsty about it."
This is a very dangerous mindset creeping into the parishioners minds these days: who are you to question church leaders. That is totally unscriptual and should never be taught/propagated/implied on any level! Churches leaders are held to a higher standard for a reason and they are human and fallible just like the parishioners they stand over every Sunday and wednesday. Paul commended the Bereans for questioning what he was preaching, he says that more parishioners need to be doing that. In the Reformed, New Calvinism day and age this "don't question your leader" is what leads to cults and destroying lives. Think I am wayyyy over reacting?! lol Then you need to talk to my Dad and pick his brain about the people who contact him on a daily basis wanting to know how to get out of the clutches of their elder/s who tell them to "Shut up and do what they're told". Think I am still over reacting? Then you should ask me how this mentality led to my family being ripped apart.

Anyways, like I said, great article!!! =)