the event of church
I think I am getting tired of church again. Please do not worry about that comment, it happens to me every once in a while. Let me point out a few things about that first comment. Notice, I am not sure about being tired of church. I only think that I may be. While that may be splitting hairs, I will attempt to explain the more important part of that statement. That being I am tired of “church.” I did not say “the” church, for “the” church is the Community of God worldwide … I said simply “church.”
To clarify, “church” is what you do. The cultural meaning of “church” (okay, I am now going to stop with the “quotes” around “church”) is the event that people plan for Sunday mornings and the event’s accompanying programs (i.e. Child Care, Sunday Schools, Support Groups, Youth Groups, Greeters, Bulletins / Programs, Music, Coffee, Donuts, Bagels, Power Point …). So church (small “C”) is the event that a group of people gather around and pay others to execute.
With that said, I have recently read several articles about church. I have also had opportunity to speak with several individuals (both those who execute the event and those who pay for it) about church. The thing that I keep getting hung up on is that I think that many people keep on getting The Church and church confused. Many of the articles and conversations I have taken in focus on what needs to change.
The Older Generation talks about how we have strayed and what needs to remain, and how the hymns have such great theology that the new praise songs do not have. The middle-age generation likes the old hymns, but to admit that seems to be their undoing. They talk about the “contemporary” style, which is now yesterday. The young people talk about authenticity, simplicity, contemplativeness, community, and ask the question “Why do we need church?”
My problem with all of this is simply that we discuss these preferences as though these are incredibly important issues that are vital to the health of The Church. However, this focus seems to be what is making The Church more ill. Why? Well, because all of this seems to ultimately focus not on the event, but the individual and what he or she likes about the event. This is what is driving me crazy.
The Church is the only organization that exists for the benefit of its non-members. While we sit around and talk about whether to have drums, incense, hymns, suits, jeans, chairs, pews, and everything else that goes into the event … we have to keep this in mind. The events are warranted in that The Church should be gathering as faith communities. However, these events are not so that people can find what they like (some people even go to several different events in one day!). These events and their accompanying smaller events (some call these small groups) ought to be for one purpose. That being to equip the Community of God to continue the mission that Jesus started 2000 years ago.
I have frequently heard some speak in amazement about Jesus. They are amazed that he really lived for the sake of others. They are amazed that he lived and loved those who could not do anything for him. The Church has been called to follow Jesus, to live in his ways, and imitate him. This would mean that our focus ought to be serving the needs of those who do not yet know Jesus. This would mean then that our focus should not be on having things at an event be about us and our liking. This would mean that these events should focus on helping our faith communities become men and women who understand how to live like Jesus.
This is why I am tired of church. I am tired of people who say that church needs to be something different. Then all they do is talk about the events, and they focus so heavily on how to be catchy, edgy, cool … what about events that help men and women become more like Jesus so that they can help others to become more like Jesus. I think the most authentic, relevant thing The Church could do is this … To live as a group of people who believe that everyday it is our job to revolutionize our world for Jesus.