My idea of church is very focused on the tiny bit of info given in Acts.
I see it as a low-key thing. Meeting in a home or down by the river, that's what I read in Acts.
Yes, apostles spoke in the streets and appeared in synagogues on Saturday and before leaders to give the gospel. But when the believers met it seemed pretty human and natural and I'm thinking that the not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together can mean 2 or 3 people praying and talking about Christ.
I'm also concentrating on what church has become. Public Address systems with loud Rock music blaring (in some cases). Coffee bars inside the church building (very common now). Even hand-holding. Did you know that it never says anywhere (in the Bible) that hand-holding is THE method of prayer?
If you think I'm being picky that's okay.
I'm only pointing out that I could sit here and make a very long list of things the churches are doing from the mandatory solo (during or prior to communion) to the amount of money spent on "Coffee-Mate" and I'd not be getting up from my computer for the better part of the day.
I do like meeting with Christians. I like that church-y feeling a lot. But I am at the point where I can see that "some" of what goes on is a game.
I'm also concentrating on what church has become. Public Address systems with loud Rock music blaring (in some cases). Coffee bars inside the church building (very common now). Even hand-holding. Did you know that it never says anywhere (in the Bible) that hand-holding is THE method of prayer?
If you think I'm being picky that's okay.
I'm only pointing out that I could sit here and make a very long list of things the churches are doing from the mandatory solo (during or prior to communion) to the amount of money spent on "Coffee-Mate" and I'd not be getting up from my computer for the better part of the day.
I do like meeting with Christians. I like that church-y feeling a lot. But I am at the point where I can see that "some" of what goes on is a game.
What goes on with my quiet time is no game.
We certainly need both.
We certainly need both.
I need to confess that I did not only recently become aware of some of the funny stuff done in the name of church. My bubble popped about 21 years ago when I had a church job that meant I sat outside the main door during first service just under that speaker that goes into the lobby.
Then I attended 2nd service.
What happened? I heard the same sermon, the same jokes, the same skits, the same "tearing-up" over the same meaningful part.
I learned that 1st service is a dress rehearsal for 2nd service. It was like play with 2 showings back to back.
It took some time to recover from that.
For a time I thought that going to a church with only 1 service was the answer. In fact I've never gone to a church with more than one main service since that time.
But that's not the problem.
The problem is playing a game called "church." This form of church is creeping further and further away from what I read in Acts.
Sorry if I have offended. That is never my intention.
What happened? I heard the same sermon, the same jokes, the same skits, the same "tearing-up" over the same meaningful part.
I learned that 1st service is a dress rehearsal for 2nd service. It was like play with 2 showings back to back.
It took some time to recover from that.
For a time I thought that going to a church with only 1 service was the answer. In fact I've never gone to a church with more than one main service since that time.
But that's not the problem.
The problem is playing a game called "church." This form of church is creeping further and further away from what I read in Acts.
Sorry if I have offended. That is never my intention.
1 comment:
Certainly that does not offend. There are many ways of being church, for sure; but performance is not one of them. Being simple and authentic is necessary. x
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