There is a general sense of disillusionment with the traditional church. Disillusionment in the sense that there has to be something out there that connects with our culture and people in general in a deeper way. A spiritual way. A connecting way. Many are asking, "Is there not a "better way"?
Let's think about some thought provoking questions.
Who made the rules that we live by today? Who says we have to meet on Sunday morning at 10:30? who says we have to three songs, take up the offering, preach and go home? Who made the rules?
Why is our spirituality gaged by how many times we come to church and sit in rows, when the bible says that the church is to be a place of encouragement and sharing and renewal and relationship? How can we have relationship sitting in rows?
Who made the rule that we have to "dress up"?
Who made the rule that we have to have a "sermon"?
Who made the rule we have to be solemn or joyous or sad or happy in church?
What is the right way to act "in church"? Who made those rules?
Many have been wounded by the church. And when a person is wounded, the temptation is to flee, to run away from the pain. To reject the thing that is causing so much hurt.
But being disillusioned with the church and rejecting the church need not be the same thing. When we reject the church is becomes very hard to have any kind of relationship with Jesus.
When I hear someone say, "I love Jesus, but I can't stand the church," I realize that they are losing both ways. They are losing the relationships that the church provides and they are losing a connection with Jesus, who presents himself as one who lives inside each one of us who make up the church.
The challenge is there.
I believe in the church. I love the church. The church is people. We are the church. Let's all work to do better - and maybe break some rules.
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2 comments:
Hey Pastor Flattery,
I like what you are saying. I mean I think sometimes we forget how easy it is to just get mad and say, oh well I don't like this church. But my point is, is that the church is us every person who attends is "the church" they are all part of it. Maybe it would help if we all started to look at things a little differently, ya know like get a new perspective on things.
One other thing that I was going to say is that I also think that you are right in saying we should break a couple of rules. I am NOT saying to go out there and be crazy and stuff. All I am saying is that a few of the things we could change or just do differntly. One rule that I LOVE IT WHEN YOU BREAK, is the no food in the santcuary rule. It is always VERY GOOD when you break that rule- ha ha.
Also, who ever said that we ALWAYS have to dress up on sundays? I mean it is nice to dress up once in awhile- but why all the time?
Why do we always have to sit in rows? It is nicely organized, yes, but doesn't life always need to be just a little messy? If not then where is the fun in it- wouldn't it just make life dull and boring? Wouldn't it possibly kill our spiritial creativity- in how we learn about god and how we respond to it?
These are all some very, VERY good points. Lets just make sure that you do break one rule a lot though- BRING FOOD INTO THE SANCTUARY!!!! haha
~Mindy Bartzen
Rules are good things to live by...but only if you're following the right rules. Most gangs have rules but that doesn't mean we all follow them, if you get my drift. The rules that we have to live by are all contained in the Word of God and summed up very well by our current phrase of "Love God, Love People." If we do those two things well, then we should not have to worry about whether or not the rules of the world are being broken. Most "rules" concerning organized religion and church were made by man, with limited wisdom and (sometimes) with a lack of spiritual guidance. Quite often, a tradition becomes a rule because "we've always done it that way!" We should not be overly worried about reviewing (and challenging) the rules of the world when they conflict with the rules of our Lord. Whenever I feel in conflict with a rule, whether at work, at church, at home, or out on the street, I try to take some time to pray and ask God what His intentions are for me in that situation. If God leads me, then I cannot be headed in the wrong direction, even if everyone else is headed the other way. I know that I often am seen as a non-conformist but my disillusionment with organized religion and nonsensical church rules are part of what caused me to leave the church those many years ago. But God did not leave me and He molded the events in my life so that I can see that I should not let the actions of others determine my walk with Him...instead, when others rebel or rebuke, I must continue my walk with Jesus Christ and seek His guidance on ALL matters. God Bless.
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