Missing the heart?

Some “church” contexts have gotten some complicated and flashy that it takes a “professional” – sometimes a team of “professionals” to ‘do church.’

Is that the biblical model?  Did Jesus say, “Professionals only need apply.”  Have we gotten some comfortable in our Sunday morning “holy huddles” that we’ve missed the heart of His message?

 

Deep Water?

“The arrangement and mood of the building conditions the congregation toward passivity.  The pulpit platform acts like a stage, and the congregation occupies the theater.  In short, Christian architecture has stalemated the functioning of God’s people since it was born in the fourth century.” – Viola and Barna, Pagan Christianity

Have we become so used to tending the “shoreline” that we’ve missed the deep water of walking with Jesus?

How about “church” in a family-type setting rather than an “institutionalized” one?  How about meeting in homes, living rooms, coffee shops, parks, or wherever the people are?  How about “lowering the bar of how we ‘do church’ and raising the bar of what it means to be a disciple?  How about being Jesus’ “hands and feet” wherever we are, instead of for an hour a week inside a building with a steeple on top?

 

Something more?

“I love Jesus, I can’t keep on doing church the way I always have.”

 

Is there something more?

 

What about sharing life, rather than 90 minutes a week?

What about room for everyone to serve, not just an elite few?

How about “church” that isn’t a building with a steeple on top, but real people meeting real needs, mixing and mingling in their communities, to the glory of God?

 

 

On ‘Christian Unity’

A perceptive post by Frank Viola, Rethinking Christian Unity, includes this line:

“I have often said that sectarianism, elitism, and exclusiveness are like body odor. Everyone else can smell it except those who have it.’

Click here to read more.

 

Death in vain forbids him rise…!

Sing ye heavn’s and earth reply!

 

 

Love’s redeeming work is done…

Death in vain forbids him rise…

 

‘How It’s Meant to Be”

God is calling together little communities of the heart, to fight for one another and for the hearts of those who have not yet been set free. That commeraderie, that intimacy, that incredible impact by a few stouthearted souls – that is available. It is the Christian life as Jesus gave it to us. It is completely normal.

- John Eldredge (Waking The Dead ,193, 203 )

“Little communities of the heart” is one reason some believers give for departing the IC.  There aren’t any.  Not saying’ that small groups don’t exist in the IC.  They do.  In fact, “small groups” is becoming the latest and greatest in church programming these days.  But a brief encounter with a few relative strangers for a few weeks is not the same as a “community of the heart.”

As John points out:

For the most part, they are disappointing and short-lived – by the very admission of those who try them. There are two reasons. One, you can’t just throw a random group of people together for a twelve week study of some kind, and expect them to become intimate allies. The sort of devotion we want and need takes place within a shared life. Over the years our fellowship goes camping together. We play together; help one another move; paint a room; find work. We throw great parties. We fight for each other… This is how it was meant to be.

How is your “community of the heart?”  Where do you look?  With whom do you link up?  Who fights for you?  Whom do you fight for?

 

Whatever happened to “Go”?

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” – Mark 16:15

 

Whatever happened to the concept of “Go”?  One of the reasons we left the IC was because its main focus was on bringing people in, rather than on going out to where the people are.  Even the traditional Christmas and Easter “outreaches” are more of the same: inviting people INTO a building so they can join the church club.

Note that the word “Go” is a verb.  An action word.  It does not imply sitting back and spectating while one or two or a handful of “professionals” do the “go-ing” – if there’s any at all.

Is that what biblical Christianity is about?  What would Jesus say?

 

What is ‘Simple Church’?

The reality of SC is living out the life of Christ in the middle of the people on a regular basis:

 

Called to Rejoice!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee,

Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays,

Stars and angels sing around Thee,

Center of unbroken praise!

Field and forest, vale and mountain,

Blossoming meadow, flashing sea,

Chanting bird and flowing fountain

Call us to rejoice in Thee!

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How are you ‘rejoicing in’ Jesus today?

 

God Thru the Noise?

“It was like they had to keep coming up with one ‘gimmick’ after another  to keep people engaged” Byrnne said.  She cited “exhaustion” and “overload” among her reasons for leaving the IC.  “I never had time to just ‘be still and know that I am God.’  ‘Church noise’ got in the way.  My former IC was too busy running a spiritual MTV show to allow people to hear God through all the noise.”

Jamie chimed in, “First it was the Rick Warren ’40 Days of Purpose’ thing.  After that faded, leadership got on this small group kick.  Then it was ‘Every Member a Minister.’  Then it was Friday Night Family Film Fest.  Then parenting seminars, then youth bands, then….” He laced his fingers across his chest and sighed.  “I couldn’t keep the Flavor of the Month straight after awhile.”  He elaborated that while he didn’t necessarily see any of these events or emphases as “bad,” he did consider them “distracting” and “superfluous” at times.  Heart-hungry for something deeper and more authentic, Jamie left his IC and joined a simple church.  “We’re not flashy, but we’ don’t have to be” he said.  “We’re real.”  He’s never looked back.

“It’s like the IC is competing with Entertainment Tonight” Danni said.  ”Apparently focusing on walking with God, studying His Word and obeying the Spirit is too boring or mundane.  The IC’s gotta provide a weekly sideshow to bring people in.”

She and her husband left the IC several years ago in order to pursue a deeper, “more authentic” walk with God “without the gimmicks.”  Her husband Dale added, “We got tired of the games and the gimmicks.”

One pastor boasted about “bringing in the biggies” and lining up “out of town talent.”  Is that what church is about Kyle asked, “Big names?  The Sunday show?”

Kyle continued, “Isn’t there something weird going on when a ‘church’ has to constantly come up with new gimmicks to keep people interested?  What’s up with that?”

Good question.