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Me Church

I went to Highland most of my freshmen year. I loved the church and it’s purpose, but in the spring of that year, I found myself waking up and going back to sleep instead of church. An uperclassmen took me to a small church outside of town, and from day 1, they have asked me to lead singing every time I was there. I haven’t left that little church and my attachment has grown to it.

I don’t blame Highland and I still love to go when I get the chance. But I had trouble with feeling like I was simply sitting in church and failing to find a way to get involved. I had trouble finding a way to serve. I think that was one of the things that attracted me to the small church. It was easier to find a need and fill it. If I ever miss, I get called and asked “where was our song leader?” I think what has meant the most to me in finding the “right” church is the accountability and the ways I can fit in to serve the ministry of the church.

I think a lot of good has been said here. I just want to remind everyone that there is no clear-cut reason for “hopping”. People have different motivations and it is important to take all the possibilities into account.

If you are into the present conversation in the least, read it. It really addresses some of the core issues here.

I’m done now.

I just think Ryan Bolger’s article titled “Please, No More Doing Church For ‘Them’!” speaks so much to this issue.

His assertion is that churches that claim to be relevant are almost never so. In an attempt to be relevant, they alienate both the members and the “outsiders” (don’t like that terminology, but oh well…).

He also points to another problem churches have being relevant to the daily lives of “outsiders”:

A focus on the church service as connecting point perpetuates the idea that following Jesus is about going to church. The community’s life takes the form of American congregational religion rather than the fluid practices of the gospel, and this emphasis presents quite a barrier to the ’seeker’ outside, as they need to be converted to the values of American religious congregationalism before they can come to faith. Thus, virtually all of those who are attracted to the relevant service were raised in church or are currently going to another church — they are not the never-churched.

In contrast, the missional congregation:

…connects with those outside the faith by, well, connecting with those outside of the community in their world. Connecting happens not in a ‘come to us’ CHURCH service, but through ‘go and dwell’ church SERVICE, i.e. service in the community — living alternative lives.

Wow. How many churches can say that something other than the Sunday morning service is the major connecting point in their fellowship? Probably very few. But Bolger’s assertions are not unlike the description of the church in Acts, where a once-a-week “service” was not at all central to the life of the community:

A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity– all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.

And when we reach “the world” how do we transform them from expecting to be served (after all, it was how we reached them in the first place) to expecting to serve?

I’m all about “others” but when the “others” become the “us” they tend to forget about the “others” and want to focus on the “us”.

I know the simple answer: Preach Christ crucified.

I know the difficult answer: Preach Christ crucified.

I know the sad alternative: Don’t preach Christ crucified and do preach church growth and then convert some “others” that will come and convert to “us” who will not convert any more “others” and who will hop churches should the preacher get the bright idea to preach Christ crucified!

Or, the former “others” who converted to “us” will decide that they want to stay and the preacher who only cares about the “others” and not the “us” should be fired (for preaching Christ crucified) and then the preacher gets to be the hopper!

God forgive us for we know not what we do.

Conversely, I do believe there are a significant cofC percentage that attempt to be the type of person Mike describes and yet feel as though they are an alien in their own church for being that person. No joy, celebratory worship or communion to return to with fellow travelers.