I went to church again on Sunday. It was good and there in that little room where service was being held I realized something -
I really prefer to be around those who have little and value it than the suburbia residents from the church I used to attend.
Does this mean I don't like those I met at the other church, absolutely not, but there is a different depth to the faith of those who don't live in cookie cutter neighborhoods.
I had a friend remark to me once that she walked away from associating herself with the church because all she ever learned there never reconciled to the things she had experienced in her life. You know what - I applaud her for doing that and will almost always support anyone's decision to make that move.
I may yapper on about the things I've learned and that which I know is absolutely true but it doesn't mean that I expect everyone who reads to agree, nor do I do it for the benefit of those who have done the same thing my friend has. I'm not trying to talk them back to a relationship with Jesus - that's something they need to work out themselves in a time that suits them.
I do, however, love a good conversation on different worldviews that can remain civil and deep. It doesn't mean I'm looking to push people into agreeing with my thinking, it just simply means I love having solid discussions and expanding my mind.
This goes back to free will, but if you look at the way most Christians work, especially those who feel more aligned with a political action committee than Jesus, you have the free will to do whatever you like so long as your actions don't go against the Bible - whether or not you have a relationship with Jesus. Free will is so much more than that.
Go back to when Jesus walked the Earth. He really understood free will. One of the main examples is when the wealthy young ruler turns down Jesus's instruction on how to get into the Kingdom. The ruler turned away.
Did Jesus chase after him? No.
Did Jesus lobby a lawmaker to make all people do as he said? No.
Jesus simply went on his way. That's the beauty of free will. We have the choice to pick Jesus or something different. Jesus doesn't typically do things to us to blatently to get our attention. He waits. Granted, I have had my share of spiritual ass kickings that have done more than their fair share of attention getting, but in reality, Jesus simply waits for us to be ready and there are times when we think we're not for a wake-up call but, we should not ignore the small things as sometimes when those are ignored bigger prods could be next.
I like this church not only because the things in the lives of the congregants are not perfect, but in addtion, the preacher has a standard full time job.
I appreciate preachers like that. Too many times those who work in full time Christian work fail to really understand what the outside world goes through because they are trapped in the bubble. It sounded like the preacher had a position that gives him good exposure to all types of people. I think that issues goes back to the reconciliation factor. If you're not around everyday non-Christian types you lose perspective on what many people seem to really be about.
I also like the fact that it is smaller. Too many times I feel that the majority of churches see growth as a sign of prosperity in the faith.
Unfortunately many times it's farther for the truth. Churches that see a great, quick surge in attendance may be compromising message for growth. There are benefits to growing - increased revenue, visible effects of a strong message of Jesus's redemption - but it should be slow. There is no way in some of the churches I've been in that you can effectively continue the growth of the faith of those you have when you have such a fast influx.
Once a church gets sucked into the growth factor it seems as if that's all they really put their focus on. We can bring all these people in and grow and have more masses convert. It's a joke when you look at the things that seem to bring in the growth.
Some churches have gone to building messages solely around pop culture staples like 24, American Idol and The Matrix. Others have cut out so much of their sermons that you get 15 minutes or so of message and the rest is kicking music. That's the entertainment factor.
The biggest let down I see here is the number of half-asses Christians you get when you compromise messages. The people at those churches will retort - but we're seeker driven. Ehhhh - wrong. If you want people who are really seeking a deep relationship with Jesus you won't be entertaining them - you'll be preaching straight from the Holy Spirit and trust me, doing that will NOT grow your church the way you've seen it. The real seekers will relate to pain and hardships and the soul stinging message that goes along with being in those situations.
Those seeking entertainment with a message that makes them think they've gotten some kernal of faith expansion will probably run the other way when a true message of redemption is given. As Kierkgaard said, the true message of Jesus is going to offend people. Its offensive for people to hear they are sinners and in need of redemption. How many peple react poorly when criticism is given, even in love? The half-dozen people I've met that understand the truth know that it's difficult for people to really cheerfully take the truth to heart.
With so many people in churches today who are more entertainment seekers than truth seekers what will happen when that which we have done is tested by the purification fires on the other side of eternity? How many will be left with nothing? Sad to say, most will, and unfortunately, it may not be entirely their fault.
So where did it all go wrong? That's what I'd like to know. It seems like something has been lost in the training of the pastorate. I've discussed, sometimes not so kindly, with those with divinity degrees the basics of the faith and they have no clue. These basic things should have been day 1 of undergrad, but they're leaving graduate studies without this knowledge and then how many people are they putting eternal possession in jeopardy by leading a church with no knowledge?
((Unrelated side note, I just saw a news clip of Michael Jackson and whats wrong with the world when his hair looks better than mine and most of Europe's soccer roster))
I've read more than just a few blog entries lately of people near my age quite unhappy about the state of the church they have been attending or at least the value of the message. There's not a lot that can be done, sadly, except to say something and put yourself at risk of being ostracized or kicked out of your church. I've been through that.
I've also tried to see how many people would comment on some of my more deep postings online and I have not had much biting from readers. That's why discussion is so vital between those who are looking for something better than what bullshit is coming from the pulpit. It's definately not easy to find those who understand or are even willing to discuss their beliefs in a civil way so use them when you find them.
I can go on for hours and hours on different topics and I know that this is quite disjointed, but, there will definately be more of these posts to come. If that turns ya off, sorry, I'll still have normal day to day postings, too.
We're playing tennis tonight so I better get ready.
Chao!
La. Sra.
