Yesterday was Sunday, and I decided to go to church with my oldest son as my family hadn't been for several weeks. I had felt a strong pull on my heart that I needed to go and see if anything had changed since the last time my family went. I was also wishing for some encouraging words, music and fellowship, just to lift my spirit a bit.
Throughout the service, not much was different than every other time we had gone. The Pastor's message was the only part that brought some variation and thought, but it didn't seem like the few people attending took to heart what he was trying to say. It was just another message and the music was just another hymn.
We had some discussion after the service, which always ends right on time, and I had asked where they saw the churches direction going. The answer was not surprising but still disheartening. They simply have too few people to do much and those that are left feel they are too old to do what they know needs to be done. They are happy to support and pray for whatever I would like to do, but as for them, they just want to enjoy their service.
How can I respond? These are God loving people, who have a strong foundation and faith in Him. There is no doubt about their love for others and desire to serve God, it's just that they've lost their youthful passion that God can still work great things if they are willing. All they see is that they are a handful of older people who have too little energy left to do the greater tasks needed in our town. If they could only see how useful and valuable they are through my eyes, then they would understand how much our town needs them to be a lighthouse for all to see.
We have several churches in our small community, all the standard different denominations, and they all claim to have the true foundations and beliefs in God. However, as much as they state they are different in certain beliefs, they are very much the same in how they conduct their services and expect church to be. It really wouldn't have mattered what church my son and I went to yesterday, as the format, music and people are all much the same. The unfortunate part is if you don't fit with the traditional style church and know the proper way to behave, then there really isn't an option for you in our community for a church.
Don't get me wrong, for most of who attend our local churches, the style, music and format works just fine. So I have done my best not to rock the boat too much when I worked in one and helped run events with several others. The problem is I also own a business within the community where I hear comments from people regularly wishing there was a more up-beat contemporary church.
Many people in our community have attended one of the churches at one point or another, and have left because they found little acceptance, encouragement or inspiration from their experience. Others were pushed out because they dared to try and change how the churches did things in order to bring outsiders into the church.
Throughout my years of working within churches, I have seen remarkable times of growth whenever those in charge decide to break the molds they've cast and bring the church back to the essential basics of grace, forgiveness and freedom. As they broke their molds, people came and felt included and inspired. However, each time as the church grew, those in charge would decide to pull back the freedoms and plug the newcomers back into the old molds, so church could be the way those in charge believe it should be. The result is most of the newcomers would leave feeling hurt, deceived and disillusioned, and those in charge would be looking for someone to blame.
I wish I could write a column in the paper that reviewed churches like those who review the latest movies or restaurants. It would certainly give an interesting perspective for those within the church as to how others viewed them.
What I find the most interesting is that the bible teaches repeatedly, that the church is the body of Christ and those who believe are part of that body, plain and simple. It doesn't say we are part of one building with people in it, or one set traditional system of beliefs, just that those who believe in the Christ are part of His body, or church. So what should the church be like?
Paul teaches in Colossians 3:12-17
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
So I guess if a group of people gather together and focus on these virtues, it shouldn't really matter whether it's in a formal building, a house, out in a field or maybe at a Tim Horton's; what matters is how we fellowship with one another and if our focus is one of thankfulness towards God or simply a desire for what we want.
For me and my family, I dream of a church in our small town that would simply live what Paul is speaking about. I dream for a church where it doesn't matter whether you're rich or poorer; a sinner or a saint; prim & proper or a little wild; old fashioned or more modern; but, simply a church where all are welcome and we can spend more time singing a variety of songs both to praise God and to refresh our souls. A place where we can spend more time talking with one another to hear about what God is teaching each of us. A place where miracles can be shared by someone who is excited to share them.
Could you imagine a person jumping up in the middle of the Pastors message to say, "Can I tell you an awesome story about what God has done for me?" and then everyone eagerly wants to listen, instead of being upset because they dared to interrupt the Pastor and make the service run late.
The bible shares about the early church that was much like the one I dream of, but I question whether it's even possible to get back to it once more. I know of others, including myself who have tried and instead we find ourselves on the outside wishing for something more. We do our best to hold on to the hurt and cast-outs. We do our best to share the love of God with anyone willing to listen. We do our best to teach the way Jesus did. But imagine how wonderful it all could be if those few people inside the church, longing for others to join them, would realize all they need to do is let Jesus take charge of the church again and allow His grace, forgiveness and freedom to be our focus once more.
Just simply another thought I had.
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