Brilliant!?
As I was reading other blogs today, I was determined to sit down and write something brilliant, something that would stir the soul and shake up our reality.
Something totally revolutionary.
O.K. I’ll just write and let you determine it’s value, or lack there of:
I have been doing a lot of thinking about the Church lately, not any one particular group that gathers, but the whole thing. The way that we Americans approach what we do that is called “Church.”
I have been reading quite a bit and have gotten to what I feel is almost the top of a hill where I can see another valley, another reality and it almost frightens me. You see I am, by definition, a “professional” religious person. My vocation is the “Church.” My life has been, for a very long time, consumed with making the Church, the Bride of Christ, the best that it can possibly be. A virtual love-machine that is changing lives by the power of the gospel, a lot of hard work, and smart decisions along the way. I have searched for the best methods and the next greatest programs that would shake up lives for the Kingdom of God. Every time I buy into the latest and greatest, it fails! The love machine has stalled.
I am the type of person who hates to be involved in something that just isn’t working, that is wasting time and energy. If the horse is dead, dismount I have said more than once.
I have thought that I could very easily get a job at Best Buy and be happy, yet I have this calling on my life that won’t go away.
At this point in my life I am coming to realize that what I thought was the best vehicle for changing lives is working against the very thing that we are trying to do. The “come on in and watch the show” approach doesn’t produce the results that we seek, changed lives. It produces consumers of religious goods and services. What I know to be the only hope of the world, is not working in it’s present form in North America.
“Styx” had a song (a long time ago) and a line from it went something like: “Welcome to the grand illusion, come on in and see what’s happening, pay the price, get your ticket at the door…”
Is this how Jesus defined His bride?
Is this how the Apostles lived out their Church experience?
We need simple. We need friends. We need Jesus, together.
Now if I can just figure out what that means in our context ….. I will let you in too!
Something totally revolutionary.
O.K. I’ll just write and let you determine it’s value, or lack there of:
I have been doing a lot of thinking about the Church lately, not any one particular group that gathers, but the whole thing. The way that we Americans approach what we do that is called “Church.”
I have been reading quite a bit and have gotten to what I feel is almost the top of a hill where I can see another valley, another reality and it almost frightens me. You see I am, by definition, a “professional” religious person. My vocation is the “Church.” My life has been, for a very long time, consumed with making the Church, the Bride of Christ, the best that it can possibly be. A virtual love-machine that is changing lives by the power of the gospel, a lot of hard work, and smart decisions along the way. I have searched for the best methods and the next greatest programs that would shake up lives for the Kingdom of God. Every time I buy into the latest and greatest, it fails! The love machine has stalled.
I am the type of person who hates to be involved in something that just isn’t working, that is wasting time and energy. If the horse is dead, dismount I have said more than once.
I have thought that I could very easily get a job at Best Buy and be happy, yet I have this calling on my life that won’t go away.
At this point in my life I am coming to realize that what I thought was the best vehicle for changing lives is working against the very thing that we are trying to do. The “come on in and watch the show” approach doesn’t produce the results that we seek, changed lives. It produces consumers of religious goods and services. What I know to be the only hope of the world, is not working in it’s present form in North America.
“Styx” had a song (a long time ago) and a line from it went something like: “Welcome to the grand illusion, come on in and see what’s happening, pay the price, get your ticket at the door…”
Is this how Jesus defined His bride?
Is this how the Apostles lived out their Church experience?
We need simple. We need friends. We need Jesus, together.
Now if I can just figure out what that means in our context ….. I will let you in too!
posted by C.M. Coon at Friday, March 04, 2005
2 Comments:
It is interesting what you say...I've thought about it too before...this whole "seeker" ministry (not that we shouldn't be sensitive to their needs) with the "come on in and let me entertain you so that you'll accept Jesus." It's weird. I don't know that it works. It is scary to think about what would happen if it did start to change though...I mean we always talk about wanting the Acts church, but it's not easy. We have to be vulnerable and open to others around us. We have to not always be looking out for our best interests, but others. And really, I think pastors would be out of jobs...meaning that no one would be getting paid to preach a sermon, care for the hurting, visit the sick, run classes, find new people to bring in, pray for people, prepare things, yadda yadda yadda.....because EVERYONE would be doing it. Uncle Craig, YOU would have to get another job!It would be an awesome thing, but it would also be a scary thing too....change can be a scary (but necessary) thing.
hey Gwynie,
i'm not sure about what it will look like but i have a feeling that like in new testament where the leaders were cared for by the church in the city, something would happen it just that my job will be very different from what it looks like today. Somebody has to lead and guide the vision, provide leadership and guidance. the "fivefold" offices in Ephesians 4. yet i am still seeking what it looks like. I know that simpler is better.
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