church?
So I went to church last week in a pair of shorts, flip-flops and a nice button down shirt. Coincidently the sermon was on Jesus casting the money lenders out of the temple with an emphasis on His zeal for God's house. The preacher slipped in the middle of his sermon (which by my theological understanding was completely misguided and poorly conceived), that we need to dress our best on Sunday and not look like we are going to the beach. I almost didn't catch it. I have resigned myself to the fact that the recent "Biblical" teaching is substandard and frequented references from tired man made traditions and also has been at times almost incoherent. So I have been reading the news on my iphone on Sundays, listening only to catch the statements that are either not true, or are based on ultra-Biblical ideas. Regardless, following church I received one of the nicest phone calls I have ever had. A member of the church called to let me know that the statements made from the pulpit, which were obviously directed at me, were not shared by the rest of the congregation, and even if our beliefs did not align themselves, we were allowed to respectfully disagree with each other and coexist in the fellowship of believers. I fully believe that this phone call would not have happened a year ago. In our toiling over the last year in switching to a contemporary format, there was an underlying motivation. The goal was to strip away all tradition and show the congregation what church is all about, which coincidentally is fellowship. It took about six months to happen, but people whom I never thought would come around started talking differently about church. Making statements like, "I have been wearing clothes that will make people feel more comfortably when they come here." They get that church is not an hour on Sunday, but a fellowship. Church is me and a friend or friends getting together. Period. Like minded people, gathering for fellowship, renewal and sometimes teaching. Worship is a lifestyle, corporate worship is a small part of it. Sunday morning is an extra-Biblical idea that came along centuries after the first Christians had "church". My deal is that there are people who are allowed to say what was said from the pulpit, from a place of authority and claim truth out of lies. The problem is that there are some people who will take the words to heart, and "church" will become stuffy, oppressive and exclusive all over again.
I spoke with a friend not too long ago about changing the format of church...It is hard to imagine. Even "contemporary" churches use the same formula for church. Singing, scripture and preaching. I understand that all these things are good things, but what about just being together? Does church have to be a combination of the three things? Can church be simply about hanging out with like minded and like hearted people. Can the fellowship reinvigorate us on its own? Is it possible to go to a movie, for example The Incredible Hulk, and have that be church? In regards to the beach comment. 1. What are you talking about guy, Jesus wore sandals and due to his status as homeless, there is a good chance that when he worshiped in public he was a bit ripe. 2. I have often said that there are very few times that I sense the power and magnitude of God than when I see the ocean. The sheer size throws me into a sense of wonder and I have had some of my most significant spiritual experiences in sight of the ocean. 3. In terms of wearing our "Sunday Best" it is awkward when you go to The Salvation Army heavily adorned and sit in a plain room that is not heavily adorned. To me it is a contradiction. 4. Come just as you are. 5. "You won't like me when I'm angry."