For the last 12 weeks our family has visited several area churches. These churches have ranged in size from 75 to 400 to 3,000. It has been an interesting journey for us as we try to redefine the term "church" for our family. We know what it has been for the past many years and we see that it is currently very similar around our community.
We keep hearing and reading about the terms "transformation" and "community". It is what the people want and they are trying multitudes of ways to grasp and claim these experiences for themselves and their families. Some are looking for formulas, "silver bullets", programs, curriculums, retreats, pastors or truth that will lead them to this oasis. When they "hit a wall", they pick up their ball and move on to the next playing field. I can say that, because that is exactly what God has lead me and my family to do. I am absolutely OK with that change as long as it is a God-move rather than a selfish-move (that is another whole issue in itself).
Today was a huge eye-opener for Michelle and me. We attended one of the largest churches in our community and they were celebrating with a baptismal service. At one point they asked each of the attenders to participate. Around the room, they formed a river like mural by placing hundreds of pieces of paper with one word on them. The words they used were "peace", "joy", "awe", "surrender", etc. multiple times. As the worship continued they encouraged each attender to get up and go get one word off the wall that best described the experience of their baptism and faith walk. When the song had ended and virtually everyone had returned to their seat, Michelle and I were devastated as we looked at the remains on the wall. My opinion is this church is representative of the majority of churches across our country. It was apparent today the church had been indicted. During the whole service, the end of this song was the one moment that God spoke to me (and Michelle) the loudest. As we scanned the room and especially the front walls, it was apparent that all the words were chosen by the people except one. In fact, it was the only word left posted on the front walls. Can you imagine which word it was? I would have never imagined.
"AWE" was left on the wall.
It was absolutely apparent that "awe" had very little impact on the church. Without "awe", the church is doing stuff in their own strength. They may be getting a lot accomplished but imagine if "awe" was part of the experience. Then the whole world would be talking about it. Immediately I began to see the difference between today's church and the church we read about in Acts 2.
38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself." 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!" 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
You know what stands out to me in that passage besides "awe"? "Transformation" and "community". Pretty simple... The Holy Spirit showed up, lives were transformed, there was a sense of awe and they chose to hang out in community because of these things.
This is the church in its most true form. Can we really strip away all the other stuff we have made it to be over the many years? That is my prayer as the Leavener Community gathers.
See you Friday,
Rusty
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8 comments:
AWEsome! Can't wait for this weekend!
Rusty,
I have been really struggling with my understanding of "church" lately. I have been so turned off to the idea of church that I have pretty much stopped going and if I do go its been to hang out with friends. I have visited several churches lately and I can't get it out of my head that its all fake and its just a big show. I have been pleading for God to show me something real lately...maybe its the Leavener Community.
A struggling follower of Christ
I wonder?
Is this a live blog anymore?
I've been waiting for the "Big Reveal" Update.............
So what's the Holy Spirit Revealin??
Wow, that's a pretty strong critique of a church you'd spent barely one service in. I wish you the best in your pioneer spirit of starting something that's better than the rest, but I pray that you lose your cynicism. That's not good for anyone.
Hey Rusty,
Well man, it was good to have you at our church the other day. I hope this won't be your only visit, it shouldn't be...
Jumping right in head first, I just wish you could see the heart of our church and its leaders differently than articulated in your blog. I believe that would take a different approach to attending a worship service other than a critical eye, a heart of only a spectator, and of course more than one visit.
I have been attending this church for 3 years now, in discipleship and involvement with what is the yoke of the church. I've been getting to know those who teach and lead on a personal level and would call them very close friends of mine. Therefore, without sounding too gainsaying, I would strongly disagree with your "indictment" of this specific church, where I have agreed to set my roots...
I agree that the "modern church" collective has lost a sense of awe before our vast working creator. We could indict them all day, being a human institution and all. I think I have experienced the same thing you are talking about at many churches over and over again. It is that we depend on ourselves to accomplish great things. That there has been a lack of respect or awe in the implementation of those great things. And we do need to get away from that!
The difference that I have been taught by this counter-cultural church over the last few years is the "posture of humility" and that we don't accomplish anything except the initial movement of getting out of the way. And at the same time, doing so in a relevant and equal way...and like I said, it took more than one divergent weekend service to learn that the heart of my congregation and its shepherds is running towards God.
If this church had accomplished all it has without a sense of awe, it would've collapsed long before it reached this benchmark. If you only knew these people and their hearts, my friends now, that started this church 15 or so years ago from 40 to 400 to 3,000 folks, I think you would change your mind. That kind of stuff doesn't and wouldn't happen on man's strength alone.
There's something more going on than the large crowds, the construction, the music, the lights, and even colored printer paper that may be distracting to someone in the wrong state of mind approaching the throne for worship. They're personally gonna miss what IS going on if they are in awe of the wrong device...
Even Willow Creek is asking the tough questions
http://www.revealnow.com/story.asp?storyid=31
Rusty,
I think what you've said here is incredibly valid. A sense of awe is definately something that is hard to experience in a "modern church". The entire environment is set up to praise & respect the religious institution as much as it is concerned about its members real relationship with God.
Growing up in church I could list several internal struggles that were going on inside the church related to people's personal lives. Adultery, Homosexuality, Drinking & Drug Use, Profanity, Pre-Marital Sex, Abortion, and other church "issues" grabbed the spotlight.
It seems to me the congregation would've been better served by teaching us how to defend against Islam and other issues that threatened the foundation of the church such as the discovery and examination of the Gospel of Thomas. Instead it seems as though the time was spent squabbling over minor disagreements about biblical interpretation.
I am very excited to see the progress made by Leavener and to hear a minister admitting that even his past interpretation of scripture isn't always 100%
Amen!
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