How dare you not attend church? part three

From the previous posts, you might think I'm against church. I hope not. I've spent the past thirteen years in church ministry, and I've grown incredibly by being in community with others within the church, as imperfect as it is. I don't think we should expect less from the church, and ditch it entirely. I think we're called to a higher standard. Instead of settling for what the church has become, I think we're being called to be a more radical expression of the church. Remember those contests in which you have to submit a coupon or a reasonable facsimile? That's all I'm looking for: a reasonable facsimile. In settling for Sunday worship services as the main expression of what it means to be the church, plus multiple programs during the week, it's easy to miss out on all that we're supposed to be and do (being comes first). I want something more than Sunday mornings for an hour and a half. I want community, commitment to one another, dialogue rather than monologue. I want more power and less best business practices. I want a focus on spiritual development and less on keeping the members happy. I want less attraction to whatever leader happens to be the best preacher or the most charismatic visionary and more attraction to Jesus. I want more concern for the poor and less concern for the carpet or the latest project. When I hear someone say that they don't attend church, I understand a bit more. Church attendance isn't all that it's cracked up to be, and I can see why people get disillusioned if all they're doing is "attending" a church. Read the New Testament and tell me if we're really being all we can be. We can be more.

Comments

[Peter]

Very well put, Darryl. How can this be accomplished?

[Rose]

I am fortunate enough to worship in a group at New Heights in Mission, BC. I am also fortunate, through New Heights to have a second ìchurchî . We call it ìStreet Churchî. Every 2nd Sunday our downtown office is opened to anyone who stops in. The evening starts at about 5 pm, when members of our Social Action Team arrive at the office to make sandwiches, drinks, and package desserts for those people needing a meal. We then load up the wagons and take these meals out to the streets of downtown Mission. While we do this musicians are setting up at our ìcozyî (tiny) office. We then spend about 2 hours (usually longer, if the musicians hold out) having Street Church. People walk in off the street to enjoy the music, dancing, games, food and conversation available. We enjoy the diversity encompassed by the group, and especially the contributions made by our First Nations friends. Native drummers and dancers fill some the gaps when our band takes a break, and the talents displayed by many of our downtown residents are amazing. And our official ending has become a traditional native circle. While in the circle we pray for those who needs Godís assistance for a variety of reasons, and at the last meeting I felt closest to God when a native lullaby was sung to a baby. The serenity I felt during the lullaby was amazing. In both ìchurchesî, I do not ìattendî, I embrace what God is presenting to me, whether it be the energetic atmosphere of New Heights on Sunday morning, and the church musicians at Street Church, or the quiet grace and serenity during the Native songs.