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.