I have really been thinking hard (aka wasting time) about coming up with a new purpose of the church. Basically, what I have seen is that churches want everyone but the pastor and song leader to just listen to them.
This is partially why I do so much music stuff in churches: A) I can't sit down or sit still long enough and B) I hate the music in most churches (but I already blogged about that!).
However people try to baptize it, church is basically just for the entertainment of the members. Sure, you sing along some times, but don't people even do that at music theaters and some movies?? Then, of course, there's the issue of taking the Lord's Supper out of all but four services a year. What's the point of even going to church? I don't do anything, there are better preachers and music on the radio, and the people are usually doing their own thing and cannot bring themselves to say anything more than "howya doin?" when they see you.
Both on paper and in practice, church needs to be a place where everybody does something, or has the opportunity to contribute something to the overall experience. This is one of the reasons that I am so enamoured with the house churches. I am still working on how to translate this into a larger setting. If it does translate into a larger setting, it may mean putting a heavier emphasis on small groups than on the "worship" service, which I am leaning toward calling a teaching service, because worship is more than an hour on Sunday: if worship is only for one hour a week, then it isn't worship!
What gets accomplished at church? If the church is just spinning wheels, no wonder so many people don't want to go!
Every member has something to offer, yet most do not have any idea what they can do for Jesus or for each other. And that's a problem. It might even be THE problem.
I'm Andrew Riley,
Good night, and good luck.
2 comments:
Yeah, what YOU said!
My favorite worship analogy came from the Danish philosopher, Soren Kirkegaard. He said that the way church operates is like a play: the congregation is the audience, the worship leaders are the actors, and God is the prompter. The way it SHOULD be is this: God should be the audience, the congregation should be the actors, and the worship leaders should be the prompters.
You come by your tendency to want to DO from me: sitting and watching is boring. I want to be participating, and that is exactly what worship is: PARTICIPATION!!!
eh, you shot who in the what now? seriously, i think you're on to something. how can we expect people to participate at church if our entire church "setup" is geared for their observation, NOT their participation? in such circumstances, how can we expect people who are equipped to contribute - but cannot - to grow in their walks, or to even continue coming at all. it seems like we've missed something, & i think through your many swings of the hammer you're starting to hit the nail on the head. keep it up
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