This Christian Life

Hmmm, where to begin?

I'm not sure if I have more of a problem with the fact that we are polling people about what type of church they prefer (in that having the categories be about traditional, contemporary church) or if that we have become such a drive thru, market research, programmed, performance based culture that sees church as serving us and not us serving the church. Do i overstate my case? Have you ever heard someone say they are church shopping? all the time, right? why doesn't anyone say, "I'm looking for a church body that i can serve in and contribute my talents and gifts to"? Where did we get this twisted idea that the church serves us and that we don't serve the church?

Because guess what, WE ARE THE CHURCH! WE are the ones that are to be giving to the poor and needy. WE are the ones that are to bring justice and show mercy. WE are the ones that are to reach and love the lost and give them the message that Jesus loves them and wants to free them from their bondage. WE do that becasue WE are the church. You and I.

So, if someone were to poll me about what kind of church i prefer, I might say "A place where the truth of God is preached in the context of a postmodern culture, applicable to where we are as a people. A place that loves every tattoed, pierced, orange and blue haired freak that walks through the door with the love of Jesus. A place where I can grow and give with freedom and express myself creativeley in the light of being made by a creative God." Interestingly enough, i believe what i just described should also be my home, where I live, eat and sleep. SO when people come to my house, are they really coming to my house, or are they coming to church?

chris, touche, but the second poll doesn't ask "what is your ecclesiastical definition, or, what is The Church?" i think the polled participants understood that christdot was asking about sunday morning worship services (the poll was, after all, "I Prefer Church Services That Are..."), and both the pollsters and the participants would agree with everything you've stated here.

also, perhaps the type of church one "prefers" should be the last place that person attends for services. yes, we are the church in the sense of Calvin's "invisible church" ideology, but there are still many buildings of brick and wood that stand waiting for our bodies to fill their pews on sundays. each has a different flavor (for lack of a more appropriate term) in worshiping the Creator. we show up TO OFFER praise to God and not to receive something we "prefer." though many don't understand this.

perhaps an adendum poll should read, "What defines the Church?"

peace to you, brother.

i think i am more interested in the "other" category of the poll, and why it is a whopping 13.25% (maybe whopping is a bit much...)

how's the east coast nathan?

shalom
chris

the east coast is great. so many great things going on at once! for example, tonight i'll be in philly seeing a friend start as Rauel in Phantom of the Opera's nat'l b'way tour, tomorrow night i'll be having drinks with an old friend in manhattan, and today i'm finishing up some semester projects in beautiful princeton. it's like the center of the universe up in here.

how's canada? (he asks somewhat sarcastically after bragging up the east coast with a certain edge of ostentatiousness).