Don’t you hate how much churches talk about money?
Don’t you hate how “the church” can be so political?
Don’t you hate how the church can be so divisive with different religions?!
“I can’t stand the kind of music my church does … My pastor preaches too long … My pastor doesn’t preach long enough … Church is so boring … Church is too focused on production … Our church is all about the numbers … Church sucks … I hate church … I wanna do church differently.”
I hope this got your attention.
In my closely-approaching adventure of planting a new church, I’ve had many conversations on how I would like to do church differently and some how these above statements seem to find their way into the conversation when people express contempt with the modern church. People LOVE to ask how we’re gonna do things in our church. And the reality is that I have some ideas on how I would like to present the gospel. I have some creative ways to approach serving the community. But the foundation of Paint This Town Red as a church will be very simple: “We will PAINT THIS TOWN red by the blood of Christ and with the love of God in word as well as in action. We will be a MISSION BELL that is heard in a city of deaf hearts.”
In all this preparation for a new church it’s SUPER easy to fall into the critical, church-bashing crowd as we plan to do “church differently.” But what we need to remember is that the local church IS the hope of the generation, the hope of our cities, the hope for our communities … The hope of the world.
As you attend your local church some time in the near future, I would encourage you to remember what the point of your church is. It’s to serve those who are in need of salvation. It’s to be a place where people can find joy that can’t be explained. It’s a refuge in a world of chaos. It’s a place where every person who enter, can and should, feel no condemnation.
But honestly, the most important thing you should think about if you happen to be a “church basher” is – what are you doing to help? Because the simple fact is that we are the church. And if you hate your church so much, stop complaining about all the hang ups you have. And start to be the church you want to see.
Be the church people are searching for.
I dont hate my church… but I do hate the stuff that was brought up in the article above… But thats not really hating church those things are just what man does… I have been in the ministry for over 20 years… I could write a few books on the bad things that happen in the church…
i have had many thoughts on what a new style church could be like…
Become the change u want to see
Word sista!!!!!
Over the years I think that “church wars” have been one of Satan’s greatest tools to cut the legs out from under good works God has started and to keep those in greatest need of a relationship with the Lord “where they are at,” which is far away. Church wars are easiest to identify when they are between different denominations or between two churches within any one denomination, but the deadliest of all are when church wars are “civil” wars between the rank and file of any one local body.
Paul was passionate about the UNITY of BELIEVERS and we can be sure the Lord is even more passionate about how the unity we uphold or tear down in our own local church body, no less than any of us would be about the unity we have in our own families.
Some things in Christianity are complicated, but this one’s easy to understand. “God help us live it out in a way that brings him joy and glory, and not pain. Teach us new ways, YOUR ways, holy ways, to discover the life you have always planned for us all.”
“WE ARE THE CHURCH,” AMEN, CJ.
Dan,
This is awesome! Thank you for great insight. I agree! Sadly the enemy has used our own “weapon” against the kingdom of God. Church becomes far to political when we allow a location or religion to define it. Love it!
I have had experience with a few churches and Hubby and I have loved all of the churches we were members of, but have had major dislikes from most of them too. We are so blessed to be a part of an amazing church family now in the Houston area. It is truly different from any experience I have ever had. After we have talked it over several times we have been able to pinpoint that difference. This place is genuine. The people are flawed and no one denies it or tries to hide it. When you approach our pastor or a leader about something they relate to you and they don’t act like they have the answers. They take you straight to the Bible and say this is my interpretation, and now you need to pray and figure out what it is saying to you. Also, maybe because they don’t pretend to be better than you, when they love on you it feels real.
We love hearing about this new mission in Pampa. My prayer is that it is genuine. The fake isn’t working any more for people.
Yes we are “the church” which means the church isn’t perfect, so therefore when one is offended or hurt we as the church act like grown adults and take care of the matter immediately. See Matthew 18 to see what Jesus himself has to say. KJV