13.9.05
Why You Don't Like Church
See, now I think many times, church involvement provides an unsatisfactory experience because we make it entirely too safe. What do you think?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
fostering a spirit of furious indifference
7 comments:
i think alot of times in larger, more established churches, there are only a few people at the top that just decide on projects for the church and your involvement in decisions gets minimized to "should I make a cake or a pie for the boring potluck with barbershop quartet music?" or "do I want to be an angel or a sheperd in the church play we do every year?"
After reading the article, I'm more convinced of Frame's "perspectivalism" or, for those that could careless about Frame and "ism", the "respect to what" is of utmost importance. I'm not sure how he is using "church". Does he mean the divine service? If so, I think he is way off. If he means the way people that call themselves Christians live and move, then I agree.
Now, with respect to the divine serive, I think one of the reasons people don't like Church is because their understanding of the Church is at a bear minimum. First, it is good to see all of life as worship, but there is something special and different when Christ's Bride meets with Him. I'm not his bride by myself. There is a union and communion that occurs at that time that is special and distinct from the other 6 days. It's "The Lord's Day", a participation in the Last Day and a participation in the "new heavens and new earth", the Great Banquet meal, etc. In most minds "participation" in the Church, the Body of Christ, is not seen as essential to salvation, but this is contra-Reformation. Church is often seen as a place where we go to serve God in worship, washing His feet, but we must go to have our feet washed by Him. We have Pelagian concepts of the Church - "I don't go to get served, but to serve." Yes, service to the Body is part of the liturgy, but we essentially go to be served by God. Our understanding of the church doesn't match our understanding of man and our understanding of sin. The liturgy, when properly explained and seen in its movements, grasps the interaction between the divine and human, creating mystery, worship and service.
Also, basic Christology is missing in most minds, which effects the way we view Church. Jesus was God and man. When the Body of Christ comes together, this union, in a very real sense, is recreated. The same goes for baptism and the Lord's Supper. That's why the a benediction, the placing of YHWH's name upon His people, ends the service. Then, in the power of the Holy Spirit and filled with the love of God, we go bring life and light where there is death and darkness.
As the above has declined, our thoughts on the Body of Christ, His Church, has declined. The Church is His Body! Those who love Christ will love His body. Derek Webb's cd is excellent with respect to this.
I can't find anything to disagree with in KDNY's post. I agree 100%.
Tomorrow i guess i should notify the presbytery so they can commence the defrocking.
I'm going to admit I didnt read the article before leaving my original comment. The link wouldn't work previously. Anyways, I think I'm out of my league on this question...:)
Funky,
Yahoo! I didn't even get the proverbial 95%! Yahoo!
Nikki, it's probably just an issue of theology jive than anything else.
kdny
Unrelated, but funny...
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/09/12/bosnia.brucelee.reut/
All too often if it sucks, it's our fault.
We go looking for something other than God.
But if we go looking for God, and look in a "Church" that doesn't understand that--it sucks too.
I'm thankful I have a congregation to worship in that isn't merely a social club.
Post a Comment