Most people know I used to be a youth pastor, and now I work as a sound guy for some youth and youth worker conventions. It's really rare that I find one (especially one specifically for youth) that I would have ever dared exposed my youth groups to. It mostly has to do with all the guilt that is projected from the stage to the kids.
I'm working at one such conferance right now. So far I've heard that most people (esp. Kids) don't have the correct picture of Jesus, and if you don't have the correct picture of Jesus you probably aren't really a Christian. I've heard that as a Christian you need to pay close attention to your sins so that you stop offending God.
The hard thing is, is that I don't necessarily disagree with these things in concept, but when it is the most emphasized point on stage all I hear is "You all might think you are Christians, but you actually might not be." And "You kids ought to be ashamed of all the sin you commit, you should really get a handle on that before you go around telling other people that you're a Christian."
My problem lies with the fact that most people already know their struggles pretty well. They already feel like they aren't Christian enough, or not perfect enough to really be able to count. All these feelings of unaduquicy combined with the desire to fit in, cause us to hide who we really are in the presence of other Christians. We become fake and impersonal.
Why is it that we've declared ourselves as the moral guardians rather than the chief sinners? It's easier to act than to be real. Acting can transform us into anyone we want to be... as long as we are believable actors. But if we can never be our true selves, complete with struggles and weakness, we can never be truly known by others, and we deprive ourselves from intimatcy, accountability, and friendship.
The other problem is that most people aren't good actors. In this situation, the rest of us know whose putting on an act. We might not know exactly what you're hiding but we know you are not truly yourself. Usually the only person you really fool is yourself, and in similar fashion deprive yourself from committed relationships.
What people need to hear is that Jesus knows all the secret things you try to hide from everyone else and he accepts you. Even more, he loves you. And what we must do in response to this grace is allow that same grace to extend through us towards others. It is God's kindness that leads us to repentance. It's God who draws is all, as we are, to himself. If we are not condemned, how can we then turn to condemn?
May those who do not know the Lord see him through our love and kindness. May we always work harder on our own imperfections rather than others'. May we find his grace so abundantly in our own lives that we feel comfortable enough to be our true selves. And may we joyfully celebrate each other in the light of that grace we have been so freely given.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Friday, June 1, 2007
Thoughts on Home Church
The biggest hurdle to be crossed in a house church meeting is awkwardness. When we think of church, we think worship music and preaching. The problem within a home church is that these things are really quite uncomfortable in small groups of people, and especially when most people are out of practice or inexperienced.
Most people are not virtuoso singers and would rather not sing out loud without their voice being drowned out by a large sound system. It is also an awkward experience to preach or listen to someone else preach in a group where everyone knows one another and sees each other as equals. And with these two major church experiences being cast out there really doesn't seem like there is much substance in gathering.
Other house church organizers talk about eating together; centering the gathering on a meal. I find this to be a helpful idea. Fellowship is one of the most important things to find in a church, but I know that my friends and I can be quite skilled at avoiding any kind of real conversation. For this reason, a creative alternative is needed.
Lately, I've wondered what is really meant by the new testament's exhortation to not forsake meeting together. Does it really mean go to church every Sunday for worship and preaching and, for the most part, pay little to no attention to those seated next to you? I find little reason to continue with that process.
I know I have relationships that are meaningful and deep. We encourage, listen, and live life with one another. Are these things enough to constitute "not forsaking assembly." I get the feeling in my gut saying "almost." In the sentence just before that Hebrews passage we read, "let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." In other places, such as Acts 2, the Lord's Supper is an important part of meeting together. It seems, then, to meet without that meeting being centered in Christ in some way, misses the point.
Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. We will want to fall back on our fail-safes of preaching and singing. These things, as well as being awkward in intimate settings, really are not as life giving as we might want to believe. What I mean to say is that it is not the act of singing or the listening to preaching that gives life. It is the work of the Holy Spirit inside the anticipating heart. How then can we create a place where we are fully open to the Spirit?
I believe sharing a meal is a worthwhile starting place. If we also commit to regular meetings, we show commitment to one another, but is there perhaps another step in maintaining a Christ centered environment. Sharing the Lord's Supper with each other reminds us of our creator and savior.
In this day of superstar preachers and other minor Christian celebrities, perhaps we can understand our forebears liturgy a bit better. Liturgy is supposed to become such a part of us that we can forget about memorizing words and enter into the presence of God. It is a centering piece of Christian worship that allows everyone to enter into unity with each other as well as God. There is no leader who can become the focus over Christ. There is no music to like or dislike. Only a uniting tradition.
Of course it is not as pure as I may make it seem. But perhaps it is a starting place that can cut through awkward singing and preaching. Let us not forsake meeting together. Let us draw near to God in full assurance of faith. Let us figure out how we can most authentically come together under our wonderful creator. What is written here is not prescriptive, but rather inquisitive. It is my own thoughts on my own relationships and how best to center our lives in Christ and to spur each other on toward good deed. God bless you in your journey.
Most people are not virtuoso singers and would rather not sing out loud without their voice being drowned out by a large sound system. It is also an awkward experience to preach or listen to someone else preach in a group where everyone knows one another and sees each other as equals. And with these two major church experiences being cast out there really doesn't seem like there is much substance in gathering.
Other house church organizers talk about eating together; centering the gathering on a meal. I find this to be a helpful idea. Fellowship is one of the most important things to find in a church, but I know that my friends and I can be quite skilled at avoiding any kind of real conversation. For this reason, a creative alternative is needed.
Lately, I've wondered what is really meant by the new testament's exhortation to not forsake meeting together. Does it really mean go to church every Sunday for worship and preaching and, for the most part, pay little to no attention to those seated next to you? I find little reason to continue with that process.
I know I have relationships that are meaningful and deep. We encourage, listen, and live life with one another. Are these things enough to constitute "not forsaking assembly." I get the feeling in my gut saying "almost." In the sentence just before that Hebrews passage we read, "let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." In other places, such as Acts 2, the Lord's Supper is an important part of meeting together. It seems, then, to meet without that meeting being centered in Christ in some way, misses the point.
Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. We will want to fall back on our fail-safes of preaching and singing. These things, as well as being awkward in intimate settings, really are not as life giving as we might want to believe. What I mean to say is that it is not the act of singing or the listening to preaching that gives life. It is the work of the Holy Spirit inside the anticipating heart. How then can we create a place where we are fully open to the Spirit?
I believe sharing a meal is a worthwhile starting place. If we also commit to regular meetings, we show commitment to one another, but is there perhaps another step in maintaining a Christ centered environment. Sharing the Lord's Supper with each other reminds us of our creator and savior.
In this day of superstar preachers and other minor Christian celebrities, perhaps we can understand our forebears liturgy a bit better. Liturgy is supposed to become such a part of us that we can forget about memorizing words and enter into the presence of God. It is a centering piece of Christian worship that allows everyone to enter into unity with each other as well as God. There is no leader who can become the focus over Christ. There is no music to like or dislike. Only a uniting tradition.
Of course it is not as pure as I may make it seem. But perhaps it is a starting place that can cut through awkward singing and preaching. Let us not forsake meeting together. Let us draw near to God in full assurance of faith. Let us figure out how we can most authentically come together under our wonderful creator. What is written here is not prescriptive, but rather inquisitive. It is my own thoughts on my own relationships and how best to center our lives in Christ and to spur each other on toward good deed. God bless you in your journey.
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