I have a question to all of you who read my blog (what about 5 people now:):
What is your perfect church? Describe it to me. What is it like? What does it say? Not say? What does it sound like when it worships? What are the sermons about? How are they given?I am REALLY interested in your views, so please respond!
9 comments:
The perfect church?
Where God is made relevant...
Where you can be yourself...
Where guilt isn't used as a motivational tool...
Where agendas are something other than covert...
Where shepherds are competent and not superficial (Lord knows there are far too many incompetent, shallow shepherds)...
Where Scripture is revered but not idolized...
Where truth is coveted and not diminished...
Where genuineness (as opposed to plasticness) is encouraged, rewarded, even sought after...
Where tradition isn't belittled...
Where tolerance isn't just mouthed...
Where good times are had...
Where bad times are vented...
Where comfort can be found...
Where challenges abound...
Where communion is served with wine (and not grape juice... how freakin' silly)...
Where salvation is trumpeted but not week in and week out...
Where liberalism is shown to be what it is...
Where God can be found...
I'm sure I could go on but you get the gist...
The perfect church...where everyone can stop pretending they are perfect and share their shortcomings and admit we are all on this journey together. When we can be honest & open enough about our lives with each other, our struggles, to know that we are not the only one feeling this way and that it doesn't make us bad people to feel it, or worse yet, give a voice to it!! Where we don't worry about being judged because of our faults or because of our daily struggles in trying to become all that God wants us to be.
A large bank account would probably also be good as well!! :) can't wait to read what others say in response!! I loved what rick said!! hhmmmmm, needing ideas to take with you,huh :(
Wow! Great responses. Good to hear from you Rick.
I have a feeling that when I post mine, alot of what you both said will be there.
Keep responding everyone!
We've been through a lot of different churches over the past 10 years between finishing school and then moving around a lot. The one thing I leaqrned that should probably have been obvious from the start is that there is no such thing as the perfect church. This only really occured to me recently, but it is impossible in this world because church as we use the term is just to mean the place we go each week to hear about God. And I think we would all agree the only perfect Church is the first one we will visit after we die.
With that said I know what you meant by the question so here are my real answers to what you are asking. :-)
I look for a church using the Internet as the first point of contact. The reason is that I want a church that is technologically relevant. It is how I think and I want a place that is using the modern tools available to reach out. If the web site sucks I probably move on and don't think twice about it. If it is good I look for the doctrinal statement and continue investigating from there.
I want a place with all the resources of a mega-church but where I still know everyone (or most people). This may sound impossible but churches are doing it by replicating themselves without completely disconnecting. In a lot of ways this seemingly modern approach to growth is just a new version of denominational growth (right?).
Despite the tech savvy nature of the church I don't want to feel burdened by it, meaning I don't want to feel like the reason I am being asked to give more is to pay for a new light board or computer. I know those things cost money, but I want to feel the main concern of the church is how to change lives and then how can we celebrate that change together.
I personally like churches that offer Saturday night services because they just work better with nap times and I like to wake up Sunday and not have to rush off to Church (it reminds me of a work day).
Modern worship is important to me, but this does not imply meaningless worship. Some of the most meaningful worship experiences I have had included hymns so this is not a rejection of old or traditional just because but rather I see a different kind of people attracted to a modern worship setting and they are often people who otherwise thought church was not for them. Modern worship seems more accessible. And please don't picture "contemporary" worship when I say modern because I feel that falls between "traditional" and "modern", but maybe this will be the subject of a future post.
Alright I've said plenty. If it were possible I'd love it if the church had no building, no budget, and no one within 50 miles that was hungry or in need. Let me know when you "build" it Mark, I may have to move in next door :-)
I almost hesitate to try to pin down the "perfect" church. I'm usually too dense to recognize what's perfect for me until well after the fact. But that density compels me to try.
1) The perfect church would be flexible. Not in a wishy washy way but in a way that allows it to roll with the punches. Every challenge is not a crisis and every crisis is faced with calm and prayerful resolve.
2) The perfect church would always be asking the question: "How can we be in the place that we are?" (I actually got that from a professor of mine who got it from somewhere else I think but I don't remember where.)
3) The perfect church would be messy and dirty. It would have a lived in feeling to it's building and its life together.
4) The perfect church would be a challenge to all who encounter it.
5) The perfect church would wrestle with right and wrong not liberal and conservative.
6) The perfect church would have as a mission statement Matthew 28:19-20
7) The perfect church would recognize that it is not perfect.
Haha nice, I like #7
Perfect Church is an oxymoron, simply because it's run by extremely imperfect people [you know I had to argue with you haha].
anyway, here's my church wishlist:
-a transparent, honest pastor who doesn't just do things to be cool
-a staff that works towards a single vision or goal
-a congregation that is humble enough to admit shortcomings. i also feel like they need to [and this would come with the vision thing again] realize that Church [capital C :)] is about the body, about relationships, about revealing and glorifying God, not about form and comfort and social clubs.
-INTERGENERATIONAL when it comes to ministry; the youth aren't the church of tomorrow, they're part of the church right now!
-honest, without hidden agendas and alterior motives
-We let Jesus be Jesus. I feel like a lot of the time [and I'm guilty of this too], we market Jesus as churches, trying to get people to buy into the idea of salvation, with catchy flyers, sayings, and trinkets, when really, the message of Jesus is more powerful than any little plastic knick-knack we can create.
-We get out of the dang building! Jesus didn't wait for people to come to Him; He sought people out, built real, loving relationships, and was revealed through His compassion and desire to better us, to make us whole.
-The congregation, staff, or whoever respects the Church as being the Bride of Christ. We're quick to badmouth, but when we do, it'd be like me telling Steph that I hate you, and then trying to be her best friend; it just doesn't work that way. We limit our relationship with Jesus when we're bitter towards the Church. Even though we can't see ourselves this way, He sees the Church as holy, blameless, and pure, and so it should be treated and respected as such.
-I would have a window in my office and a porthole to throw things at you :)
the list is probably longer and probably changes a little day to day, but this is what you get for now.
OK, Mark, we are ready for your comments!! :) btw, loved Kara's remark about a window and porthole!! :)
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