Ah, the perfect church...that elusive, yet widely sought after Holy Grail. Sunday after Sunday people leave churches, visit churches, even look at church advertisements in their quest for "the perfect church." Perhaps that can be the next Indiana Jones' movie title: Indiana Jones and the Sunday of the Perfect Church.
The scary thing is, though, none of us will admit that we are looking for it or even expect it...even though we do.
Here's my Perfect Church v1.0:
1. The perfect church understands that its primary purpose is to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
2. The perfect church loves her Groom, Jesus and runs with desperate passion to His arms.
3. The perfect church loves each other.
4. The perfect church submits herself to the Holy Scriptures as contained in the OT and NT.
5. The perfect church understands that the building serves the church...it isn't the church, nor does the church serve the building.
6. The perfect church understands that its pastor is not the minister: The people are all ministers. The pastor is merely a resident theologian and administrator.
7. The perfect church does not hate, gossip, slander, or back stab each other.
8. The perfect church knows that worship is not about "being fed." Worship is about declaring the worth of God.
9. The perfect church believes that worship is a verb.
10. The perfect church has structure and rules that are firm enough to maintain stability, but flexible enought to be creative, fresh, innovative, and faithful.
11. The perfect church understands that culture is a medium. The Message of the Gospel, the Logos, can be put into any culture relevantly and faithfully...and this is NOT something to fear.
12. The perfect church would not be interested in doctrinal arguments; rather, it would be interested in how our theology compels us to love God and Neighbor.
13. The perfect church would understand that the above statement doesn't mean anything goes.
14. The perfect church would have staff on board with the mission of the church and a clear vision of what God has done and is doing for them in their personal lives.
15. The perfect church would be a place of laughter, play, seriousness, joy, sadness, weeping, anger, and any other human emotion.
16. The perfect church would be a safe place to say anything.
17. The perfect church would be a refuge for the hurting.
18. The perfect church would be a place where we take off the plastic smiles and are real with each other.
19. The perfect church would be interactive.
20. The perfect church would understand and use technology appropriately.
21. The perfect church would not be too big, yet always planting sister churches as it grows.
That would be some church.
