I just returned from the south--the place of my roots. I was hit in the face with the realities of how big and important church is there. I had many meetings and conversations with both men and women. Here's my take: a lot of talk about church. Little talk about Jesus.
There is a difference you know. It just may be possible that preachers and people might be building the wrong kingdom afterall. The construction of edifices and holy warehouses where people are herded more like cattle than like sacred souls is a challenge for those of us have a prophetic message to the people of God today. It's all about Jesus--not about church.
Churches can be places which become shrines of the ego's of pastors more than places where encounters with God are experienced. The cult of personality and the fight over turf seems to dominate the minds and hearts of people in seeking the kingdom of God today. Which preacher is right? Which way of worship is the most true? How can we be unified when such diversity exists today? Will the church splinter?
Go into any Christian bookstore today and the shelves are filled with books on leadership. Leadership issues seem to be rampant. One author promises we should lead this way and another spoils that view by telling us his way of leadership. Is leadership the answer or are the pastors more of the problem?
Now that I sit more in pews than preach behind wooden carved or plastic pulpits, I see all of this so different. We--the ordinary people who need to be saved now need to be saved from some of t he myths of the church.
As I walked into a huge mega church, this past Sunday which cost $35 million dollars to build twenty years ago...who knows the cost today... I thought to myself, "Is this the Kingdom Jesus had in mind? Building this structure and not building the souls of people." It's a hard question. One that will require a transformed way of looking at what really matters in life today.
To be perfectly honest, I feel as if many churches are being hijacked--pulled off course by being the simple, incarnational presence of Jesus Christ today. What do you think?
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3 comments:
Hey Steve,
I trust you are doing well. Just had lunch with John K. today in Waxhaw. We had a great conversation that your latest hit on...very true and convicting. You couldn't have said clearer. It is so hard to break through the superficial good-ol-boy mentality. We must fight to help one another go deeper with Christ.
blessings,
Andy Caldwell
Steve,
I both resonate with your comments and bristle at them as well. In one sense there is no "church", there is only "us". We are the church and are a part of its gathered presence. There are some good ones and poor ones, by that meaning that there are some who do in fact focus squarely on Jesus, on the hope that he has won for us, and on life in his kingdom. And there are some who go through the motions. Your brush stroke seemed a bit of a broad, though I am sure honest, stroke. I dare not claim that the best church would be the one that "Steve Hinkle" builds, with all my preferences and values embodied.
Given this, what do we do about vacuous churches? Ideas?
I think those churches would do better to put their money into actions not buildings, 30 million dollars would have done alot more in the fight then build some gaudy building that screams look at me my churgh is better then your church i must love god better then you mentality.. that church might as well be a false idol. 30 million dollars in humanitarian aide, in building homes for people, clothing and feeding them and teaching them to read the bibles gifted to them.. would go a whole lot better then a lousy building that one bad fire could destroy.
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