what is community?

Ok. the Thirsty Theologian had an interesting link on his page that I followed yesterday evening to discover this post. (by the way, TT has some great posts up top right now about why a literal translation of the Bible is better. Go take a look. For instance “if I relay a message inaccurately, does it matter how clearly I speak?”)

anyway, Julie Neidlinger’s post is haunting. I think she is feeling and expressing what so many people are feeling and not expressing. I know that the last few Sundays that I went to a new site/campus of a big traditional church I was just angry. I felt like it was a cheap shallow imitation of community that was completely missing the point. I didn’t want to be angry, but I was.

I have gone to church my whole life and I have felt bored and apathetic at times. I have felt energized and convicted at other times, but for seven sundays in a row, the overwhelming emotion was anger. “why are we doing this?” “why are we doing this, this way?” “WHAT IS THE POINT OF THIS?” and similar things were running through my head until it was about to explode.

When I read Julie’s thoughts, it hit me why I was angry. All we were doing is taking plastic church and putting it in a hipper wardrobe. The hunger inside me was to really be the church, not a cooler version of the church facsimile.

Listen to this excerpt and then go read the rest of her cri de couer.

Whatever. I’m not looking for a program or ministry geared for me and my situation. I’m just looking for people to connect with and be church with. I’d like marrieds and singles and old and young in that group. I’m not looking for easy homogenization.

It won’t work
As it is, I, and others like me, will walk out of churches. The coffee bars in the foyer, the casual attire, the buzz words, all the programs and activities imaginable, the big-screen video monitors, the contemporary music — it is actually repulsive and fake to a large chunk of people.

These are the people churches aren’t aware of, because they aren’t anywhere near a church. They slip in, walk out, and aren’t even missed. They don’t fill out visitor cards. They don’t want to be part of a flow chart or be managed as part of a Church-as-Corporate-Hierarchy system. They don’t want a polite follow-up call or to hear a voice on the other end say that they just wanted to “touch bases” with them to let them know they’re important. Even if those actions are sincere and the only plausible route when a church is so huge, they ring insincere.

Such people, like myself, sound impossible to reach or include in the system of church as we know it today, which is my point. They way we do church today isn’t necessarily being church. There needs to be something else for those of us who can’t stand the way services are arranged, the way emotions are herded into a set time frame (which today involved — what was impossible for me — going from the whole congregation doing “the wave” as instigated by the children’s pastor into, about ten minutes later, “surrendering to Jesus” with soft piano music and hushed tones), how discussion is nil and being preached at in silence is the accepted method of learning…

…nope. Not gonna work.

I’m not looking for starched Baptist legalism, but Casual Friday Church is as equally fake and disgusting.

“Casual Friday Church” what an excellent name.

recently my family and I have been trying to find an authentic church community with which to join hands. With which to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. With which to love our neighbors as ourselves.

We have found a place where that is the desire of the leaders. You know what? plastic church is there too and it appears to frustrate the leadership. They desire for their people to break through to authentic community. Progress is slow.

Why? Why are we this way? Why do we persist in creating/maintaining a safe distance from one another?

I read an article sent to me by a friend. The article accurately pinpoints the reason as rebellious sinful hearts. The author is unnecessarily provocative in his title and thesis because the problem really is individualism and the solution really is community.

But he is also correct that the real underlying heart issue is rebellion. Rebellion against the command of God to put Him first in our affections. We want to do what we want to do with our time, money, words, talents, family etc. Rebellion against His command to love one another as we love ourselves. We want to be friends and show love to who we want to be friends with and show love to. Usually only those people who are a lot like us. Usually those people who can show us love in return. Usually those people who have the ability to return the favor.

Just sayin’. Julie N. touched a nerve in me. she expressed well what I have been feeling. I feel inside the hunger she expresses. I am glad she put her words down for all of us to see.