rethinking church
Why do we go to church when we do? Have you ever asked that question to yourself? Is it because we’ve always gone to church at that time and so we think that’s when church is supposed to be? Is it because our friends go at a certain time? Is it because the worship band is better then?
As I’ve begun planting this church in East Nashville, these have been several of the questions that I have thought about a lot. Mainly because I think it’s time for church to really be done in unconventional means, methods, times, etc.
Maybe I’m wrong, but it seems as though church, for many people, has become something that we have grown used to. Almost like we’ve started taking it for granted. I wonder if the best way to break the cycle of monotony and complacency we have found ourselves in would be to change things up a little.
I personally need church to be changed up. I need to find that richness of worship that I’ve longed for quite a while now. I need to be a part of a community of believers that’s more interested in pursuing Christ than preserving things in and of the past.
If nothing else, I believe if the church began taking drastic measures to change itself, then maybe those who have been hurt by the church, or have negative feelings towards it would give it a chance.
I’m reminded of this quote about change and moving forward: “Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave with regret? There are better things ahead than any we leave behind.” C. S. Lewis
And as my wife tells me, “You can’t steal second if your foot’s on first.”
So… maybe the first thing we re-think is the time of worship. For instance, does Church need to be done on Sunday morning? Can it be any other day or time?
Rockbridge.cc has added a Thursday night service. Personally, I wish church were on Saturday nights…
i love tuesday and thursday night churches. thanks for the response!
Well, Catholics have Mass daily. Maybe God put you in Tenn. because you have the guts to shake things up. I sat in a garage last week with a group of women, most of whom Ive never met and the Spirit of God was clearly with us. Church is not when and where we meet but church is where the Spirit comes into us. Where two or more gather in His name…God never said He will drop by on Sun morn between 10 and noon. God never said for us to gather exclusively under the steeple. God calls us together, but He does not specify where or when we gather. Perhaps the problem is our definition of what a church is.
good point mary. maybe we do need to re-define “church”
We are doing this exact sermon series at COTC in Wilmington NC. We are focusing more on the purpose of church and evaluating our thoughts and beliefs on prayer, worship, community.
As far as when church happens, it happens when ever two or more believers get together to pray, have a meal, or study the Word. I used to lead three Sunday morning services and a Saturday night service. I liked Saturday night services more because we didn’t have the time constraints that existed on Sunday morning. I think that service times like musical style is a reflection of the way that God made us. Sunday, Friday, Monday doesn’t really matter. I don’t think you can really theologize when church happens just like you can’t theologize a ministry methodology.
I hope you and Alyson are doing well and will talk with you soon on twitter!
Peace,
Nathan
I like cooperative worship on Sunday. Well, because I am a creature of habit and it works well with my schedule. However, I have met many individuals that live and must work in this world and well, the Sunday schedule just does not meet their schedules. Was man made for Sabbath or was Sabbath made for man? Since Sabbath was made for man then wouldn’t it be right to have some worship time so that those who have to meet those other schedules could also worship. Those meaning the ones who care for my mother-in-law so I can attend church. Those who prepare lunch so my family can eat a nice lunch. Those who are on the job taking care of others needs. We need to take care of their spiritual need by providing them a time and place to worship with others. Church does not have to be on a Sunday morning and it does not have to be in a “Church” building. Actually we are the true sanctuary in which Christ resides. So where ever and when ever we meet we can worship. Individually or cooperatively.
Your mom brings up an interesting point about the Sabbath. God did command the seventh day as a sabbath for rest as well as ever seventh year as a sabbath year for the ground. Part of the reason for the exile of Israel was because they neglected to keep the Lord’s command for the Sabbath year. I guess you could say that Friday at 6 is the start of the traditional Sabbath. So technically you could theologize that Friday night is a better or more biblical time to worship.
awesome man. i’ll have to check the website out. would love to get in on that discussion!
great point mom.
I don’t go to church.
Not anymore.
Not because I wouldn’t love to.
Because I’ve been made to feel unwelcome, and unworthy of the family in Christ.
I have loved God since I was about 8 years old. I accepted Jesus as my Lord & Savior & was baptized in the water when I was around 12. I was a happy little Southern Baptist attending Emmanuel Baptist Church in Bristol, Tennessee. Howard Robinson was my pastor & Brother Haven Booher was my Sunday School teacher.
I was the oldest of 5 kids whose father & mother never even graduated from high school; we were the poster family for American poverty, not that I am complaining (well, not complaining now, anyway–kids can always find something to complain about). As an adult, three and a half decades later, I finally see the blessing in all we didn’t have, because I now have a deeply personal knowledge of what it’s like to be without & to not be sure where your next meal would come from. It all so badly back then to be so poor & to never know the true meaning of “home”.
But then, I found God, and He was the first experience of “permanence” in my young life, and as I learned more and more about God, I found myself feeling something I had never felt before: hope. I fell in love with God. I remember one of my most favorite hymns as a child, and I still sing it today: “Oh, how I love Jesus; oh, how I love Jesus; oh, how I love Jesus because He first loved me!”
Becoming a Christian, was/is the most profound, moving event in my life, and I cherished being a follower of the Living Christ. I knew that this was meant to be my life. I had no doubt, no reservations, and (no longer any) fear.
I loved going to church…until I learned about how different I was; and how that “difference” would not be tolerated in my newly-found family.
As I grew older & learned more about myself, I came to understand that I am gay, and–though I never dared share my “affliction” with anyone else–I realized that because my heart worked too differently from most others’ hearts, all the promises and all the beautiful words & songs didn’t actually apply to me. Slowly I began to withdraw from my church & from organized religion all together. I couldn’t risk being found out, and I couldn’t bear the thought of my “forever family” abandoning me, so–in my young mind–I figured it was best that I leave instead of being “asked” to go.
It’s a long, ugly story that I won’t go into right now, but suffice it to say that it wasn’t only my heart that was broken, but my entire life. All I came to know as truth was now the truth for “them”, not for me. By dint of my flawed heart, I was apparently immune to God’s unconditional love…or, at least that’s what I have always heard from the loudest voices of Religion. I never felt strong enough to stay where it was made abundantly clear that I was not wanted, unless I was willing to become someone and something I could never be.
So, now–at 47 years of age–I still fight that battle with Religion, but I have come to understand the difference between God & those who claim to speak for Him, and I have sought my Lord’s help to heal my spiritual wounds, and to bring peace to my war-weary heart & mind.
I may not attend any church, per se, but I continue to love God and sing His praises & thank him for slowly-but-surely healing my (still-gay) heart every single day of my life.
Though I am not welcome in most churches, and though I am still seen by so many as an enemy instead of a brother, I have never lost my faith in God, though I HAVE lost a faith I should never have had in the first place: a misplaced faith in those who proudly claim to possess a perfect knowledge of the Father’s heart on the subject of homosexuality, and who dare not allow even one moment of doubt into their beyond-sure minds.
Through all I have endured all these years, and the rivers of tears I have shed over & over again, one immutable truth remains: I still love Jesus, because He has always loved me…just as I am.
I am concerned about Sunday evening services. The attendance has declined and it seems to be a repeat of everything we do in the AM. Someone likened it to a “B” movie thing.
We call it the “service” but it really isn’t service at all. Come to think of it, I can’t think of a single time all week when we, as a church, actually perform “service” together. I’ve been thinking about change. What if we really started using Sunday mornings for worship and instruction and Sunday nights for “service”? Why do we keep on doing what we do, with no biblical injunction to do it? Is change possible?
hey dale, i totally think change is possible. our entire church is built off the idea and the excitement of change. we desire change. we gather to worship and watch it happen – in our midst and in our community.
Stands back from the keyboard in aamzmneet! Thanks!