This is the final straw...
I believe that contemporary Christianity needs to look back to the Early Church, to a time of personal worship, small group fellowship often gathered in or around the intimate settings of the home. A spiritual hupostrephō, a “turning back” to the living relationship with our Living God as an alternative to the well rehearsed yet still wooden liturgy acted out before a choreographed mass of a hundred or more well-dressed semi-participants.
A look back two millennia to a infancy of Christianity when “Ekklesia”, the word we use to refer to the institution we know as “the Church”, meant an assembly of people. The Ekklesia/ Church/ Body of Christ was not a building in need of constant care, not a hierarchical power structure ruled from on high (rather than on High), not a human machination with a myriad of programs, outreaches, sub-ministries, and missions all led by capable handlers with the right skill set, presentation, and educational background to handle their "principality" in the kingdom of Man.
The Ekklesia was, and should be again, about and for the people. The more affluent the Church has become, the more its focus has been on broadcasting satellites, building edifices, and civil engineering in distant and exotic lands. Just look at all the amazing stuff we are doing! They're but monuments unto our own (ostensibly God's) Glory. The people could almost be mistaken as just a revenue source by which all these "great works" are accomplished.
It is the people which need constant care, maintenance, and support. It is the people for which Jesus Christ took the Cross, suffered, died, was buried, and on the third day rose again. The institutions and hierarchies shall pass away as all earthly things surely will, but the people (the Ekklesia) in Christ are eternal and everlasting.
Jesus kept his Ministry simple, authentic, personal, and he did it with First Century technology. Our God is an intimate and personal God, this is why we call Him "Our Father", the setting for Worship and our Faith should reflect the same. Our Fellowship should reflect the care for His sheep, not a clubhouse where a memorial feast is reenacted which was first performed in a (most likely) rented room. I understand that many may disagree with my opinion based upon maintaining the Dignity of God and the Church. However, may I remind those voices that God tore down His own Temple three times (Solomon's, Herod's, and His human body). Perhaps, He was trying to make a point. The Temple was never about the building or God needing a mailing address, it was always about the people, His People.
Megachurches are in fashion today where showmanship, excellent makeup, and studio post-production is quite nearly as important as the Word of God. Smooth delivery is almost equivalent to substance, and that all comes at a price, like any well managed show.
We're on the air on my mark in... three… , two… , one...
Jesus used the technology of the day, but He wasn't focused on it. What He did do without fail was personally acting out the things He spoke of to the people, His People. The people right in front of Him witnessed simple acts of love and compassion like washing His Disciple's feet to the Miraculous event which followed Christ speaking the words "talitha koum".
Perhaps, the Church should be working on a different equation than bottom line accounting or long distance ministry. How about finding the X, Y, and Z axis point where your Spiritual Gift(s) (X) cross your personal skill set (Y) and your passion (Z). That is where your local devotion lay along with God's Purpose for you being right here. Miracles can happen at those crossroads.
I'm a Cubs fan, so I have no problem believing in Miracles...
It's Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, bottom of the 9th...
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| The training wheels are off... |
I believe that contemporary Christianity needs to look back to the Early Church, to a time of personal worship, small group fellowship often gathered in or around the intimate settings of the home. A spiritual hupostrephō, a “turning back” to the living relationship with our Living God as an alternative to the well rehearsed yet still wooden liturgy acted out before a choreographed mass of a hundred or more well-dressed semi-participants.
A look back two millennia to a infancy of Christianity when “Ekklesia”, the word we use to refer to the institution we know as “the Church”, meant an assembly of people. The Ekklesia/ Church/ Body of Christ was not a building in need of constant care, not a hierarchical power structure ruled from on high (rather than on High), not a human machination with a myriad of programs, outreaches, sub-ministries, and missions all led by capable handlers with the right skill set, presentation, and educational background to handle their "principality" in the kingdom of Man.
The Ekklesia was, and should be again, about and for the people. The more affluent the Church has become, the more its focus has been on broadcasting satellites, building edifices, and civil engineering in distant and exotic lands. Just look at all the amazing stuff we are doing! They're but monuments unto our own (ostensibly God's) Glory. The people could almost be mistaken as just a revenue source by which all these "great works" are accomplished.
It is the people which need constant care, maintenance, and support. It is the people for which Jesus Christ took the Cross, suffered, died, was buried, and on the third day rose again. The institutions and hierarchies shall pass away as all earthly things surely will, but the people (the Ekklesia) in Christ are eternal and everlasting.
Jesus kept his Ministry simple, authentic, personal, and he did it with First Century technology. Our God is an intimate and personal God, this is why we call Him "Our Father", the setting for Worship and our Faith should reflect the same. Our Fellowship should reflect the care for His sheep, not a clubhouse where a memorial feast is reenacted which was first performed in a (most likely) rented room. I understand that many may disagree with my opinion based upon maintaining the Dignity of God and the Church. However, may I remind those voices that God tore down His own Temple three times (Solomon's, Herod's, and His human body). Perhaps, He was trying to make a point. The Temple was never about the building or God needing a mailing address, it was always about the people, His People.
Megachurches are in fashion today where showmanship, excellent makeup, and studio post-production is quite nearly as important as the Word of God. Smooth delivery is almost equivalent to substance, and that all comes at a price, like any well managed show.
We're on the air on my mark in... three… , two… , one...
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Welcome to God's Gospel Network! Blah, blah, blah. Have credit cards ready. Operators are standing by. Amen!
Jesus used the technology of the day, but He wasn't focused on it. What He did do without fail was personally acting out the things He spoke of to the people, His People. The people right in front of Him witnessed simple acts of love and compassion like washing His Disciple's feet to the Miraculous event which followed Christ speaking the words "talitha koum".
Yet, for many, Christianity has become a weekly passive spectator event even more remote than the game that follows. We love our local sports teams. We wear their jerseys as if they were our own. Their colors, our colors. Their triumphs, our victories. Their defeats, our heartfelt losses. We follow their statistics, injuries, and personal lives. They symbolize everything we wish to project, and what we wish for our children. We are invested in our home team. Maybe more so than the God we claim.
Do you play that game?
Are you starting to get nervous reading?
Are you sensing a visceral queasy feeling?!
Before you feel like you have dropped the ball.
Keep in mind we're only human and we can't win them all.
Jesus was and still is a home team enthusiast, too.
He went first to the Jew, and then to all of you.
Are you starting to get nervous reading?
Are you sensing a visceral queasy feeling?!
Before you feel like you have dropped the ball.
Keep in mind we're only human and we can't win them all.
Jesus was and still is a home team enthusiast, too.
He went first to the Jew, and then to all of you.
I'm a Cubs fan, so I have no problem believing in Miracles...
It's Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, bottom of the 9th...
Cubs - 6
Indians - 6
...as I push
