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Why
churches are REALLY dead... By
Diana Baldwin
Each
year my husband and I participate in worship
services in a little over a hundred different
churches, most of which think of our ministry as a
way to "reach out" to their neighbors by
having a "fun" or
"interesting" service. I am not
complaining about that, I believe that we are able
to bring a breath of fresh air into some of the
mustier, dustier places, and I am grateful for
that opportunity.
However,
I find that when faced with Sunday, after Sunday,
of being invited to participate in some other part
of the Sunday morning or evening ritual at such
churches, I am hard-pressed to get excited about
that prospect (though we often do it anyway). I
say all of this to give you some background on
where I am coming from. I have been on both sides
of the pews. What I think is really
"wrong" with the church experience is
this:
1.
Believers have lost touch with what
"church" is. I believe that cell groups
and the house church movement are gaining steam
because they more closely model the biblical
example fellowship of the early church.
2.
Teaching has been reduced to 3-point illustrations
in which all of the points start with the same
first letter or something that rhymes or shows
progression and some memorable "catch
phrases" sprinkled in. It sometimes springs
from trendy new book or seminar, which can be
packaged and sold to eager bible study
participants. Rarely will you hear a spiritual
leader admit that maybe they don't know the answer
to a difficult question. They spent way too much
$$ at seminary to admit to having unanswered
questions. They will simply tell you what they
(and you) should believe about this or that. And
because the congregations are so large and they
have so much responsibility, there is no time for
discussion, discernment or another interpretation
of scripture (if it is even used).
3.
Fellowship can only be on the surface because we
are all way too busy to invest real time in each
other. In addition, we have no clue how to have
real relationships because we have been through so
many bad ones, and biblical principles for
confrontation, reconciliation and restoration are
rarely followed (because we don't want to offend
anyone).
4.
People have become immune to church initiatives
geared toward making them feel welcomed into and
part of the church. Sadly though, these are mostly
"programs" to promote a "healthy,
growing church" and focus more on the
church's interests than on the interests of the
people to whom they would minister.
5.
Many churches have missed their opportunity to
"do what they see the Father doing." We
are so scared to allow ourselves to be creative.
Our sense of discipline (so lacking in other
areas) kicks into high gear here and prescribes
how anything creative must be done. We can't just
go creating art willy-nilly. So the worship team
had better not get too loud, or play anything we
don't know or don't like; and we're OK with chalk
art, as long as there is a cross in there
somewhere; we have to be careful with dancing,
because it could be too sensual; a drama should
NEVER replace a REAL sermon; and we won't be
creative in our fellowship meals or do anything
too extravagant, because we have to be good
stewards...
But
the little ones, they can be creative. We'll let
them do all the drawing and painting for us. Our
own artistic efforts must be reserved to create
programming for the little tykes...
Churches
are dying because people aren't finding much about
the church that's real, or that connects with real
life. We quote the verse "we must be in the
world, but not OF the world." We always want
to focus on the second part as a rationale for
half-hearted efforts. We forget the "in the
world" part. And so we really aren't in the
world in ways that matter, and consequently are
unable to relate to and bring vibrant evidence of
our faith to those who are searching.
So
I guess loads of cynicism is gushing out here, but
I am weary of what the "church" has
become. I am hungry for what is real and
life-giving. I am ready to have real experiences
and communion with God, regardless of how those
experiences feel, and what kind of music is in the
background.
But
I am filled with hope, because our creative God,
is also a redeemer, and he brings life to that
which is dead. The dead churches need to get ready
for a resurrection.
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