Simple Church

i know, i know.  i’ve preached this all before.  but it needed to be said again.  simple church (SC) is where it’s at!  uncomplicated…minimal…straightforward…down-to-earth…common.  it’s what we all need.

the bottom line?  church is people.  it is not a building.  it is not a location.  it is not a weekly event.  period.  here are some other observations to help you distinguish what is, and what isn’t, church:

• if it’s not drawing you deeper into relationships, it’s not church. SC is about people. 
• if it’s not drawing you deeper into service, it’s not church.  SC is about caring for others…first.
• if it’s not causing you to evaluate and redefine your personal priorities, it’s not church.  SC doesn’t just do things because we’ve always done them.
• if it’s about what you are getting, it’s not church.  SC is not a “smorg” where you pay your tab and get what you pay for.
• if it causes you to extol the virtue or talent of the pastor, it’s not church.  SC is not about how good I do…but what you do.
• if you are entertained by it, it’s not church. SC is about participation, not amusement.
• if you can hide at it, it’s not church.  SC is not about putting on sunday best, sunday handshake or a sunday smile.
• if it creates co-dependency, it’s not church.  SC is not about having to be here or impressing god or working off guilt…it’s simply living life together.
• f you think you don’t need to be there, it’s not church.  in the institution, you are a number or a statistic…in SC, everyone matters, everyone has a place, everyone is needed.
• if church is an event you attend, it’s not church.  SC is not about watching…it’s about doing.
• if it’s about sitting and watching, it’s not church.  SC is not about sundays…it’s about the other six.
• if it’s not compelling you to give your money, it’s not church.  SC is about sacrifice.

the church meets together, but church is not a meeting.  church is not an event.  church does not have hours or meeting times or schedules.  although when we meet, we sing and somebody teaches, church is not a spectator sport.  church is not a service, a performance, a show, a presentation or a routine.  church does not have stars.  church does not have performers on the stage.  the only audience in church is god.

there you have it.  welcome to simple church.