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.

It’s not church…

i will look back on yesterday as a good day.  if you want to read a re-cap of the sermon, you can check it out over on my other blog, i was just thinking.  

i don’t know if there are many things that i am more passionate about than making sure we define “church” properly.  i spend the majority of my days working on church events and church programs.  they are important.  without good events and programs and meetings, the church will struggle in fulfilling our mission and obeying our master.

i hope people didn’t miss the point.  i love church gatherings.  i love when we worship together.  i am thrilled when we serve together and have fellowship.  i believe that one of my areas of giftedness is teaching god’s word and equipping people for ministry.  classes and workshops and sermons are important.  these are moments that i live for.

but it’s not church.  and until we get this straight, we are going to mess up the most elementary steps of our journey as disciples.  church is people.  church is people in relationship.  church is people sharing life and committing loyalty and love and honesty and openness to each other for the benefit of others.  church is living out your discipleship side-by-side with people you enjoy and are drawn to.  

i’m grateful for north point.