What if...

Today, millions of people are on their way to "church" to be spectators. Imagine how powerful and life-changing it would be if those millions were engaging in biblical church? How it would literally and fundamentally change the world.

Why do we choose to be spectators- and are ok with that? Why do we simply settle for a show every Sunday over being actively part of something that is life-changing and world-changing?

Because "church" since the 3rd century has been structured to be a spectator sport where the chosen few entertain the passive many.

Before Constantine there were no church buildings, no clergy, no worship leaders, no youth programs, no choirs and no separation of the body into "the called few" and "everyone else". Church was a community within a city where groups of people met in houses and where everyone was engaged in worship, praise, encouragement, prayer, sharing a meal and caring for one another like family. Jew, Gentile, rich, poor all coming together as a family to love God and love one another with everything they had.

When scripture speaks of the "church in Jerusalem" or the "church in Corinth" it is speaking about a network of home gatherings- not a building. These home churches on occasion would meet corporately at times (the church is Jerusalem would corporately gather at times to discuss matters at the temple, specifically Solomon's Porch) but otherwise it was a collection of "family gatherings".

It was revolutionary- and it changed lives. Fundamental change, not superficial.

Unlike the religious systems of the day (and today), the 1st-2nd century "Jesus Movement" had no temple, no priesthood, no ritual/rites because every Jesus follower was a "temple" and a "royal priesthood". God did away with the old religious systems through Jesus- represented by the curtain in the Holy of Holies being split and the temple being destroyed in 70 AD. 

We didn't have to do a pilgrimage to a geographic location or have a elite, specialized class of priest to interact with God- through Jesus it became mobile and viral as each follower was both temple and priest. God came to us, every one of us, and is available to all who believe- not just a select few who are "called".

We were meant to be more than spectators- we were meant for great things. We have settled for a pale, unbiblical substitute.

It's time we start evaluating what "church" is and have a frank, honest discussion about all the unbiblical, unnecessary man-made traditions that have been heaped on the church for centuries. We need to get back to being a family again, active and engaged, following the examples Jesus and the early church gave us.

Let's start having that discussion now! 

When "church" isn't church anymore.

After much thought and several Facebook post, I've taken the conversation to a better format. Facebook just isn't that agile when it comes to full-blown conversations.

The "conversation" (actually many post and conversations) is about something I love very, very much- the church.

Just mentioning "church" can be controversial and confusing given how its meaning has been twisted and redefined since the 3rd century. So, let's start with that- what is "church"?

"Church" (as defined in the Christian/New Testament) is the "community of Christ followers" also known as "the body of Christ". It is through this community that Jesus continues to do his work through both corporately as church and also through individual members of the church. It is a "family" who go through life together and care for one another as a family should.

What the church is NOT is a building, complex, basilica, campus, temple, cathedral or any other kind of physical, earthly structure. It is not made of brick, wood, drywall or concrete- it is made of people. It's not a corporation or a business or a exclusive country club- even though they operate that way.

Since the 3rd century, "church" has been redefined and remade by human (and mostly pagan) hands. It's biblical definition and role recast by Greco-Roman pagan religion and philosophy, emperors and kings, popes and reformers, revivalists and evangelists, along with several centuries of man-inspired tradition.

Church from the 3rd century onward has little in common with the community of believers we see in the Christian/New Testament. And we have been dealing with consequences ever since- the fracturing of the church into denominations, the division of the body into clergy and laity, a culture that breeds passivity in the pews and entertainment at the pulpit, church ministry programs, programmed worship.... the list goes on and on.
   
Why does "church" today look so radically different? Why are we doing all these  rituals, rites, traditions, formats and programs that have NO scriptural support whatsoever? What happened? Why do we continue to do all these things- and never ask why?

Maybe it is time we start asking- but I'm not sure we will be happy with the answers we get.

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