It's really easy to criticize. To tear down is simple.
Some of you may not like what I write. But I'll bet there's not many of you who will say our churches are really changing the world for Jesus.
George Barna's book Revolution has been a big hit - or miss - as some might interpret it. But I don't think the man has some ridiculous agenda as some have accused. Instead, I believe he is telling the truth - millions, yes millions, of Christians have left the organized Church because they are completely dissatisfied with its leadership, its direction, its suffocating presence, and its reluctance to let people be who they are in Christ. Many churchians will condemn these people as backslidden or worse. Whatever.
The truth is I know people who have left their local church; quite a few of them. The funny thing is they are working harder than ever for the cause of Christ. Barna says that on the whole those who have left the church for the right reasons are doing far more than those who remain. Shock you? Most churchians might find what he's saying to be a little unbelievable. "Out there on their own? Out of the will of God! Sinners!" I can hear them say. But having examined it (and experienced it) for myself, I don't find it unbelievable or dangerous at all. Instead, I find it quite logically brilliant. Why you ask?
Somehow we've been led to believe that each individual believer's ministry is tied to the local church; that this institution should govern our work; that our work should be done through it. Sorry, can't find that in the Book (and more specifically in the Gospels). As a matter of fact, I can't find a basis for having a hovering institution at all. Instead, the man-made portion (which is by far the greatest part) of this institution has hijacked Christianity's physical and financial resources. Now I'm back to my previous posting. Check your church's budget and then poll the congregation as to how they spend their time devoted to Christian service. Where are people's resources going?
They're going to feed an institution that seems more interested in herself than anyone else on the planet.
I recently asked a friend of mine these simple questions: What if your church of 2000 people decided to sell their building? (they're struggling terribly to pay the multi-million dollar note even now) What if they decided to sell the property? What if they decided to break into smaller groups that met in homes? What if each family took their tithes and invested them back into the community (like helping a family down the street who has come on hard times? or into a one parent home? or buying blankets for the homeless and using time formerly spent at church to pass them out?)?
The resources of thousands of Christians would be pointed outward into the community instead of inward into a building, etc. Whereas now the church is stagnant, she would be making new friends left and right. And if individual believers were empowered to invest their own tithes into the community, the addictive delight they'd experience would surely scare the minions of darkness and bewilder the unattached. If this were to happen, well, I think you know how the world around us would be impacted.
Those previously mentioned individuals out there are gloriously unencumbered. And that is why they are making inroads and friends for Christ. They are using their tithes to feed people and clothe people and love people. 100% of their monies goes directly into use. And their time? Just the same. Oh and by the way, they still have church. It might be at Starbucks with another Christian for a cup of coffee or it might be a Wednesday night "prayer meeting" disguised as a handful of friends (who just happen to know Jesus) taking a trip to a nursing home to visit with the lonely and forsaken within our communities.
Kinda like what was happening in the First Century.
And no, I'm not an anarchist.
Comments