Part two. I have been really into social injustice lately. And so, I decided to write a post on it. In fact I wrote four but only posted three, cuz, well, the fourth was a little out there and I really didn’t feel like putting it out there. You know what I mean? But here it shall come.
When I wrote these/those posts on social injustice, I wrote them as a human. In other words, I didn’t write them as a Christian or Democrat or even a Republican. I wrote it as a human speaking to other humans. I didn’t care if my readers were Hindu, Muslim, Asian, Poor, Rich or who ever or whatever. I was calling them out and didn’t put any religion in it what so ever. Why? Keep reading.
I didn’t write with Christianity in mind because with Christianity comes the church.
And I hate the church.
I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it.
I hate how it is fake.
I hate how it’s a business.
I hate how they sell Jesus Crack or try to at least.
I hate how the people are fake.
I hate the older people for suppressing change,
I hate the younger people for giving in to the demands of the older.
I hate the compromise.
I hate the fakeness of everything. The flowers are fake, the wood is fake, the drums are fake and the people are fake. Everything I see that the church has touched sucks and will die.
Justin has a book that describes me greatly. The title is “they like Jesus but not the church". That’s me! Every time I go into the church, its like im slowly getting poisoned, because at the end I am mad.
Mad at the church for not doing anything.
Mad at the church for doing things.
Mad the church for their ideas.
Mad at the church for not having ideas.
Mad for not listening to us.
Mad for not listening to them.
Hypocritical I know. But it makes sense to me.
End rant/vent
So whats my plan for church? I don’t really know. I really don’t know if there is a church for the anti-church people. O well I still have a few months to figure it out. But till then well, I will put on my fake grin, and just “go with the flow.”
Go ahead, ask questions, do what ever, ask what ever, I promise you that I will answer to the best of my ability
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7 comments:
That book you referenced; have you read it? I have. Its a great book, i suggest you read it. Seriously. BTW, its "they like Jesus but not the church" NOT "...hate the church."
The book isn't a church bashing book. Its exposing to the church what non-churched young people think about Jesus and the church. What you find in the book is an incomplete and ignorant view of Jesus and a somewhat founded yet quite antagonistic view of the church, much like what you just expressed.
On hating the church - be careful. The church is the bride of Christ. It's like, if you come to me and say "Jeremy, you're cool but your wife sucks and i hate her," I'm going to be exceptionally offended and i'd be tempted to knock you out cold.
However, i understand your frustrations, and even agree on many (not all) of your points.
You observe hypocracy, inaction, stubbornness, greed, and "religiousness," etc. in the church (in general) and it bothers you. I concur, and it should bother you. It bothers me too.
I could go on and on about what i see in "the church" that is contrary to what i think it ought to be. We would likely agree on much of it, but that is fruitless.
You want the church to be different, to be more real, to do something, to listen, to help where it matters. Good. Start with you. Pray about it. What can you and Jesus do WITH YOU to make it what HE wants it to be.
BTW, they ARE listening, believe it or not. There are ideas, and changes ARE on the horizon. Be patient. Pray. Pray some more.
I have not read the book, and thanks for the catch on the title.
I don't hate the idea of church, I hate what goes on inside the church.
In other words. Love the idea of church but hate the means.
And maybe hate is the wrong word. substitute dislike and maybe it sounds better.
I also understand that we have different ideas on the church and I respect that but this is just what I see. and kinda felt about writing/ranting/venting about.
I agree with Ryan. But I'd like to make another point.
Remember what we all learned about assume. Is it possible that you think the church is fake, or business like because that's how you merely percieve it? Is it really that way. Maybe you go to church and feel fake and therefore assume everyone is fake.
And now onto the change. My experience is that many of the older people aren't actively suppressing change, they're waiting for it. And maybe it isn't a bad thing for the younger generation to take advice from the wiser older generation.
With all this talk about being mad it just seems to me like you're the classic american. Never satisfied with you have, you want something bigger, better. You want the church to be something for you. but maybe the church isn't about what it has to offer you. maybe it is a chance for you to offer something.
p.s. I'm not saying that the problems you mentioned aren't problems, I'm trying to explain a different view point. I've seen/experienced fakeness, I understand how the church can feel like a business.
In all honesty I try to view the church as family. (note the word try) I try to make sundays feel like the one day a week I get to see my family. And just like a family it is dysfunctional, it has members that hate everyone else, it has bad communication, it has those awkward moments, it has people who lead, people who follow, people who make the kitchen dirty and people who clean it up, it has your rich unlce or your broke drunk cousin it has moments that cause you to vent/ rant it has a little bit of everything. Worship is kind of like movie night, everyone wants to watch the movie of their preference but in the end the family will sacrifice and comprimise for others and watch a movie that might not be stellar in every single persons eyes.
This post had interesting thoughts and was brutally honest. I respectthat.
"Remember what we all learned about assume. Is it possible that you think the church is fake, or business like because that's how you merely percieve it? Is it really that way. Maybe you go to church and feel fake and therefore assume everyone is fake."
Maybe, but I don't think so. This is something that I spent so much time thinking about that I don't think I am assuming.
About me thinking like a classic American. I do want better! I want church to be something that I and future kids can look forward too.I want the church to be more, then something meaningfull! I think that the church has so much potential that I want more. I want better.
But your thoughts on the church being like a family. I like that...let me think on it. You should post on it.
i was going to jump in and comment right away. but i'm glad i didn't.
jeremy speaks well.
he is wise. listen to him.
molly has my copy of the book, and has had it for too long. get it from her and read it.
i really loved church on sunday.
why?
because i heard about a woman who had an abortion and regretted her choice. the church, jesus' body helped her through that. so much so that she chose to keep the next "oops baby". you know that "oops baby", and i bet you'd consider her your friend. thank the church for that.
i also heard from two young woman "being the church" in sudan. and you're all about that, right? thank the church for that.
you know what?
let's bring it closer to home: thank OUR CHURCH for those two things mentioned above.
people that make up OUR CHURCH did the following things on sunday. [these are just that i know about]:
- gave THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS to ensure medical aid is still be administered in sudan.
- fed and gloved and socked homeless people
- participated in MANY random acts of kindness
- served/blessed at a food distribution center
- watched movies, played games, ate food, shared meals, etc.
- worked at old people's houses doing work that wasn't very fun.
- sang, laughed, "rocked out", smiled, talked, shared, helped...
it's tough to HATE that.
or even DISLIKE it.
it's got it's problems.
but jesus is changing the world THROUGH HIS CHURCH. despite how jacked up you and i are.
be passionate, but be proactive.
Fake, Authentic, Change,
I hear these words a lot right now, and most of the time with out any definition. Is church Fake? You can talk about the church on a number of levels, but from Gods perspective the church is all who believe in Christ the Redeemer and have accepted him. The local church is a group of believers that choose to gather together, and show the love, mercy, and correction of Christ. The church is You and I.
Are we fake? I have known a few who are fake (wolves in sheep's clothing), but for the most part the church is not fake. Are most of us carful not to show the side of us that we are ashamed of? Sure, do we need to learn to be more transparent, Yes, but there is a right time and a right place for everything. Is Sunday morning the place where I am going to be the most transparent, most likely not. But through my home group and a couple of men's groups that I attend, I have learned to be more transparent. I do not see people going into a hospital waiting room and demanding that examinations or surgery take place in the waiting room. Everyone understands that for the benefit of the person who needs treatment it is done in a more private setting.
FBC has setup more private setting called life groups. In our life group we have had the privilege of loving and supporting several people who have had abortions, lost love one to death (both heaven and hell), lost love ones through broken relationships, worked through issues of adultery, bankruptcy, heart attacks, sexual abuse, mental and physical abuse, uncounted issues with family and friends. We have also had the joy of seeing broken people become whole (or closer to it) through relationships restored, family members being drawn back to God and out of lifestyles that addicted to sex, drugs, plagued with depression, suicidal thoughts. grand children being healed, faith being built through a faithful God, and a lot of authentic, real people who are the church. Many of these authentic people are ones who I would assume are lumped in as fake. I would call them real, authentic, loving people who love God and have their hearts touch by a Living God who transcends our differences.
RS
At the end of this post I put
"end rant/vent"
That is what this post is. A rant/vent.
I had just came back from a *fun* trip to my grandparents.
So on that note:
I read all these comments and appreciate all the thoughts.
But I still can't deny on i feel, and its not just FBC. Every church I have been to has been like that.
Maybe its me.
I don't know.
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