Showing posts with label Rethink Church. Show all posts

Image via Wikipedia

In a modern spin on Christianity's most sacred rite, worshippers are being invited to break bread and drink wine or juice in front of their computers as they follow the service online.

Churches usually require a priest to take the Eucharist, but the Rev Tim Ross, a Methodist minister, will send out a prayer in a series of Tweets – messages of up to 140 characters – to users of Twitter.

Those following the service are asked to read each tweet out loud before typing Amen as a reply at the end.

The move is likely to upset traditionalists, but the Rev Mr Ross argues that it is an important step in uniting Christians around the world and reaching those who might not normally go to church.

Hundreds of people have already registered to follow the service and Mr Ross hopes that thousands will have signed up by the time he sends out the groundbreaking tweets next month.

"Oh, it's so cute."

The photo is of the building in which Middletown Springs Community Church, the church I pastor, gathers each week.

The quote is something I've heard several times -- that or something like it -- typically from friends and family hailing from some steamy portion of Six Flags Over Jesus where church buildings are indistinguishable from office parks or the galleria.

Our church is "cute." Because it's small, old, traditional. "Cute" is the backhanded compliment for those who'd never go to a "cute" church, but want you to know they admire it and perhaps even those who aren't privileged enough to go to a church "successful" enough for a building that is big, impressive, full-service. You know, not cute, but rather "awesome."

But our church isn't "cute." It's beautiful like a bride both blemished and perfect.

Our building is just a building, but it has stood for over 200 years on the stony soil of the oldest part of our nation, the land of Christian pillars Whitefield and Edwards, of the Great Awakenings, of Puritans and patriots, of Green Mountain Boys and hundreds-of-years-old family farms. The building is just a building but it has weathered over 200 years of harsh Vermont winters, not to mention pastors strong and weak, congregations passionate and passive, spiritual ebbs and flows of Old Testament proportions. Once upon a time the church kicked out Joseph Smith's secretary for heresy.

Our building is just a building, but it's not just a building. It's a symbol of the enduring evangelical presence, small but hearty, in this least-churched state in the nation, and of the endurance of the great salt-of-the-earth people who are the church that gathers in the building for which they're called.

The gates of hell will prevail against espresso bars and KidzTowns. But not our church.

Our church is not cute. It is epic.

"I struggle with my feelings about the Church in particular....in terms of religion, I'm very religious. I was raised Catholic. I believe in Jesus. I believe in God. I'm very spiritual. I pray very much. But at the same time, there is no one religion that doesn't hate or speak against or be prejudiced against another racial group or religious group, or sexual group. For that, I think religion is also bogus. So I suppose you could say I'm a quite religious woman that is very confused about religion. And I dream and envision a future where we have a more peaceful religion or a more peaceful world, a more peaceful state of mind for the younger generation. And that's what I dream for."

Just came back from the Annual Conference of the Alaska United Methodist Church. We are "RETHINKING CHURCH." We are being "REAL." We are looking at the 28-35 year old younger persons. We are looking at media and websites. We are stressing relationships and hospitality and integrity. And it's all for the purpose of sharing with the world the message of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who calls us and sends us out into the world as missionaries for him. Simple, huh?

Well, one of the problems with being church, even at little Girdwood Chapel, is the delicate balance of proclaiming the message of Christ in a culturally relevant way. There is a culture "out there" with its own language and systems. That's the culture that needs to hear about Jesus and be challenged into a greater discipleship in his name. However, how do we do that in such a way that doesn't diminish the message of Jesus?

We live as a Christian church in the United States with a whole lot of mega-Churches out there -- and some even up here in Alaska. And you can here phenomenal messages and awesome music and they can have a group to meet every need. As a small church, there are parts of this that look real attractive to us. The bright lights and the loud music and video and the gyms and the giant mission trips...they are enticing. And, not in a bad way. There is some really good stuff for God taking place in these churches.

Now, I've been to Willow Creek near Chicago. I've been to Church of the Resurrection UMC outside of Kansas City. I've been to Community Church of Joy in Phoenix. And, at each of these, I've had a great time, a learning time, and have come back to my local congregation inspired by what Christians are doing for the sake of the kingdom.

However....however....isn't there, perhaps, some line, somewhere, that's too far? I don't know.

Jeff Keilholtz over at Z Magazine comments on the picture above in a 2008 post:

The sign above the coffee shop at Faith Church in New Milfield, Connecticut says, Son-Bucks. No, it’s not Starbucks, although the color scheme and design are identical, only with Jesus in the middle. Faith [Mega]Church is colossal. Its bookstore is full of merchandise, school supplies, etc. The Faith Church website assures worshipers its “bookstore offers Biblical information in the form of books, tapes, and topical scriptures….” Some noted authors? Well, Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, T.D. Jakes, and Joyce Meyer. Church on church marketing. Christ with commerce. A sales strategy if “He” ever saw one.