Monday, October 20, 2008

Does Church Get in the Way of Life?

This is a thought that crossed my mind as my wife and I came out of a movie today. Yet, its not so much the idea of church that I struggle with, but the way we do church in North America - does it get in the way of life?

I regard movies as a kind of modern day parables which, if we have ears to hear and eyes to see, we see something of the kind of life or the kind of humanity we are to be in light of God's vision for humanness. Being human in God's vision for us has much to do with caring for one another, sharing in each other's struggles, grieving together, consoling one another, working alongside one another, help one another succeed - in short being real, open, and ready to love one another. It has little to do with facades, hiding our vulnerabilities, putting on airs, pretending like things are okay when they are not. It has little to do with a rugged individualism, and so forth.

In light of what it means to be human in the most humane sense of the word, I also think that much of what we call church gets in the way of this humanness.

When we gather together, are we indeed real with one another? Do we come together to share our struggles, to help each other be strong, do we share life openly with one another - or do we bring numerous agendas that say, "I'm here, but life is okay with me." Do we gather together as a group of individuals keeping to ourselves?

Sometimes I think that what real life is about is people being open and transparent with one another - having nothing to hide - being vulnerable with one another. That also leaves us open to hurt - but do we trust one another to navigate the rhythms of life in which we hurt one another at times, but also forgive one another and are reconciled to one another - and somehow grow together with one another.

What does it mean to be a community, not centered in the idea of community - that we try somehow to maintain, but to be a community centered in Jesus Christ who helps us be open, vulnerable, and real with one another - I mean discovering what it means to love one another just as we are.

This kind of community, the way I believe church ought to be, is indeed messy, unpredictable, filled with struggle, but also hope - this kind of open and vulnerable community that is rooted in Christ, is where life happens - where we don't need to hide what goes on in our lives.

That is the kind of church that is filled with life and lives in the midst of life.

Is this not the kind of community you'd like to be a part?