Repost: The Greatest Show On Earth: Showtimes Every Sunday Morning (and sometimes Saturday Evenings)

Here is a post I made back in Aug 2008. I wrote this post while struggling through issues of ecclesiology. Let me know what you think

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I think I struggle with polished ministry. There seems to be this unnatural wax museum aura that permeates the building. The lights camera action of it all loses me 5 to 10 minutes into it. I don’t know when this happened actually. But it happened and the tension gets thicker every week. I enjoy seeing my brothers and sisters in Christ and I enjoy to see many of them growing. However I don’t know if it is the most conducive environment for them to grow in. Again I was privellaged to have one of the most unorthodox pastors that still was theologically and doctrinally sound more in life than in practice. I hope that if he reads this that he won’t change. He took a small group of college students and turned a couple of campuses upside down for the Gospel and the fruit of that ministry gets you some solid Holy Hip Guys and other cats holding it down all of the United States. Much of the freedom I had to learn and grow was under his lack of micromanaging.

But back to the post. I struggle to affirm what we do as biblical. We boast about “expository sermons” (everytime we open our bible we better be doing it expositorily or we have twisted the word of God for our own benefit and that is sin) as if the best way to teach God’s word is with a 1 hour sermon that never allows others to become involved. We believe hiring someone with a beautiful voice and some nice muscians is worship and we think meeting in a building is following the commands found in Hebrews 10, Epheisans 4 and Colossians 3. As I have stated those things funcitioning well could still be very far than what the writers of the New Testament had in mind, regardless of how “well” they are performed.  Why? That leads to my next point…….

Most of that is well polished and well rehearsed and if the Spirit wanted to come in, He wouldn’t have a place to sit (not as it relates to His divine attributes). I am saying many times I hear prayers to the Spirit to enter the service and bless the people, in the music and word, then in turn we close the door or give Him a back seat in the pew while we follow our order’s of Worship. As I look in 1 Corinthians 12-14. Most of this could only occur under the liberty to be “moved” by the Spirit. And we all know He is gentleman so anything done out of order isn’t of Him (1 Corinthians 14).

It is so calculated. How many songs to sing, the sermon from the opening paragraph to the last word on the paper (sometimes there is deviation; however, the points will be made and if the Spirit wanted to take the message to something that was personally tailored to that specific gathering He couldn’t). The Lord’s snack is well rehearsed and though we give our spill about taking it unworthily I have yet to see much or any reconciliation. Most gatherings (my local church is a bit differnet which is refreshing) don’t allow for a time of testimony or reflection. The Supper is to be Corporate but it is so individually practiced that it can’t be the Lord’s Supper. Lets call it a Happy Meal.

So every-time I drive to church or see people prepared, I wonder what Show on Earth are they going to. I wonder if they had real needs will they be met? If they had real struggles will they be spurred on (apart from some precalculated sermon that is tailored to fit all in every season of their lives, we should immediately raise flags for this alone)? Nope. They will go and say “I am fine” or “I am blessed” put on their smiles with their family all the while they will be entertained. It is funny how we mock the Seeker Sensitive Church. I guess our circles should be called the Traditional Sensitive Church. Both are being sensitive. One to those who want their selfish emotions fed and others who want their selfish traditions fed. Neither are meeting for the purpose to spur each other own, but the preacher still wants them not to forsake, they will handle the spurring.

So I guess I am just venting and sorry for that. I think that is why I am going to this conference.I guess that is why I sometimes envy (not jealousy) my brother Tyris who have men meeting and hammering out the doctrine, who have interactive meetings, and whom I see everyone who dawns their door (if they can’t get pass the house model) grow leaps and bounds. Not in theological knowledge alone but their love for all the saints. I guess that is why I can see them help each other out when they have needs and they don’t have to go through the benevolence committee to get those needs met. That is why upward to 90% of the funds can be used for the kingdom and not for the Show. Again I am struggling and forgive the tone if sounds vicious.