a musing on church

***The churches I refer to are the churches of concrete, i.e. institutions created by man, not the organic church, which is the body of Christ***

Seems everyone these days has an idea of the perfect church. The perfect blend of styles and traditions and "new age" lingos and dress. Some have nice titles: traditional, modern, contemporary, post-modern. I don't really jump onto any of them. In my mind, all are needed, all are necessary, and all are wonderful. I think that it would be beyond foolish to think ALL churches needed to be traditional, or modern, or contemporary, or post-modern. Different people need and like different things. For instance, if one was to change all the traditional churches in the deep South to post-modern, the church-goers down there wouldn't be so thrilled about it. Churches vary with regions, because people vary with regions. All different kinds of churches are needed. Traditional. Modern. Contemporary. Post-modern. Endless list. Let us not forget the risk-filled adventure-goers who would cling to snake-handling churches. Different churches for different kinds of people.

Styles for churches vary. Styles of churches change.

But let's not let the whole REASON of church change.

Churches exist to bring others to Jesus, to teach others what God wants us to be taught, and building relationships between believers. This is what church is all about. Communion between God and man, and man and man.

I don't have any real preference regarding a "right" style of church. There are many shabby, unstylish, ungainly yet godly churches, and many ritzy, prize-winning, state-of-the-art and cutting-edge ungodly churches. It all crumbles down to what is preached, who is worshipped, and if we are really doing what Jesus commanded--reaching out.

A real church runs after Jesus, in his footsteps, accepting all, no matter if they wear an earrings, or have a toe ring, or have a tattoo, or drink beer, or have too many questions, look weird, smoke, danced, haven't been filled with the Holy Spirit, aren't baptized, accept people who swear, have pink hair, are in the "wrong" ethnic group, any age, have had an abortions--accept people who ARE abortionists!--, accept you no matter whether you're straight, gay, lesbian, liberal, moderate, or conservative, American or Mexican or Canadian. A church is a place for those who have no place--sleazy businessmen, terrorists, smelly construction workers, bully tax collectors, psychotics, hopelessly deranged outcasts, and don't forget the succesful, rich, overpriviliged elite of society. A church is an open invitation to ALL: an invitation to meet and worship with God. **

An invitation to meet God face-to-face. An invitation to find love and acceptance. An invitation to build authentic relationships. An invitation to not be seen as a terrible, ugly, sinner, but as one who had a Messiah die for them, as someone who has been saved by grace.

There is church.

** Many ideas taken from Michael Yaconelli, MESSY SPIRITUALITY, pp. 76