....and another try at church

The house is not big as seen from the road, but parking is easy and it seems a safe area. We walk up the driveway and ring the bell. A young boy answers and hot on his heels a 30+ year old welcomes us. 'Not been before?' We are assured we will soon feel at home. There is the noise of laughter from a large room just off the hallway. We are greeted by about 20 people, all very relaxed and sitting around the room - on seats, stools and even on the floor. A couple have guitars. Room is made for us and people around the room tell us their names and welcome us again. We respond by introducing ourselves. They seem to approve! Every age group is in the room and there seems to be, though predominantly white, a mix of nationalities.

One of the guitarists starts to play and suggests we sing some songs. For the next 20 minutes we sing songs suggested by the people there. One or two give a reason why they have requested their song, which is usually because it has been on their minds that week and has blessed them is some way. All the songs are Jesus-centred. Then a few folk pray - everyone enthusiastically commends the prayer to God with loud 'amens'. All the songs are praise and thanksgiving. There are a couple of relevant Bible readings. Then there are some stories of how God has blessed and provided that week. It seems there has been some cafe evangelism happening and there have been some contacts made. Prayer is made on their behalf and one of the men speaks in an unknown tongue which is interpreted - it is an offering of praise to God who is described as a God of 'opportunity' - something I had not considered before.

Then for about 25 minutes one of the men teaches from the scriptures on The Lord's Prayer - it would seem there is a series going on, and this week it's about forgiveness. Interesting and all use Bibles and when they are not sure about something, interrupt for an explanation. Aprayer at the end and then a lady brings a prophetic word regarding the need to take the next step in our walk with God....quite thoughtprovoking.

There is then a prayer for a family who has a virus and are not there today. Someone responds by offering an opportunity of taking a food-parcel to them....most promise a contribution. There is then an offering basket passed around - and someone says they are sending £500 to a church in Malawi with which they have a contact.

Two hours have passed....we stand and say the blessing together....and then food! In the next room is a table laden with goodies! We are encouraged to eat and drink. When we are satisfied a bottleof wine in open and a loaf of bread (tasting a bit strange - apparently it's unleavend) each drinks and eats and prayer is again made giving thanks to God.

We take our leave - we have been there for over three hours and the time has passed quickly.....we get back in the car and make our way thoughtfully home.

It was my wife (always the source of wisdom) who commented that it seemed like we had been in the presence of Jesus. There was such liberty, joy and spontenaity.....church?


What do you think?

Let's Go and Visit...

We're going to church - at least that's the mindset. We pull into the car park of a big out-of-town warehouse and are directed by some smiling waving men in bright coats to a parking bay. We lock the car and make our way through an entrance into the 'church building'. We are greeted warmly and enthusiatically by several folk and shown to a seat half-way down the auditorium. Soft rock music is playing and we make ourselves comfortable. We are a little early and the opportunity is taken to look around at where we are.

We face a stage with bright multicoloured lights illuminating it. There is a large screen to one side which bears a welcoming slogan. Neat! There are 500+ seats and they are filling up gradually. As it nears the start time people make their way quickly to seats and the place is soon 'nicely filled'. A young smiling man makes his way on to the stage closely followed by a group of musicians and singers who arrange themselves around microphones. The young man welcomes us 'particularly those here for the first time'. A 'time of worship' is announced. The music begins and the roller-coaster of music and singing begins with songwords projected on to the screen. We know some of them and join in where appropriate. This continues for about 40 minutes. No-one prays publicly and there is no prophetic word, tongue or interpretation.

The music subsides and we are encouraged to take our seats. The young man tells us what is going to happen in the upcoming week. He prays. We have an offering - and we are encouraged, if we are a tax-payer to fill in a form, so the church can get more money off the government.

The children at thsi point are ushered out and the speaker makes his way to the microphone. His face appears on the screen. He introduces himself as the 'senior pastor' and proceeds to announce what he is to be talking about that day. For the next 43 minutes we are presented with an excellent, well thought out talk on the christian life of faith and discipleship. We are encouraged to pray more, read our Bibles more and get more involved in the life of the church. It would appear there are a number of vacancies that need to be filled in the activities of the church and we are exhorted to talk to a member of the church 'staff' if we are interested. There is a closing song (very loud!) and a prayer and that is it. No Bible has been opened, the verses have appeared on the screen for us to see. Few actually carried Bibles at all...some take notes. Most do what they have done sice the service began. Simply sit and listen. Passive and unmoving and apparently unmoved.

Coffee is now served and several people engage us in conversation...very pleasant. We make our way to the car and leave for home.

There is, believe me, no particular church in mind here. This is an amalgum of several churches I have been to. In every instance it has been enjoyable, entertaining and professional.

I leave, intending to try something else next week.......


Do you think that what you have experienced above is church? If it is, in your opinion, a biblical assembling of God's people, then comment accordingly and have a look at what the NT calls church.

I have a dream....

The other Sunday evening we absconded. Forsaking our normal 'Sunday evening service' atour 'normal place of worship' (where do we get these expressions from?) we arrived outside our local brethren assembly at 6-30 on the nail. Welcomed by one of the elders who knew me we settled down in our seats and spent the next hour (precisely!) in a time warp. I went back 50 years into my past. Nothing has changed. Even the paint is the same colour. We had 4 hymns, a prayer, a Bible reading, a 4-point 'message' aimed at non-christians - and 'notices'. Everything totally orthodox, beautifully presented and the 'message' biblically 'spot-on' and a pleasure to listen to. Everything planned and predictable. At the end, people welcomed us warmly and seemed genuinely pleased to see us. I came away blessed, well-taught and nostalgic. Of course the Holy Spirit is there - churlish to suggest otherwise. He was in the Word and guided us into truth as we listened.

This morning I was in our usual Sunday morning venue. I was taking the offering on one of the aisles. I was told that the announcements would soon be over, then a prayer and then 'go'! I asked the young lady co-ordinating this if she had written the script as she seemed to know what was coming. 'I've been here many years' she responded, 'I know what happens'. Bless.

Am I reading too much into these two experiences? It is my honest belief that if the Holy Spirit were not to turn up at our meetings whether it be in a down-town brwethren assembly, or the 'hottest church in town' - we would not notice. We would just carry on regardless. And this has been going on for years. Depressing and dismaying.

Oh for a coming together of God' people where our only leader is the Holy Spirit and we respond to Him by each of us bringing to the body the blessing the Lord Jesus is to us. Songs, prayer, tongue and interpretation, prophecy, teaching, eating and drinking, bread and wine - remembering, rejoicing, comforting, strengthening, empowering. My heart is heavy as I write. We do not have it and we desperately need it.

Haven't They Had Enough?

Have you noticed the amount of 'bashing' the Church has received from the media lately? Or is it me with a persecution complex? It seems to me that evry other day there is a TV show with some attack on the truthfulness or validity of the Bible. Ann Widdecombe had a hard time the other evening whilst talking through the 10 Commandments with a few folk. Now call me old fashioned, but the 10 Commandments seem to me to be very reasonable pattern on which to base one's life. Nothing wrong with that list of personal targets we would think. Stephen Fry was getting most upset! One lady favoured the view that Moses never existed! Dear old Ann fought her (and God's) corner very well. Even Woman's Hour today is debating whether the Bible really likes women. Try the Koran, dear!

Most, if not all, of the people I've met who have made the Commandments of God a yardstick for behaviour, have always seemed to me to be good, hardworking, reliable, pleasant folk. Salt of the earth, you might say. So what's so wrong?

If the think they know better - what alterations would they make? And why? If they can't why don't they a) Join up and go with it or b) leave us alone?

Perhaps it's because we are an easy target...we won't fight back. No, we won't. But there's a Day coming when Someone will. Unfortunately, I will be too busy to gloat.

'It's Different, Now, Isn't It?'

I was chatting with a pastor's wife the other week. A lovely, sincere, gifted lady. We were talking about the 'business' of church life and she made a comment. 'Of course, being a pastor now is very different to how it used to be'. Prompted by my inquisitive eyebrows, she explained. Apparently, these days, there is so much more that occupies a pastor's time. He has a building to run, forms to fill in, staff to employ, motivate, instruct, counsel - even sack. Meetings to plan, powerpoint to create, finances to oversee, vehicles to buy, etc. (Some of these I've added - but you get the gist. It would seem that slowly, perhaps inperceptibly, the Godly Biblical ministry of being a pastor has shifted to being a kind of CEO or managing director of a company.

I wondered whether this had something to do with my previous posts in as much as this is what happens when a ministry becomes a leadership. I think there is a connection and I think something needs to happen to correct this alarming trend. The spiritually impoverished nature of most churchgoers is a sad result of a downgrading of ministry in the local church and the spoonfeeding that christians expect from the 'guys they pay to do a job'. Very, very sad.

What can we do? I'm going to give it some thought, and if you in any way agree with what I've said above - may I ask you do too? Perhaps we can compare notes later.....