#ChurchRant
I was on my way home the other night and drove past a church I hadn’t noticed before. It was tucked into a shopping plaza, so I knew it was independent, interdenominational. It caught my eye, so when I got home, I decided to look it up. Found their website…
- 3 Sunday morning services. Hmm, okay, they’re busy.
- Their “What We Believe” page was right out of evangelical elementary school: Trinity, Bible as inerrant Word of God, penal substitutionary atonement, etc. Everything clearly defined. No room for ambiguity or different perspectives. Didn’t even need to ask if they were affirming. Ugh. But okay, what are ya gonna do? People are comfortable not challenging inherited tradition.
- A couple of small groups: for high schoolers, women, married couples, even one for seniors. K. Cool.
I watched their latest morning service on YouTube.
- Pop worship. Didn’t know the songs, but I was kinda groovin’ with it. Dim lights, drums, casual attire. Typical “Jesus saved me on the Cross” kind of themes. Okay, not exactly my theology. But their hearts were generally directed at God and they seemed sincere.
- Offering, then Announcements. Lots of activities. They had upcoming missions trips overseas (uh oh). And wanted volunteers to help out at a local immigration center of sorts. Hey, cool, I thought. Then she clarified: not to help them adjust, meet their needs, or get settled in the U.S., but to teach them the Gospel. Yuh, you see where this is going.
- The sermon. Hip pastor type. Blue jeans, untucked shirt. Sermon with lots of Bible refs to prove his point, some Greek word definitions that didn’t need defining, focused basically on what we used to call a “salvation message,” though I doubt there was anybody in the building who needed hearing that. Went on for close to an hour.
- And then an altar call.
Sigh. I turned off the video. “Kindergarten” is the word that came to mind.
Some Christians never move or grow beyond the most elementary teachings. Where was the food for people who’ve been in the faith for years, or even their whole lives? Where was the “fresh word” to sustain us, beyond the perpetual encouragement that “Jesus died for us?” Where was any new insight that showed the preacher had a genuine and living walk with God himself? Where was the substance for those who want to go deeper into God, into the spiritual?
My old homiletics professor in seminary warned us that once we left seminary we would be harsh church critics. Because we were trained, we would expect more. And he was right. Every church I visit — in real life or online — I examine. Not with a view to find fault, but with a hope that they’ve actually grown in God, matured some, are exploring deeper than a salvation message. And sadly, I rarely find it.
And I am continually amazed at how many churches, with fancy worship songs and lighting, sermons with “Greek and Hebrew” that pretend to be deep, fail to tap into the heart of God beyond his demand for blood sacrifice for our sins.
“Kindergarten” was the word that came to me. And the longer I sit with it, the more accurate that word seems.
We deserve better. The world deserves better.
#EndOldManRant