Post-Church
I am wondering more and more wondering if church in the formal context is something I wish to continue to be involved in.
I feel Christian community is an important part of the Christian faith, sometimes I struggle to see how modern mainstream church fits with that.
I believe in a participatory church, and my current church has become less participatory, and creative over the year I have been attending it.
I do though value many of my relationships I have made through church.
I have noticed though the gradual decline in frequency of many of those people who I journey with most.
I don’t spend enough time relating with God, I wonder if spending Sunday evening in a private quite time would perhaps be more nourishing to my soul. Or maybe I should just make another time.
Mostly though:
Rosters piss me off.
I have problems with authority.
I am so over liturgy and communion every week.
I feel the power differentials in church are too high.
For now though I’ll keep going to church, until I work through some of this stuff.
I can entirely relate to all that.
I can relate to some of it. What is it about rosters that annoy you? Ok, I get that not everyone likes structure, but surely there needs to be some? Where I go, I’m sad that we don’t use liturgy and have communion often enough! How can the Body of Christ accommodate so many different needs and flavours of expression? How does it stay God-focused, Jesus-centred, and Spirit-led? Prayer? Obedience? Love? Not having a go – just trying to work through some of own stuff.
Here’s another thought – what makes us stay?
The rosters are done badly. There is too much to do with some of the tasks on it for one person. Other tasks are too little work for two people… Also I feel like I got pushed into changing role, and now looking at the roster it goes for the rest of the year. I find full year rosters intimidating.
I get what you are saying about the frequency of liturgy/communion and the flavours..
I don’t know how anything stays God-focused.. Love your questions Lesley.
As for what makes us stay, I hope it isn’t momentum.
Yeah, bad rosters suck. Personally, I don’t think rosters should go for more than 3 months so people don’t end up stuck in a role and feeling obligated or resentful. I’m doing children’s church this year, but I’ve made it clear that I’ll only do the first 5 weeks of each term so it’s sustainable.
I like having you at CSBC. I know it has been a bit crap lately but it is a time of upheaval for the church. I suggest in the prayer time you eventually find to have with God maybe you should pray for a new pastor who is really in to congregational participation. Maybe I should help you with tea and coffee some time.
Don’t rock the fucking boat, Dave!
Seriously!