Why do I complain about church?

Bloganuary writing promptWhat do you complain about the most?View all responses

I frequently express dissatisfaction with church. I don’t do it to irritate people (even though people let me know that it does irritate them). I do it because the risen Jesus is so much more stupendous than a structured, human-controlled Sunday religious service can convey. He’s available 24/7/365 (not just an hour a week)! The living Jesus is heart-inspiring, soul-healing, bondage-breaking, guilt-removing, ever-present eternal love. He’s not stuck on a religious stage, confined to a church building, or hidden in ancient history.

I complain about programmed church services because I believe that they get people’s eyes off of the living present Jesus and fix them on religious pageantry or hype, on a preacher, on a program, and on a building. To me, Jesus is more real than the laptop I am typing on. I sense His presence as these unpremeditated, unfiltered words flow from my fingers. (I’ve been through several computers, but the risen Jesus never leaves me or forsakes me.)

I seldom see the spontaneous overflowing joy of Jesus and the exuberant Spirit-sparked rejoicing of His early followers in church services. But I do see sleepy boredom, comfortable routine, and business as usual. I believe that Christianity is supposed to be far more powerful and life-changing than the way it’s usually presented. That’s why I complain about church!

I’m not alone. Jesus said: “’These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.”

Criticizing formalized religion is an important part of Judeo-Christian heritage. The Old Testament prophets did it. Jesus did it. The Apostles did it. The Reformers did it. Numerous people lost to history also did it.

Before I got out of bed this morning, these thoughts formed in my mind and heart:

“The body of Christ
Is called to be
A Spirit-led
Community
Of open hearts
Embracing the unity
And humility
Of compassionate
Honesty.
(James 5:16.)”

“The body of Christ is called to be a kingdom of priests who walk in the light speaking the truth in love as they overflow with the fruit and the gifts of God’s Spirit and compassionately encourage, exhort, teach, pray for, serve, and support one another.”

These thoughts came to me yesterday:

“When we realize that we think we know a lot that we don’t know, we become willing to open our mind and heart to Christ’s supernatural knowledge and then we begin to know as we are known. However, focusing on our feelings and desires leads to ignoring logic, kindness, compassion, honesty, humility, and our conscience.”

“Christianity’s about
Laying down our ego
And showing Christ’s love.
It’s not about
Push and shove.”

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