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Can Church really be turned completely around? What might it really look like, as our perspective may be biased with 20+ years of attending our own Church. In that time we get used to the format, the delivery: should we expect a more dynamic Church today?

You know the days when a package arrives through the door.
You start to unwrap it and there are multiple layers and then the bubble wrap,
and then you have to look carefully for the actual item?
Is that Church today?

What is the Church?

When asked the question “What is the Church?” people generally reflect upon the people gathering within a building. That building may well have changed over the years, a new lick of paint there, the pews have been removed, and the pulpit up there in the gods has been taken away – but generally we are still worshipping in the same format as in the Reformation era. The Cross at the front confirming its position in the centrality of our faith. I contrasted this with an Apple shop previously.

“We are Christ’s body” was one response, citing Scripture, but also emphasising that there is some mobility, some energy beyond the static walls of the building. “The building can be a sanctuary, a haven (although heaven was mentioned in passing) – a safe place” said another, whereupon “as can be the people” was added. There’s this lovely dynamic between the building and the people.

How do we respond to this video about ‘Church?’

Impasses

There can be impasses for people to be able to respond. The language we use may be very old fashioned. ‘Sins, repentance, sanctification, forgiveness’ all are aspects of our belief but, in today’s world, society has moved on. We may be struggling with enabling others to understand what we really mean. And in that, I am referring to everyday life.

We can consider what it might have meant back then, in Jesus’ day, but what
does it really mean to me today?

We may also not be able to see the impasse of education. What if people are unable to read the Bible or process the parables, is that a legitimate lock to understanding what our faith really means? The symbolism of the Cross is also interesting. How would we explain the meaning of the Cross without slipping into redemption, transgression of our sins?

Homework

Why not try now to explain to yourself the meaning of the Cross in every day language?

Anything longer than a minute is perhaps too long

Beyond the Building

So let’s move beyond the building. As one person profoundly added

“The Church is the easier part; the hard part is carrying the Church out of the building”

MR

Labels

Whether we are inside or outside of the building we still have that inherent categorisation of others programme running within us. We see someone and we make a judgement upon their dress, cleanliness, and from that we might even decide whether to move out of their way. Is it part of our fight or flight anxiety response?

In this video we see a person categorised just one more time:

Packaging

You know the days when a package arrives through the door. You start to unwrap it and there are multiple layers and then the bubble wrap, and then you
have to look carefully for the actual item? Is that Church today?

Perhaps we need to reimagine Church.

Its way of operating is maybe defined from upon high, its pace is run in automatic mode; whereas, it needs to be let free from these confines. It needs to be enabled to be more dynamic.

If we are to be truly inclusive, how can we meet people where they are?

Do we need to go out of the building and re-enter, and see what we do afresh? Perhaps even seek again what worship means to us? Then we may be able to take those metaphorical LOVED labels and share them with the world.

Is that taking the hard part of carrying Church outside – made easier?