I believe that the church as an organization is a part of creation and is just as susceptible to the principalities and powers as any other human institution. When we elevate the church to an ideal that is to be achieved, a goal to be reached, an image to attain, then it is immediately in danger of becoming possessed with a spirit, especially its own. And when it becomes so self-possessed, then the abuse of humanity, though sometimes subtle, can become demonic in proportions.
We can see this happening in concrete ways. For instance, we can be sitting around with our friends in our home, gathered around the fire, listening to Norah Jones in the background, drinking a fine Shiraz wine, laughing and talking about whatever. We could achieve an incredible level of authenticity and honesty, sharing with each other how difficult life is, how much suffering there is in the world, how absent God seems, how weak our faith, and how hopeless everything feels. At the same time, we can say, “But I know God promised to be with us. We have each other, and I’m thankful for our friendship. I love you!”
Then we go to church and everything changes. We take on the spirit of the church. We become possessed by it, and we are suddenly very religious, which manifests itself in excuses, self-justification, empty assertions, arrogance, pat answers, aggression against doubt, and fruitless faith claims. It’s curious how unrighteous we can be out there, but once we get within the walls of a church, we become something we are certainly not: righteous. We carry around a dead, false self that we think looks good and impressive to others and bring it out when it’s best to do so: when there are other people possessed by the religious spirit around who will congratulate us, affirm us, and allow us to keep our membership!
The appropriate fine art photograph is the creation of my friend Mark Hemmings. One of my personal favorites, taken of a theater production in Budapest.
Contributions to nakedpastor are greatly appreciated.
David Hayward is a pastor artistically stripping to the essential.
I’m really struggling with questions about “church” these days.
Who or what is the church?
What is the point of the church?
Did God command the church to do or to be anything in particular or in general?
Can I jettison the church without jettisoning my faith in God?
Is the church created/designed by God? by man? by a process? by a combination?
I’ve been reading The Church on the Other Side by Brian McLaren lately. It’s a pretty good read as I struggle with these issues, but I wonder how the average Joe (or John or Heidi or David or Anna or Chris) would answer these questions…
What makes scenario one “not church” and scenario two “church”? Surely not the building David? Is the spirit you speak of geographical?
I think this post and Mark’s photograph go amazingly well together, great choice David! The pic would be great as a cover to a book on this topic!
Ok ttm, I’ll give it a shot. Since I’m not educated enough to give any answers I’ll just give some poorly thought out, hastily typed, opinions.
“Who or what is the church? What is the point of the church?”
Since I can’t add a pic in the comments, I’ll send you a photo that will give you an idea of how I see it. I think its titled “Where two or more are gathered”.
“Did God command the church to do or to be anything in particular or in general?”
I am still studying this, but I only know for sure to Love Him and one another.
“Can I jettison the church without jettisoning my faith in God?”
I don’t know, I haven’t had a church for sometime.
“Is the church created/designed by God? by man? by a process? by a combination?”
Uhhmmm….Yes!
Thanks, Chris. The picture was great, too!
I love this picture – you can tell your friend his pictures are always so evocative and provocative.
The church you describe sounds a lot like mine. I grew up in a big church, always full and beautiful from the outside, but empty and hollow inside, filled with the ghosts of a much more authentic spirituality. On the contrary, the one I go to at the moment, is considerably smaller and people are freed up to be who they are: sinners justified by grace and on the way to Heaven (ei we haven’t made it there quite yet and there is no way we are gonna fake it is that way..) but we walk along side each other and assist one another in making it there and serving God wholeheartedly – yes, often around a dining table, sipping a glass of red and laughing together – can feel the kingdom of God so near! Always inspired by your posts, Dave. Thank you.
Hmmm. That’s not the church I go to. We try to keep our tears and laughter mixed together at all times.
and people wonder why I don’t go to church anymore…pshhhh
…love the pic and the post…
and people wonder why I don’t go to church anymore…pshhhh
…love the pic and the post…
and people wonder why I don’t go to church anymore…pshhhh
…love the pic and the post…
I like the pic, too, but that mannequin is going to have to put a shirt on if she’s going to church with me.
I dunno…all of the groaning about whether or not The Church is relevant makes me uneasy. I know it’s fashionable and edgey and all to be skeptical and such, but still. Maybe your neighborhood church isn’t so hot, and that is one thing…a legitimate gripe, perhaps. It’s probably because messed up people like you go there. But when you are talking about The Church, you are talking about the Bride of Christ. And from Christ’s perspective, whether or not we think she is meaningful and relevant is probably either completely meaningless or mildly insulting.
Generally speaking, whatever the Lord thinks…that is what I want to think, too, whenever possible. And His word tells me that He loves His Bride so much that He died for her, and that He is soon coming to take her home.
I don’t see much virtue in denigrating another man’s bride, and even less in casting dispersion upon Christ’s own Beloved. I think it is a problem of perspective. It is as if we think Church is about us and our needs, about how we feel about things, what it does or doesn’t do for us, etc.
If that’s what you think Church is about, then you never will find one that will please both you and God.
Barry, the Bridegroom doesn’t always speak kindly about the Bride either – cf. the early chapters of Revelation, among other texts. So David is in good company.
Having said that, I share your concern to see the church from Christ’s perspective and not to criticise just for the fun of it. But I also feel that in our church life we can easily miss the point of what Jesus would love to do together with us. So it can actually be helpful if someone pokes fun at our traditions and stimulates us to think about why we do what we do, and why we do it in that particular way.
As a member of Rothesay Vineyard where David pastors, I take the above blog entry as an “even so” post. What I’m hearing is that even though we as a community are refreshingly transparent and strive for honesty and realness, there will ALWAYS be, to some degree, those unlovely religious qualities that David mentions. To think otherwise would invite pride, at least I feel it would.
I do think some of the problem lies in seeing the church as an organisation, an ideal as David puts it, or an image we try to attain to. It is none of these things – it is a living and breathing body of humans trying to become more like Jesus who is our Head and love each other like he loved us. It is a body made up of you and me. WE are the church. I must admit, I do find it a bit difficult to listen to complaints about the church because all too often I find it is from people who are not committed to it. Jesus has every right to point out the shortcomings of his Bride because he proved his authority in that area through his love unto death, his undying devotion and commitment no matter what she looks like, and his willingness to be actively involved in bringing out her beauty and maturing her character. I am the church. Let the change begin with me.
Great post (and blog), I couldn’t have put it better myself. I really like distinguishing between what people become when they come to church and the church itself. Too often we are guilty of throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Writing off the church is just as bad as being inauthentic/religious at church. . .