So much of this is rooted in the lie we’ve been fed for decades now that God needs us to do big, radical things, to not waste our lives. Leaders who believe that are more likely to build churches like this. When we buy the lie of radical Christianity and begin to believe that ordinary faithfulness is beneath us, we’re in dangerous territory.
I’ve experienced this especially in church planting culture, but also in older churches too. Sadly, can name instances of harm in both contexts that were not dealt with in healthy ways, likely due to the bad-good duality you mentioned.
Recently visited a church that had some refreshing practices: 1) a prayer by the pastor during the worship service for neighboring churches and ministries 2) a congregational advisory board that was formed in response to instances of harm that were taken seriously. It honestly made my heart so happy for that church.
As I get older and wiser (I hope) I too feel the need just for a regular old church that isn’t concerned so much with doing great things for God but is just content to “do the thing” faithfully day in and day out.
Oh man, was this ever timely. We recently left a non-denom charismatic church for the very same reasons and issues you express in this article. We have found ourselves in a small Anglican Church, loving its small size and focus on Jesus. But it is growing very quickly and, to be honest, it makes me realize the need to ask a lot of questions and be sure safeguards are in place that will hold no matter how large the church becomes. I'm just so tired of binary (I'm in, you're out) Christianity. We all worship the same Jesus. If only we could get over ourselves.
The most godly people in my life were ordinary people humbly loving on the people in their lives. Teachers- both school and Sunday School, neighbors, my parents friends, and most of all my parents- 2 teachers who loved every child in their classes. My godparents, itinerant Methodist pastors who served small( think 25-30) rural churches, often going to 2-3 every Sunday. Their friends who continued to love on us as adults after my parents deaths.
This is such a well written piece against binaries and identities that become a little messed up but cause a ton of damage. I hear and have experienced so much of what you are covering here. Thanks for giving me some words to what I believe.
I want to like this over and over! There's a form of "the church has been operating without the Spirit for years and years and years but now..." that I see crop up on social media frequently and it rubs me the wrong way each time.
Curious why you posted a picture of Foley Beach in your article with no reference to his involvement. You probably didn’t intend this, but in the context of your article it makes him look complicit when in fact he has raised concerns about the makeup of the tribunal and even accused it of trying to interfere with the process of forming a board of inquiry.
"It didn’t take long for me to perceive a kind of spiritual hubris... Rez leaders talked far more about what God was doing at Rez than what God was doing beyond its walls." So many churches have this problem. Looking at how Paul refers to churches he seems to often refer to their geographical location. "The church that meets in [some city]" or sometimes the church that meets in someone's house. I guess I'd like to hear a lot more of that kind of thing: "We're part of the Church that meets in [Portland, LA, Seattle, NYC, etc]". Churches getting together with other churches in their area for activities where they say "we're all part of the same larger Church that Christ is building" would be a healthy thing, but it seems rare.
Also I think this is becoming truer by the year (with very few exceptions, perhaps the late Rev McKenzie from Nashville): pastors with very active and very busy twitter feeds are telling on themselves already. Pastors — the real, ordinary, shepherds that will be forgotten in 50 years — are NOT and can’t possibly be on Twitter all the time. If you see that, then find another place.
So much of this is rooted in the lie we’ve been fed for decades now that God needs us to do big, radical things, to not waste our lives. Leaders who believe that are more likely to build churches like this. When we buy the lie of radical Christianity and begin to believe that ordinary faithfulness is beneath us, we’re in dangerous territory.
💯 💯 💯
As the pastor of a very ordinary church, I am encouraged by this post
Chesterton said the most extraordinary thing in the world is ordinariness. Great piece, Katelyn, I hope many read.
I’ve experienced this especially in church planting culture, but also in older churches too. Sadly, can name instances of harm in both contexts that were not dealt with in healthy ways, likely due to the bad-good duality you mentioned.
Recently visited a church that had some refreshing practices: 1) a prayer by the pastor during the worship service for neighboring churches and ministries 2) a congregational advisory board that was formed in response to instances of harm that were taken seriously. It honestly made my heart so happy for that church.
As I get older and wiser (I hope) I too feel the need just for a regular old church that isn’t concerned so much with doing great things for God but is just content to “do the thing” faithfully day in and day out.
And pastors as protagonists - whew! - once you start to see it, you can't unsee it.
Oh man, was this ever timely. We recently left a non-denom charismatic church for the very same reasons and issues you express in this article. We have found ourselves in a small Anglican Church, loving its small size and focus on Jesus. But it is growing very quickly and, to be honest, it makes me realize the need to ask a lot of questions and be sure safeguards are in place that will hold no matter how large the church becomes. I'm just so tired of binary (I'm in, you're out) Christianity. We all worship the same Jesus. If only we could get over ourselves.
The most godly people in my life were ordinary people humbly loving on the people in their lives. Teachers- both school and Sunday School, neighbors, my parents friends, and most of all my parents- 2 teachers who loved every child in their classes. My godparents, itinerant Methodist pastors who served small( think 25-30) rural churches, often going to 2-3 every Sunday. Their friends who continued to love on us as adults after my parents deaths.
Jesus, the king of small humble people.
This is such a well written piece against binaries and identities that become a little messed up but cause a ton of damage. I hear and have experienced so much of what you are covering here. Thanks for giving me some words to what I believe.
I want to like this over and over! There's a form of "the church has been operating without the Spirit for years and years and years but now..." that I see crop up on social media frequently and it rubs me the wrong way each time.
Curious why you posted a picture of Foley Beach in your article with no reference to his involvement. You probably didn’t intend this, but in the context of your article it makes him look complicit when in fact he has raised concerns about the makeup of the tribunal and even accused it of trying to interfere with the process of forming a board of inquiry.
Thnx for this and “yes” to ordinary churches.
"It didn’t take long for me to perceive a kind of spiritual hubris... Rez leaders talked far more about what God was doing at Rez than what God was doing beyond its walls." So many churches have this problem. Looking at how Paul refers to churches he seems to often refer to their geographical location. "The church that meets in [some city]" or sometimes the church that meets in someone's house. I guess I'd like to hear a lot more of that kind of thing: "We're part of the Church that meets in [Portland, LA, Seattle, NYC, etc]". Churches getting together with other churches in their area for activities where they say "we're all part of the same larger Church that Christ is building" would be a healthy thing, but it seems rare.
Amen
So good. It gets at some of what I've been wrestling with lately.
100% in agreement with this wish. Sadly it’s not really in the local offering available to me.
Also I think this is becoming truer by the year (with very few exceptions, perhaps the late Rev McKenzie from Nashville): pastors with very active and very busy twitter feeds are telling on themselves already. Pastors — the real, ordinary, shepherds that will be forgotten in 50 years — are NOT and can’t possibly be on Twitter all the time. If you see that, then find another place.