This is nothing
March 24, 2008
This does not necessarily mark my return to blogging. I mean way too much has transpired to pick up where I left off or explain where I’ve been. But, something has been bugging me today and I’m not sure why. Catalyst. Tony and Sam went and Sam reported back to me bits of what he experienced and who he saw. While browsing their Web site I noticed my face was sort of frozen with an expression of disgust. That’s not to say I was disgusted by what I read, but I certainly bristled. Squirmed, even. And that persistent tag line of theirs… I miss my family and I miss the way it was. I miss Greg and Michele and the smell of pinesol and cheap candles. I miss my own innocence. I am a small sailboat offshore, (not too far away), weathering occasional swells, anchored nonetheless.
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1.
Martha | March 24, 2008 at p2409
Mhmm. I know right where you are. Look, off to the southeast, see me? I’m the one waving with the confused look on her face. Love you.
2.
JaredB | March 25, 2008 at p2531
“we’ll change the way you think about church” – Is that the tagline you’re referring to?
As I read it, the thing that it brought to my mind is that the past ten years have certainly changed the way I think about church. Fortunately, in the end, I think that it’s changed it for the better – not just about the model that we evolved into – but the concept of church itself.
I think I look at all churches differently now, and in a generally more positive light, because I think (or at least choose to believe) that most “churches” out there actually are just like us, in the sense that they’re a group of friends who love God and each other and are trying to extend the reach of that love in the best way they can think of.
I think that ends up taking all kinds of forms for a variety of reasons. Whatever those look like, hopefully part of it involves changing us (those who are a part of it) in a positive way. Since we’re all human, some aspects will inevitably be negative as well.
I don’t know anyone who’s a part of the catalyst, but I hope / believe that they’re doing things the way they’re doing them with the best of intentions, so I wish them well.
As for us, like Martha said, I think we’re out there in a similar boat with you. The loss of the past and the uncertainty of the future can be unnerving, but at the same time, I’d rather not avoid it by trying to jump ahead to “the next thing”, which is what doing anything else feels like right now. Maybe that’s the wrong approach, but that’s just where we are right now. Ultimately, I have to trust in God to sustain us and eventually guide us back to the shore.
3.
mimici06 | March 25, 2008 at p2527
Yes, Jared I understand what you’re saying. I didn’t mean to sound judgemental, just sort of disappointed I guess. I know these people love God and are attempting to make God and church inviting for those who are turned off or whatever. The tag line bugs me because it’s a bit assumptive and i guess even authoritative. I suppose I don’t want to change the way I think of church and maybe that’s keeping me offshore.
4.
JaredB | March 25, 2008 at p2539
Yeah, I understand. I think the tag line itself can easily be (and probably will be) interpreted to be implying some negative stuff about “most other churches” too, which is the kind of competition mentality I wish “we” (the church) would just stay away from.
I remember several times when people outside our community would refer to the different way we did some things from the frame of reference that we were just trying to invent the latest hip, new thing. Things like “oh, that’s where you guys do X” (whatever X may be), or even sincere compliments about the “quality” of the worship, etc. would kind of bug me, because I’d always want to stop them and explain that it’s not about focusing on those things, that those things are an outward reflection, etc., etc. but furthermore that we’re not in some sort of competition with other churches and that I wish we could just accept each other without having to try and do the one-upping thing.
So, I totally understand where you’re coming from. I think my primary reaction to the tag line is basically that I wish / hope that “changing the way we think about church” means allowing us to see the good things that most churches probably share as a common base and embracing the grace that covers the negative aspects that will also always be present in some form because of our nature. The cynic in me tends to perceive it as more of a competitive marketing pitch, but I have to remind myself that I should give them the benefit of the doubt.
Sorry if my previous comment seemed corrective or argumentative in nature – I definitely didn’t mean in that way. I really just wanted to comment and let you know that I share your frustrations and am missing many of the same things, from a fellow offshore drifter.
5.
mimici06 | March 25, 2008 at p2539
No worries, i just saw my own tendency toward reactivity and criticism/cynicism reflected back at me. Such is one benefit of dialogue. I’ve always thought it kinda weird that there are soooo many churches. Does this need for independence among believers almost make church irrelevant?
6.
JaredB | March 26, 2008 at p2606
I wonder. I suspect that that part of it is somewhat different depending on the “host” culture, in this case the US.