I’ve learned the hard way that God has a sense of humor that I don’t always find funny. It seems that when I say I will never do something or go someplace God winks and smiles as he leads me to do that thing or go to that place. (I’m not joking about this!). So, it’s with fear, trembling, and holy reverence that I write this post. I got the idea from Tony Morgan, one of my favorite bloggers.

Until recently, Tony was on staff at NewSpring Church. Currently he is unemployed. On April 21 he announced that he and Perry Noble (NewSpring’s Sr. Pastor) decided their philosophies of ministry didn’t match so they were parting company. The cool thing is that they did this on friendly terms. Tony will continue attending NewSpring until he finds his next adventure.

Now that he’s unemployed Tony is thinking about what jobs he might want to take (or not take). The other day he posted a list of the ten jobs he wouldn’t ever do. That got me to thinking about the ten jobs I would never do. So, for what it’s worth, here’s the list I came up with (no particular order):

1. Proctologist (Tony listed this one too)
2. Youth Pastor
3. Worship Pastor (I’d love to do this, but my singing is so bad I’d be fired before the opening song is over)
4. Skid-O-Can Vacuum Truck Driver
5. Bouncer at a bar
6. Nanny
7. Shamwow Spokesperson
8. Barber
9. Hallmark Salesperson
10. Driver’s Ed Instructor

After almost two weeks of flu and two out-of-town trips I’m finally getting back to my blog.

If you read my last post you know that I think church ought to be more than just a bunch of people getting together because they like each other. There has to be something bigger than friendship bringing people together. This is where another aspect of the New Testament concept of church comes in to play: kingdom.

Church is part of the kingdom of God. To serve the king is to put your own interests aside. It is to make the king’s agenda your agenda. To be part of the kingdom is to live the kingdom agenda.

What is the kingdom agenda?

Just look at Jesus. He lived the kingdom agenda. Family and friends took a backseat to the kingdom agenda. His personal comfort was not a priority. (Apparently he didn’t even own a pillow!). Kingdom life means death. . . death of one’s comfort, one’s personal preferences, one’s daily desires. The kingdom agenda requires that we take up our crosses each and every day of our lives and follow Jesus. Unfortunately. . . .

Pot lucks are the priority of too many churches.

Power is the desire of too many clergy.

Song selection is the concern of too many members.

How sad it is, then, that as we look for a new church home I find myself wandering, “What’s here for me? How comfortable am I here? What do I like/dislike about this church?”

I’m so weak.

Wouldn’t it be better if I asked, “Where can I best serve my king?”

As we continue to zero in on a church to call home it’s time for us to move beyond first impressions.

[Warning: Soapbox Ahead]

Music preferences, building styles, and preaching outlines are only a small part of what matters. How ironic, though, that those things are what often split a church. The sign at a local church reads, “We’re not fighting each other”. While I’m glad they aren’t fighting each other I can’t help but wonder why they thought that was the most important message they could communicate.  Have churches gotten such bad reputations that we need to advertise we aren’t fighting?

How sad.

So, what am I looking for in a church that moves beyond first impressions?

First, I’m looking for a church. . . . Kinda obvious, I know. . . But I’m looking for a church in the New Testament sense.

I know that seems fundamental. After all, isn’t that what I’ve been blathering about for the past couple of months?. . . Looking for a church?

Well, it depends on what you mean by “church”.

We use the word “church” so easily. It fits our vocabulary nicely. “Did you enjoy church today?” Isn’t that a nice church building?” “What kind of church do you attend?” But the New Testament rarely uses the word “church” in such a way. It has taken a word that was common and made it extraordinary.

The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery has this to say about the word “church”:

The Bible provides a rich kaleidoscope of imagery about the church composed of around one hundred metaphors and statements. The thread on which all other jewels are hung is the idea of the church as an ekklēsia (“assembly,” “gathering”). This word, taken from common usage where it applied to the “calling out” of citizens for a civic meeting or of soldiers for battle, is used extensively throughout the Old and New Testaments to refer to the people of God (e.g., Deut 4:10; 9:10; 31:30; Mt 16:18; 18:17; Acts 5:11; Rom 16:5; 1 Cor 1:2; Eph 1:22; 3:10; Heb 12:23).

The word that first century Christians adapted was originally used to talk about any gathering of people. It was a common word. It didn’t have any spiritual connotations.

I’m afraid when we talk of church what we really are talking about is a group of fellow citizens gathering for a meeting. It could be ANY meeting for ANY purpose. We could gather for a meal. We could gather for philately reasons. We could gather to be entertained. We could gather for group therapy.

It seems to me (in my very judgmental–but mostly accurate opinion) that MOST churches are little more than gatherings of people who simply like being together. We enjoy the same kind of music. We have similar political views. We want someone to entertain our teenagers. We may even have a somewhat Christian worldview. But really the main reason we get together is little more than to be together.

We get upset if someone sings a song we don’t know or like. We complain if the preacher calls for too big of sacrifice from us. We don’t like someone else sitting in our seat or parking in our spot. We don’t want too many new people around because it will change things. And we certainly don’t want people around who haven’t learned the same morals we profess; after all, they may be a bad influence on our kids.

The New Testament came to use the word church in a much deeper, more significant way. Yes, it still used the word at times to talk of a gathering of people. But the heart of what the New Testament meant by church is probably far different than what most churches look like today.

I’ll have more to say about that in my next post. But suffice it to say for now, most of the places I see today that call themselves churches, really aren’t.

And those are NOT the kind of places I’m looking for in a church home.

This morning I meet Glen Kelly’s long lost identical twin. Actually, Glen doesn’t have a long lost identical twin, but if he did, this guy would be it. (My apologies to those who don’t know Glen. You’re missing out on something great).

The guy walked into Keva with a huge grin, long hair, and a friendly greeting for me and the customers. (I know Glen cut his hair, but he needs to grow it back-IMHO). Judging from his clothes he is a painter by trade; but judging from the encounter he is an encourager by spiritual gift.

In the short time he was in the store not only did he make me feel like Keva Juice was the coolest place he had ever been in, but that our smoothies are the best tasting things in the world, and that the  recession is just God’s way of  preparing us for a new blessing. While he wasn’t some sort of Jesus-freak (in the worst kind of way), it was easy to tell that he was a Jesus-freak (in the best kind of way). God’s love just oozed from this guy.

We shook hands before he left but I suspect had he thought it wouldn’t totally freak me out he would have jumped behind the counter and hugged me.

Lord, help me be that kind of encouragement to others.

Yesterday we returned to Real Life Fellowship.

We hadn’t planned to return to Real Life. We thought we had narrowed our search to two other churches, but that changed with the flip of a coin. Some friends, who are also looking for a new church home, were at the house Saturday night. As we talked, it was obvious that no church had totally captured any of our hearts. We couldn’t decide where to go, so we flipped a coin and Real Life won. (Is that how Matthias became an apostle?).

As we look for a new church home, this church continues to impress me. We were very blessed by the service. My daughter loved her class. And my wife and I liked the music and sermon.

But as I reflect on why no church has really captured our hearts, I can’t help but think that church has less to do with the building, the preacher, the music, or the children’s programs and more to do with the people we love. It would be one thing if we were looking for a church in a new city; but it’s quite another thing to be looking for a new church in our own city where so many of our friends are.

As Mimi and I left Real Life yesterday, we talked through the pros and cons of the church. Eventually, however, I said, “You know, I almost don’t care where we go, I just want all our friends to go to the same place.”

Mimi agreed.

Not long ago someone sent me an email that I have re-read countless times. It blesses me again and again. It is from a self-proclaimed Christian  turned atheist turned Christian again. In this email he blesses me with one of the best compliments I’ve ever received when he said, “I believe you are one hell of a preacher and a great person overall.”

That’s not something a (former) preacher hears every Sunday as he’s shaking hands by the door on the way out of the church!

I just found this unfinished post from a couple of months ago. I don’t know why I never finished it.

Anyway, for what it’s worth, here it is:

Last Sunday emotions were running too high for us to attend church so we decided to stay home for a family devotional.

We gathered around our kitchen table to read scripture, pray, and commune together. We took turns reading Matthew’s account of the last supper. As we read, we prayed and shared communion. It was a simple and powerful service.

I couldn’t help but think about how many thousands (millions?) of other believers around the world were doing the same thing. It’s amazing to think we actually have a choice of churches. (Whether that is a blessing or a curse is another matter).

As I “prepare” myself for a new career I’ve come to really appreciate this quote:

Most people have the will to win, few have the will to prepare to win.
Bobby Knight

Now that my family and I have made visits to 4 churches it’s time for us to narrow our search. What are we looking for in a church? To what leadership will we entrust our spiritual care?

First, let me say that each of the four churches we’ve looked at are great churches. Each is unique, with it’s own strengths and weaknesses. Each has it’s own style and personality. We could become part of any of them and do just fine. But, in the end, we want to be more than “just fine.” A church needs to fit our personalities and needs if we are to excel in our spiritual growth. More than just a place to attend, we need a place where we can serve.

Honestly, though, it’s tempting to find a place to hide. My spirit is dinged up a bit right now so staking out the corner of some pew sounds pretty good to me. Sit’n and soak’n might be just what The Doctor ordered. Yet, I know that will never work in the long run. We NEED to be involved. We NEED to contribute.

With that in mind, two churches have risen to the surface: Yorktown Baptist and Oso Creek Fellowship. The other churches are great churches, but we fear that it will be too easy for us to slip into the crowd and disappear. . . permanently.

Yorktown is filled with the most unknowns for us. Based on one visit, we like their music (which is INCREDIBLY important to us). But we need more information. It appears they participate in several mission trips each year (which is great) and I like that they have a full-time youth minister (this is becoming more important to us since our oldest daughter will be more and more involved with a youth group). At this point, my wife probably puts Yorktown in first place for our future church home.

For me, however, Oso Creek, is in first place. I absolutely love the ministry philosophy John has developed within the congregation. As I wrote in an earlier post, the Sunday morning service does not focus on attracting non-Christians. Instead, the church literally goes to where non-Christians are. Members regularly serve the community. At times, they “cancel” Sunday morning services so the whole church can serve others. I’m sure some other churches would not approve of such a thing, but I can easily imagine Jesus skipping synagogue to help the needy.

While no church would say this about themselves, many behave as if the heart of being a Christian is attending Sunday worship, joining a small group, and giving money to maintain the building and programs of the institution. I’ve been dangerously close to thinking and teaching this. But I’m learning that church is so much more. I think John Bradshaw and Oso Creek Fellowship already know this.

Where will we end up? I’m not sure. We’re praying and looking deeper for now.

Sunday we visited Yorktown Baptist Church. Alan Reed, Yorktown’s Associate Pastor, lives across the street from us. My kids are good friends with his kids, so, like last week, this post may be a bit biased.

Yorktown has recently undergone several changes. They have a new pastor and a new building. There is a contagious excitement among the members.

The new building is simple, but nice. The church seems to be growing.

Of all the places we visited, we liked Yorktown’s music the best. The large band and singing team blend well. While we didn’t know every song, even the new songs were easy to learn and sing. There weren’t many handraisers or clappers in the crowed but the congregation did enthusiastically sing along.  The music didn’t have that “edgy” feel we experienced in the other congregations. Instead, it had a bit of an “anthem” feel to it. I suppose many church people enjoy that style (my wife certainly did), but I prefer a bit more rock to my music.

The sermon was another one of those fill-in-the-blank kind that are popular among many preachers. They aren’t, however, my favorite. Fortunately the pastor delivered it with energy and enthusiasm. That enthusiasm is inspirational and makes me willing to give the church another visit.

Hobby Horse Time:

There are lots of reasons I don’t care for fill-in-the-blank sermons. (Yes, there are exceptions. I’ve preached many a fill-in-the blank sermon). For one thing, life isn’t fill-in-the-blank. Life is story. Life is an ever changing, ever unfolding drama. Life’s problems can’t be solved by six steps that all begin with the letter “R”. In my opinion, fill-in-the-blank sermons lend themselves more to mental development than to spiritual development. There is a false sense of accomplishment that comes from filling in blanks. “I’ve done what I need to do. I completed all the blanks on my outline. Now I can go home.”  Sermons should be about life-change, not completion of an outline. People need to live the gospel. Sermons should motivate people to change. . . to be different. . . not just to think differently.

Now back to our regularly scheduled blog. . . .

We did run into a bit of a snag at Yorktown when we checked in our daughter to her class. There was no one at the check-in center. Instead, someone from inside a classroom simply called out, “Come on in.” No registration. No tag. That may have been fine a few years ago, but in today’s environment it’s important to be serious about children’s check-in. I’m sure Yorktown has a check-in system, but we caught themon a Sunday when they were making some changes to their morning line-up so mistakes are bound to happen.

All-in-all, our experience at Yorktown was very positive. Is it the right church for us? Possibly.