Church Happens
It’s fun being married - last night we had a “sleepover” where we stayed up super-late and watched a movie and snacked on anything we could get our hands on. But that also meant waking up around 10:30 this morning with not a little of that infamous “sleep” in our eyes (anyone have a better word for that stuff??).
As I was finally getting ready for the day, (it was about 11:30am), I got a call from my new friend Brad, whose friendship is another blog post altogether. For now, suffice it to say that just two weeks ago he committed his life to Christ through baptism and is pumped about sharing his faith with many of his lost friends. Brad asked, “What’cha doing this morning Mark?”
I responded with “Well, I just woke up about an hour ago, and I’ve just been enjoying the morning at home so far.”
“It’s Sunday morning! Why aren’t you at church you lazy bastard!” Brad cajoled.
It is the funniest thing, “going to church”. I didn’t really have an answer for him right then, so I just laughed along with him and we continued our conversation. Some reflections now as the day comes to a close on our little dialogue:
First, I LOVE the circles I’m running in these days. No longer am I with the “church-ified” Christians, who fear how they might look if they say what they are thinking. Brad’s response was authentically blunt, which is a refreshing joy for me, even though it still throws me off guard.
Second, while I didn’t technically “go anywhere” this morning that could be called a “church”, I am beginning to find the Church as much more of a liquid than a solid. Let me explain my free-flowing thoughts here…
This morning, we woke up together and took it easy. We both read from God’s Holy Word, then got ready as we talked about what we heard God saying to us through the pages, and where the “biblical canon” came from in the first place. Then we talked about how cool it would be to create a booklet or a website that gave seekers the chance to ask questions about the nature, function and origins of Christian Scripture.
After getting ready for the day, we continued our “church” by heading out to grab something to eat, where we bumped into a friend of mine who is doing work with victims of domestic violence and prisoners with drug problems. We scheduled a time for our families to meet up in July. His baby boy is getting so big.
As we were driving, I felt the Lord’s presence in a deep way as I listened to “Something Beautiful” by the Newsboys (audio sample here, lyrics here) and just started worhshipping and thanking God in whispered prayers for his image-rich Creation that points to a beautiful Kingdom that flows in and out of everything wonderful and beautiful and true in our lives here on earth. Inspiring…
A friend from out of town called and said he was passing through town and wanted to meet with us if possible. We invited him to join our cookout with our faith family. During the cookout, our neighbor popped his head out of his door, and we invited him over too. We shared laughs, stories, and watermelons. “Church was happening” all over the place.
“Church happens.”
Afterward, “church” flowed into a coffee shop where the conversation continued, and we met up with a friend Katrina is mentoring/coaching through some big decisions right now. They’ve been talking about everything from major life goals to boy troubles to new shoes. They’ve found their way back to our living room and the conversation is electric. I’m having a hard time staying out of it even now to write this blog post!
Church happens everywhere. It is not something you can GO to - it is the liquid movement of God’s people interacting with each other and with their world. Now when people ask “where do you go to church?” I say, “Where DON’T I go to Church!?!” 
———-
What would happen if Christians found themselves living as the Church God created them to be? IN the world, but not of it?
What if instead of going to a spiritual goods and services distribution center to download God or encouragement, Christians learned how to hear from the Lord everywhere they went?
What would have to change about the Church if it looked less like a solid and more like a liquid, reaching into every nook and cranny of life and our culture? How would this change the world?
Last 5 posts by Mark
- Chicago Spiritual Map: Rogers Park - August 8th, 2008
- Google is Searching for Jesus - August 7th, 2008
June 24th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
Great post bro!
and good questions…
i think thats what we’re about to find out…
peace
June 25th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
Just had this discussion with some missionary friends re. my decision to leave my church of 3 years and go to a teeny, tiny little Methodist one up the road from me where the average attendance is 46 people a Sunday and the average age is 60.
Granted, it’s still in a building but this place flows God’s love. It’s like nothing has touched it for 50 years so the expectation is that everyone shares after service, eats from the pot luck buffet, plans service projects and field trips for the youth group of 5.
This church lives together and only two weeks into it I long for it like a lover. This church is sweet. As sweet as what you experienced, Mark.
I think by it’s very design, the minute you put a building around God you’ve kinda edged Him out. By neccessity there has to be a system. Someone has to maintain the structural premises, someone has to oversee the maintenance person, someone has to be hired to provide the HR support needed for those involved in the running of the building, etc., etc., etc.
I don’t think God should be caged. (not saying that it’s even possible, btw). I think that there’s something inherently flawed with formal buildings. I think by it’s very design, we get ahead of Him when we try and ‘make’ something for His glory.
Then again, I’m only 4 years into this walk and have had some unique experiences. I may change my mind-but I kinda doubt it.
I just haven’t been able to reconcile myself to the idea that we are meant to gather together and put our primary focus and much of our time and money into making a place to gather when all I can see in the Bible is that we are called to scatter.
I dunno. I’m still chewing on it.
June 26th, 2007 at 7:25 am
Leanne,
I find it interesting that God was so reluctant for David/Solomon to build him a Temple, saying that he was completely content to dwell among the people in a portable Tabernacle. I also find it interesting that it is the statement, “God does not dwell in buildings made by human hands!” that got Stephen stoned, becoming the Church’s first martyr.
You’re right on - the Church is called to scatter, just as they are called to fellowship. It seems like many in the church today demand nothing but but a rock-solid fellowship, packing people in like cattle; and they forget that this life also includes a scattering - a pouring of Christ’s life into every crevice of God’s Creation.
That being said, I am thankful that you have found a body of believers you feel the love of Christ with. Just because God doesn’t DWELL in buildings made by human hands doesn’t mean he doesn’t occasionally VISIT there!
My question is, are these 46 people able to hear God as well outside the building as in? Are they able to follow him and worship him with as much sincerity; realizing that he is the God of the Universe, not just Sunday mornings?
I do not know these people at all - but I know my own experience. When I kept separated the sacred and the secular, I couldn’t find God anywhere but behind a pulpit. I ended up feeling like I NEEDED to be “at church” every time the doors were open just to be fed by him. Now that I have opened my eyes to the reality of God living all around me, I have freedom to feed myself, and to truly be fed by Him - my vagabond Shepherd.
June 26th, 2007 at 11:14 am
believe it or not, I think that is why I am there and why new people are popping up as well.
they have a new pastor in his 70’s who has planted churches in Alaska and Idaho. he’s only been at this church for 2 years yet already took the members through The Purpose Driven Church. Rick Warren aside, this guy is not ready to let his people get comfortable. that tells me something.
add to the fact that I used to prayer walk around this place all last summer and picinic in the pioneer cemetary behind it and………….we’ll see.
I like your caution. It is my caution too. I really think He’s doing something there for the church and for the much needed healing my son and I need after being members of ‘Wal-church’ for 3 years. Again, we’ll see.
June 26th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
“Wal-Church” - that’s a new one.
Great to hear about you and your son’s journey with God. My parents got a divorce when I was a senior in high school, and I really needed a PLACE of safety. I agree that there are amazing church buildings filled with vibrant churches all across this planet. Praise God for what’s happening in that little community. God always seems to do his greatest things through the smallest communities.
July 1st, 2007 at 3:36 am
Awesome, awesome post. I want to read this one at our missional evangelism book study on Tuesday night. It’s just so on the mark…
(pun intended) : )
July 1st, 2007 at 11:23 pm
Steve, thanks for the encouragement. What’s the book you are reading together?