I just like a more traditional service . . .
. . . and a well-educated preacher. Music that is professional and beautiful. Reverence and the feeling that the church is someplace special where you meet with God.
In our culture, we think of church as a place where we come to meet with God, me and God, not me meeting other people, that's a club.
Some of these were words I heard as I spoke with a friend here in Kiev who is about my parents' age. Oddly, it could have just as easily been a conversation with a person my own age from the States who is moving the way many have, back to more traditional forms of church.
Don't get me wrong, some days I'd love to be in a more formal church, or even a liturgical church. Our contemporary Evangelical churches try so hard to be liked and enjoyed by all -- sometimes we miss the mark.
But I'm even in a more complex situation now. It's not a matter of 'contemporary' versus 'traditional', or free church verses high church, or anything like that.
We are moving toward a house church/cell church/simple church-type model in our work here in Ukraine. At least . . . we are open to it. It seems that the early Methodists, who were not focused on starting a new denomination, were focused instead on life transformation in smaller group settings. Eventually these became churches. What we'd dream to see would be similar groups of people, drawn to Jesus, receiving salvation by his grace, studying and 'eating' the Word of God, practicing holiness. These people could even consider themselves Orthodox, Catholic, Baptist, Pentacostal -- but join together in these groups for life-changing discipleship (any who wish to could join our church but it wouldn't be pushed in the same way that authentic discipleship and imitation of Jesus would be).
How can we be groups that are more than clubs? That are more than 'visit the American and practice your English' groups? That are more than 'come to house church because big church burned you' support groups?
Some parts of the house church movement seem to be all about pulling in and away from the church at large. They involve a certain amount of insulation, which seems to be counter productive.
Other parts of the house church movement experience incredible rates of multiplication/reproduction (there are movements going on all over the world right now where people are coming to Christ, growing, serving -- more authentically and rapidly than you'd ever imagine!)
I can't finish this line of thought right now, but just wanted to get started. With the opener, where was I going? Well, it'd be really nice if we could experience worship the way our hearts need it: transcendent (for one person that might be really charismatic and/or rocked out -- for another, it might be liturgy, or a 100-voice choir) but also commune and grow and LIVE changed lives in community -- which happens in close, constant relationships with other members of the body of Christ.
When I spoke to my friend, I reflected a little bit of my frustration with 'consumer' religion: i.e. just going to church on Sunday to receive a good experience, good sermon, good music, and going home. Then I felt bad because they are weighed down with difficult lives, the pressures of middle-age -- taking care of adult children, grandchildren, and aging parents -- and don't want to be part of a church that pushes them to serve in a million different programs. But that's not what I was talking about. Church should be something in the fiber of our being...a life in community...not another job. It might, by its very nature, ask for service, time, (in some cases: blood, sweat, and tears)...but if it is working properly---it will feed and engage and strengthen you--
Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
