What the Church is Not

[Judy Harder]

 
Sabbath Day Devotion
September 17, 2011


What the Church is NOT (part 3) –

Last week, I discussed the first of the "What the Church is NOT" statements – the church is NOT a man-made building.   To my surprise, I received a tremendous amount of encouragement and support.   I feel as though the church is primed and ready for a revolution of some sort.   I also had three people unsubscribe – and I received a few polite chewing outs.

Most of the criticism I received came from people who are obviously entrenched in an institutional church and/or religion.   I completely understand why they felt compelled to refute and/or disagree with some of the things I said.   As I said last week, people don't like it when their traditions are challenged.   I continue to hope and pray that I might be able to challenge your traditions without upsetting or alienating you.

I am encouraged by the fact that Jesus seemed to challenge the traditions of institutional religions of his day.   As you read through the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) you will discover that Jesus constantly defied the traditions of the scribes, the Pharisees and the Sadducees.   They were so wrapped up in their "religion" that they inadvertently separated themselves from God.

The church is NOT a man-made building.   The church is a living body of believers with Christ as the head.   There is ample scriptural evidence that the church of the first century met in homes (Acts 2:46; Romans 16:3-5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 2).   Many (perhaps most) of those meetings involved eating a meal together.   You will NEVER read about people going to church or going to a church building in the book of Acts.   Instead, you will read about people being the church.

Contrary to what some of you are thinking, I NEVER did say church buildings are bad.   They may not be scriptural – but that does not make them bad.   The only thing that can make church buildings bad is the way we treat them.

In my opinion... the biggest disadvantage of church buildings is that they make it easy for us to separate our personal lives from our spiritual lives.   The fact that most of today's so-called Christians GO to church one day a week indicates that they are not BEING the church every day of the week.   They GO to church – and one or two hours later, they LEAVE the church.
 
The second biggest disadvantage of church buildings is that we like to build BIG buildings and fill them up.   This drastically reduces intimacy among believers.   It makes it extremely easy for people to be present without ever BEING the church.   Contrary to popular opinion, BEING the church involves a whole lot more than just sitting in rows looking at the back of someone else's head for one hour every week.



I'm going to share a short story/parable written by Russ Daly, a PCC subscriber from Alabama.   This parable is called The Masquerade Ball.   It touches on many of the issues I hope to address in our What the Church is NOT series.   Enjoy...


The Masquerade Ball –
by Russ Daly

2 Corinthians 11:13-15


The bells begin to ring promptly at the appointed hour.  The doors of the Great Hall are propped open so all the participants can enter.  Greeters pass out programs as everyone enters the Hall.  The greeters also keep a close look-out for strangers who aren't dressed properly or who weren't invited.

Dressed in their finest costumes, the guests filled the Hall from the rear to the front.  Everyone's masks are in place so that no one can recognize the other.  One of the leaders, dressed in a flowing robe and mask, repeats a pre-rehearsed welcome and invites everyone to be seated.  The guests take their assigned seats.

Looking about the Hall, the guests nod their approval to those they know by their usual position.  They also look to see how others are dressed and if they can guess who they really are.  They take special note of those who are dressed better or worse than themselves.

The few who are not dressed appropriately quickly receive disdainful, judgmental glares.  "What are they doing here?"  "How dare they come here dressed like that!"  "Who do they think they are?"  "They certainly don't belong here."  "Someone should say something to them."

It's time for the music to begin.  The music leader rises majestically from his position and asks the musicians and singers to take their places.  They have been carefully screened and have been practicing their musical pieces for weeks.  They sit on an elevated platform so all the guests can see them.

The guests are invited to join in the singing.  Of course, anyone who sings off-key is politely asked to "keep it down."  We wouldn't dare compromise the integrity of our well-rehearsed performance for a few amateurs.  This performance is for well-trained musicians and singers only!

Once the music is done, it's time for donations.  Weekly donations are received to pay for maintenance of the Great Hall and for future events.  Most of the donations go to pay for the professional leaders and musicians and those who put on the events.  What little is left over generally goes to other civic organizations.

Great emphasis is put on giving by the leaders.  They mislead the guests into thinking most of their donations go to "good causes."  They are told giving is a requirement for membership in this organization.

Most of the guests give out of feelings of guilt and compulsion.   Others give out of pride and like it when they are recognized by the leaders for their gifts.  Of course, the leaders keep close tabs on who gives what and make great efforts to accommodate and recognize the wealthy.  Those who can't give are made to feel like they are sub-standard and should not be sharing in the festivities.

A hush now comes over the Great Hall.  The High Leader is about to speak.  Adorned in the most majestic robe and mask, he takes his place on the platform high above the seated guests.  Noisy children are quickly escorted from the Hall.  The guests are reminded they must show the High Leader great respect because he is more special than them.  The programs contain a special section for notes so that the guests can record his words of wisdom.

The speech is well researched, well written and well rehearsed.  There are quotable quotes, a joke or two, at least three points and a poem.  The High Leader struts, shouts and shakes his way through his speech.  Some guests laugh.  Some cry.  Some sleep.

Then there is an invitation.  Like the donations, great emphasis is place on joining this organization.  "If you'll give us your time and money, you can be like us.  But you must dress like us, talk like us, do what we do and invite others to do the same.  We do have rules you know.  This is unlike any other organization to which you belong."

This invitation drags on for what seems like an eternity.  The High Leader stands before the guests pleading for them to come join him at the front of the Hall.  In the background, the musicians and singers are softly wooing the guests with a specially chosen piece.

Most of the guests are wishing this would end because they have other appointments to attend.  Some of them are glad it's almost over.  A few wonder why they wasted their time with it.

And sadly, all of the guests are relieved they weren't asked to remove their masks and reveal their true identity.


Recognize this?

It could be any of a thousand masquerade parties anywhere in the world.  It could be any of a thousand church services anywhere in the world.  It could be your local church.



Don't just GO to church; BE the Church