Quite a few months ago, when this was possible, I sat down with my Aunt Grayce. We were having coffee and the group was reflecting on favourite beverages.
Aunt Grayce, now tilting into her late 80’s, mentioned that she liked some Bailey’s in her coffee.
I mentioned that her mother was a stalwart member of the WCTU (Women’s Christian Temperance Union).
Aunt Grayce replied: “I’m of age.”
The COVID thing is leading to future questions. What will best suit the church in the future?
By suit, I’m meandering into the question of the changes in our world. How do we see these changes driving us back to fundamentals (for those who would prefer another word, how about “foundations”)?
Church is the primary place of gathering for Christians. I’m fairly flexible in that – there are micro-churches, family churches, mega-churches, community churches, denominational churches, . . .
In these gatherings, what should be capturing our time and activity? Things that lead to:
Now, I know the way I have written this tends to turn some legitimate activities into scourges. I love the party of a church gathering, the teaching of a good leader, the focusing of my energies, and the thankfulness of being in the place where I live.
But I wonder, in a day and age of many polarizations, if we need to consider pulling our gatherings back to Jesus. Back to the Almighty God. Back to the wonder-working Spirit.
Instead of speeding up – we could slow down and “smell the roses”. Instead of living apart and scattered by many differences – we could gather around the Triune God. Instead of critiquing everyone around us, including our friends – we could commune in love.
Psychology has given us some new thoughts on what we need to thrive as people. This has often been placed in publications that talk about “mindful” approaches. Others have added their own observations. In all these make for good reading and consideration.
I enjoy a recent approach that was related to “A”s (the use of “Alliteration” in the list is sadly lacking!). This comes out of Josh McDowell ministries promoting a desire for restoration of those whose lives have been dis-oriented (which I guess is the majority of us!).
- Acceptance
- Appreciation
- Affection
- Access – presence of key figures in your life
- Attention – you are known and understood
- Affirmation of feelings – your expression is embraced although there may be differences
- Assurance of safety and security.
I’ve done a lot of reading lately on small Christian churches. Some things keep cropping up:
When we refer to church, we often go immediately in our thinking to a building or facility. “I’m going to church” puts us someplace. But the building is not the church. The infrastructure of the internet can become a new “place” in our thinking. But the internet is not the church. Church is comprised of people.
“Churches” are the primary way Christians gather.
Any gathering immediately implies organization. We may talk of hierarchical, symbiotic, system model – whatever name we give, there is organization.
Observations – but you may already have some conclusions in mind.