By: Church Should Look Like Family

Church Should Look Like Family — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 07:24:20 +0000

[...] we talked church this past month. And you shared with me your stories, and I shared mine. And I loved every single email and comment even if we disagree on some things. [...]

By: Page not found - Narrow Paths to Higher Places

Page not found - Narrow Paths to Higher Places — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 05:04:16 +0000

[...] Concepts to Concrete:Thoughts on Church and Link Up [...]

By: Katie

Katie — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 15:38:02 +0000

So many memories…I’ve been taken to church my whole life; it was a high priority for my parents. We grew up in relatively-strict Baptist churches. Generally the women wore dresses, basically always covering the knee, though this was rarely preached. Music was conservative/ traditional in every church I attended until four years ago.
I am in the buckle of the Bible belt and also attended some larger Baptist and independent churches, but still traditional. I remember lines for coffee, orderly movement through the sanctuary, but lots of friendliness and love. In the church my husband and I began attending (separately, before dating), there is loud, contemporary music. People wear what they want. There is a praise team on stage that often wears T shirts and jeans while lifting or cupping their hands in worship. When I first came here, I had been invited to attend a class on Living the Gospel in Relationships with a friend. I was going through the roughest time of my life and it was very healing.
And now? I don’t know. Some of the memories have grown stale as my friendships evaporated. It’s gone from being a large house of love to one where the crowds simply exhaust me (I am a friendly introvert). I like putting on jeans because somehow I feel thinner–though I’m not!–and I can get away with not having shaved for a day. Sometimes I like the music, but–while I take no “conviction” position on this–I do think that the “cool” music draws people who don’t have any real interest in church. I don’t like being instructed to assume a posture of “surrender” (or any posture) while singing; I think that that needs to come from the heart and I’m usually more comfortable standing still. I’m highly uncomfortable with the “liberty” to drink being exercised so freely by so many twentysomethings.
I don’t know if I could go back for some theological reasons. But part of me misses the smallish Baptist (or Baptist-like) churches…the Bible school, the ice cream, grounds small enough that one person could mow them in an hour…the hymns I know and love. People I see in the same vicinity of the sanctuary every week. A bathroom that isn’t a half-mile walk. I want a place where people own their sin but don’t brag for hours about how “real” they are. The new self righteousness is being self righteous about NOT being self righteous, and I see a lot of that. Or am I judging too?

By: Jessica Heights

Jessica Heights — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 02:14:17 +0000

This is beautifully written!!!

By: Mari Hernandez-Tuten

Mari Hernandez-Tuten — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 20:49:23 +0000

What a great idea for a linky! I will add one soon!
Mari

By: 31 Days to Why Church? - Narrow Paths to Higher Places

31 Days to Why Church? - Narrow Paths to Higher Places — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 05:46:29 +0000