Community Church....no REALLY!

You know, I wonder why you don't see too much of what I'd call community churches. I don't mean those mega churches with all the mod-cons for the affluent suburban Christian family. I mean churches that are in service, full time, in the parts of the community that should be the focus of Christian ministry. Why can't desperate young pregnant women find anywhere to go but to a dumpster to leave their unwanted, but still living babies? I know there are good, generous people and congregations out there who are doing what they can to help. My question is, in this country of 450,000 churches, is that the best we can do?

I hate to say it, but the small number of food banks, the occasional Salvation Army Mission, an occasional Catholic Charities, is about all you can actually find out there IF you happen to go to the hard parts of town. Most churches, I'm afraid (and I think they are too...maybe that's it.) are far from doing what I believe Jesus told us to be doing. I think too many churches are more concerned with their own comfort and convenience, with serving themselves, than they are with actually serving God by serving the poor and sick. What happened to us?

Where are we really putting the majority of our treasure and energy? Are the churches like the rich man, who wants to keep it all rather than giving it all to the poor? I'm afraid they are. At least most of them. Is it really all about cool worship music services, web sites, radio ministries, nice new buildings, new carpet, new padded pews, merchandising, sending money and people somewhere else besides where we are doing God's work, with our own hands, our own hearts, our own selves? Sadly, I think so, especially now, when it could be so very different. With so many people hurting, and so much work for us to be doing, I wonder whether our energies are going where they should be. Seems to me there's plenty of energy for politics, plenty for the latest Christian pop-psychology CDs, for the latest Pearl Jam with Christian lyrics cover band that won't play for free anywhere, but not nearly as much of our time, energy, tears, blood, courage, and sweat for our ministry, right here in our own cities and towns. At least, not as much as there SHOULD be, for a half a million churches, and so many people hurting.

There was a time when the Christian community got busy, and they weren't anywhere as needed as they are now. They WORKED, and they got visible in these communities. They drew attention to themselves, to Jesus. There were coffee shops, impromptu worship music in the parks, Christian concerts that didn't cost $30 bucks a head to get into, just a bunch of folks out at the fairgrounds, or in a community bandshell or park somewhere some night, some afternoon, a couple of times or so a month. Nothing spent, any more than the cost of a permit, and plenty of gospel choirs, bluegrass and Christian rock musicians making music for the glory of God, not making albums for the glory of Christian radio, or selling CDs. It wasn't strange at all to see that sort of thing. once upon a time.

There were food banks, food kitchens, clothing stores with names like Joseph's Coat, Christian coffee shops, too many street preachers and witnessing neophytes all on fire for the Lord, even if they didn't have a clue what they were talking about. Christian newspapers, you name it. It's all quiet now. It's all out in the burbs, or in some strip mall church very few people ever notice. I honked my horn a short beep or two and waved as I drove by a small church when it was getting out last Sunday, smiling. I didn't shout, since I figured I wouldn't be understood. Nobody even so much as waved back, hardly even looked up. I guess enthusiasm and excitement like that doesn't fit in too well any more. It looks like the whole church went to sleep, or went suburban. You know, people show up, the doors close, everybody leaves, the doors close, lights out.

No noise. No fire. No music. No heat. No love. No action. No converts. No river baptisms. No growth. No nothing. No wonder. Got any plans besides your own vacation this summer?

God bless and keep you.

James