November 13th, 2008
This very long entry should make up for no posts during this week. 
This one is on Christian churches.
The definition of the word “Church” is quite simple:
A gathering of people who share the same belief. A community of people.
I once heard a sermon with a claim that a church is not run by a schedule or a program. That people come to church not for the service, they come to church for God.
It is true that Christians come to church for God, but that is true because Christians should do everything for God. You can sit at home with your door locked, and do whatever it is you think it means to worship God. You can also read the bible any and every second of your whole week. You can listen to God every second of your life, as well as praise him. So then why do you go to church?
Do you go to church for the sermon, for the worship music, for the pastor to share his view on a bible verse, or for your own happiness? No, of course, you go to church for God. But would you still go to church for God, if no one would show up? No. You would rather go see friends, or stay at home and read the bible. Lone, even with God. Doesn’t this remind you of someone? Adam, before Eve. Adam was not a sinner, yet he was alone. God gave him someone to share with, someone to talk with. Fellowship – Is this not the reason we go to church? We go to church for others like us, people. And because we all believe, we do it for God.
So we go to church for those who know right, or at least believe. But when we get there, we sit down and go with the program. Sometimes even nearly fall asleep during a boring sermon. We hear popular music that sounds exactly like the music made by those who are not christian, the ”secular” (“those of the world”). In some churches we have traditional hymns and the choir that always sounds the same, in others we feel like we are at a concert. We are told to pray, at a scheduled point in time. The church ends at the same time as always, unless a pastor decides to put in a few more words. We might say “hi” to others before and after the service, but “How are you?” is as far as it goes.
All of the church attenders have lives too, they all have 6 days to go through in their daily life, to make choices, and to realize many marvelous things. Trials and tribulations, journeys. They all have something to say. We all have something we’re dealing with, and we all have something to share. We sit by such a big number of Christians who are just like us, who might hold something that we seek, or who might be those that we could help. But that is alright, we would rather hear a sermon from a pastor, maybe even a sermon that we have acknowledged many times before. We would rather hear/sing a song that is somehow related to Christianity, instead of singing our song of praise. Who said that music is the way to worship?
I understand, there is no way to make everyone happy. But this should not be the church’s mission. Words are thrown out by pastors to make us giggle, to make us clap our hands in entertainment. Words are said to make us fell good, and more comfortable. Words are said with biblical facts, in a sleazy way to make you feel accepted. A donation plate is then passed around, to collect money for the progression of the church. If I were assured that my money would be doing the works of God, I would be more than happy to give it to the Lord. If not, then this is just a business. Happiness for cash. My money would be better used by me.
Is this what God had in mind for giving the Sunday to him? Reading the bible, it seems to me as if churches have forgotten just what Jesus was against. Leaders setting up businesses within the church, exchanging money for happiness. This is not Christianity. Is this not what Jesus showed aggression for?
Compare Jesus’ time with today’s. Back then Jesus had a place to go to, to share with the wise. (even if he didn’t tell his parents 
) Today, our churches open on Sunday mornings as a tribute, and close some hours later.
Suddenly, “those of the world” and “Christians” don’t seem so far apart. Some churches talk so much trash of the world, that they forget the fact that we live in the world also. This only makes the church more strict, and the power of the church – the youth, suddenly develops a second life. They are not taught of real life lessons, but are just told “no” to the world altogether. And so the church feels the need to open up more, to accept the new generation and a part of the world. Are Christians not the ones above the influence of the world? How will you know what good and bad is, when you reject it altogether? What Jesus taught was not tradition, but reason.
I’m starting to believe that some generations of Christianity will soon be built out of Atheist-Christians. Because it’s not as much about God, as it is about the pursuit of happiness, to keep the business going.
See Barack Obama’s campaign rallies to see what I mean. And looking at the “Christian music industry”, apparently if you are a “Christian” then all your songs on all your albums are, too. You get the picture of where this is going.
Christianity is not about happiness, though for some reason, most churches try to portray it as that. Christianity should be seen as something more than the world, Christianity is about being open minded, noting the stupid things in the world, it’s about reason and belief higher than what the world could ever set forth. A Christian church should be open to making things better. I was hoping that the older traditional churches would grow out of their traditions, but they are instead growing into the religion that the world portrays Christianity as – something to makes the people happy and gives them something to think about.
I am a Christian, but I don’t feel like going to church and seeing the same traditions, some already evolved into pursuit of happiness.
Apologies for the long entry, but I do mean every word.
November 21st, 2008 at 3:54 pm
A youth pastor once said to me, “You don’t have to go to church to be a Christian. You go to church to stay a Christian.” The purpose of church is to stay connected to God and other believers. If we are the body than we can’t be cutting off our arm and expect to win an arm wrestle.
July 17th, 2009 at 12:02 am
Matt, I couldn’t really reply with anything earlier, but recently I came across something and your reply came to mind. Here’s something to think about. (I do care about feedback that much. I hope you’re still around to read this.)
I do understand the concept of a backslider, and I understand that having a foundation with support such as a Church, is a necessity for an individual. (Else we are not complete.)
Going back to the example of Adam & Eve. He was fine, then with Eve he was great. But then, between 2 humans, something happens. One bites the forbidden apple, and the other follows.
Fellowship is great. (If you do have any real Christian fellowship in Church to begin with.) But Christianity at it’s core is only a link with you and God. You stay a Christian by growing. Fellowship is often a key to progress, as others see you by your actions, not your thoughts. Through God and Christians, you become more and more like Christ.
However, fellowship is long lost in a typical Church. People become followers of a “religion” rather than become true Christians. Instead of learning to walk on their own, people do not grow, they take the easy way, in the Church. They sing worship, they get filled, but in my head a bible verse keeps popping up:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
-Matthew 7:21-23