Excellent article, Michelle. I have felt like a church refugee, but interestingly we made our way back to the denomination that I grew up in. We are contributing, developing community and it doesn't feel at all transactional. Relationships are so very important, and I missed being a part of a Christian community in which everyone could serve in their giftedness.
"...I missed being a part of a Christian community in which everyone could serve in their giftedness." That is it. Everyone serving in their giftedness describes a place that practices hospitality. So, so glad you've found it after a long, long journey to get there.
I have never thought of myself as being spiritually homeless. When I come across someone who is looking and asking questions I suggest reading the Bible, asking God to open eyes.
Choosing to have a personal relationship with Christ since my family was shamed out of our Baptist church when I was nine - in 1956 - my perspective on what 'church' is or what Christ intended it to be has been somewhat unique until recent years when more and more seekers have begun to abandon the manmade 'church' - but not God. Sometimes I consider this the 'great falling away' rather than the traditional interpretation of people falling away from God.
My stand is that Christ did not come to form a new religion - He came to establish a way back to the Father. The word 'Temple' is used eleven times in Revelation - all of which refer to the new Temple in heaven. The Body of Christ is the Church. It was supposed to be spiritual not physical.
But, as God knows so well, humans need a box to neatly put things in, so now there are 100s of denominations of what is known as Christian Church, each with their own interpretations of doctrine. When I have this touchy conversation with others I always ask - which one is the right one, the one Christ wanted us to follow?
While I agree with the essence of your comment, I do see in the New Testament messages to the church which gathered in various cities (Ephessus, Phillipi, and so on). These gatherings met everywhere from riverbanks to homes to synagogues to possibly dedicated meeting spaces. We see that regional focus continued in Revelation 2 and 3. Each of these gatherings had a personality and emphasis all their own that were distinct in nature from that of individual believers. The pre-Constantian early church got a little more organized, but these were still local and regional gatherings of the ekklesia.
That said, the thousands of different churches (sometimes several different varieties on the same block) doesn't align neatly with the geographical focus of the early church.
It's a complex topic that has always been difficult for me to address without composing a 1000 word treatise. Too much left out of a couple of short paragraphs. My point being, I don't disagree with gathering to worship and share and pray. The first century Christians often had to meet in caves and secrecy. The catacombs under the streets of Rome are full of the remains of men, women, and children who died for being Christian. But they met anyway. When two or more are gathered in His name...clearly a call to gather.
My point is more about the corrupting of the original structure and purpose of gathering which was predictable since human nature is easily manipulated.
I have so many stories that shore up my determination to tell anyone who does not feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in the building and those gathered there - He is still available seek Him with an open spirit. Don't reject Christ just because you can't find the right congregation.
Years ago I knew a young woman who was searching for the right church. Over the course of four or five years she joined three different denominations. She told me every single one wanted her to be baptized again in their sanctuary in order to join. I asked her if Jesus walked in her house one day and after recovering from the shock, if she asked Him, 'Lord, which church should I belong to?' would she be stunned if He replied, "If you can ask that you do not know me." I told her to sit with her Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to open her eyes.
I've been traveling this road so long and had this discussion so often I can predict the next question - which I totally understand - 'How can I understand anything without a teacher/preacher/group to guide me?' Well, I say, first you have to accept that God is bigger than any human and if we are open to hearing from Him, He speaks to us in the way we can hear.
And, in conclusion, I can add, everyone must find what works for him/her. The eyes can't do what the legs do. I have never advised anyone to take the road I chose. It works for me and that's all I can attest to. If I have had a purpose I think it has been to leave behind a rag tag tribe of believers who pray, listen, obey and trust.
Excellent article, Michelle. I have felt like a church refugee, but interestingly we made our way back to the denomination that I grew up in. We are contributing, developing community and it doesn't feel at all transactional. Relationships are so very important, and I missed being a part of a Christian community in which everyone could serve in their giftedness.
"...I missed being a part of a Christian community in which everyone could serve in their giftedness." That is it. Everyone serving in their giftedness describes a place that practices hospitality. So, so glad you've found it after a long, long journey to get there.
I have never thought of myself as being spiritually homeless. When I come across someone who is looking and asking questions I suggest reading the Bible, asking God to open eyes.
Choosing to have a personal relationship with Christ since my family was shamed out of our Baptist church when I was nine - in 1956 - my perspective on what 'church' is or what Christ intended it to be has been somewhat unique until recent years when more and more seekers have begun to abandon the manmade 'church' - but not God. Sometimes I consider this the 'great falling away' rather than the traditional interpretation of people falling away from God.
My stand is that Christ did not come to form a new religion - He came to establish a way back to the Father. The word 'Temple' is used eleven times in Revelation - all of which refer to the new Temple in heaven. The Body of Christ is the Church. It was supposed to be spiritual not physical.
But, as God knows so well, humans need a box to neatly put things in, so now there are 100s of denominations of what is known as Christian Church, each with their own interpretations of doctrine. When I have this touchy conversation with others I always ask - which one is the right one, the one Christ wanted us to follow?
While I agree with the essence of your comment, I do see in the New Testament messages to the church which gathered in various cities (Ephessus, Phillipi, and so on). These gatherings met everywhere from riverbanks to homes to synagogues to possibly dedicated meeting spaces. We see that regional focus continued in Revelation 2 and 3. Each of these gatherings had a personality and emphasis all their own that were distinct in nature from that of individual believers. The pre-Constantian early church got a little more organized, but these were still local and regional gatherings of the ekklesia.
That said, the thousands of different churches (sometimes several different varieties on the same block) doesn't align neatly with the geographical focus of the early church.
It's a complex topic that has always been difficult for me to address without composing a 1000 word treatise. Too much left out of a couple of short paragraphs. My point being, I don't disagree with gathering to worship and share and pray. The first century Christians often had to meet in caves and secrecy. The catacombs under the streets of Rome are full of the remains of men, women, and children who died for being Christian. But they met anyway. When two or more are gathered in His name...clearly a call to gather.
My point is more about the corrupting of the original structure and purpose of gathering which was predictable since human nature is easily manipulated.
I have so many stories that shore up my determination to tell anyone who does not feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in the building and those gathered there - He is still available seek Him with an open spirit. Don't reject Christ just because you can't find the right congregation.
Years ago I knew a young woman who was searching for the right church. Over the course of four or five years she joined three different denominations. She told me every single one wanted her to be baptized again in their sanctuary in order to join. I asked her if Jesus walked in her house one day and after recovering from the shock, if she asked Him, 'Lord, which church should I belong to?' would she be stunned if He replied, "If you can ask that you do not know me." I told her to sit with her Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to open her eyes.
I've been traveling this road so long and had this discussion so often I can predict the next question - which I totally understand - 'How can I understand anything without a teacher/preacher/group to guide me?' Well, I say, first you have to accept that God is bigger than any human and if we are open to hearing from Him, He speaks to us in the way we can hear.
And, in conclusion, I can add, everyone must find what works for him/her. The eyes can't do what the legs do. I have never advised anyone to take the road I chose. It works for me and that's all I can attest to. If I have had a purpose I think it has been to leave behind a rag tag tribe of believers who pray, listen, obey and trust.