A winding forest road in Småland, Sweden
As I walk with Jesus, it’s a bit like a stroll through the countryside as he points out the things he loves and tells me more about them. I’m learning to love what he loves, but I’m also beginning to dislike what he doesn’t like.
The further I walk along with him, I’m beginning to get more and more ambivalent about much of what the church at large is into. Much of what I see is man-made and man-centric. It seems to be much about control, empire and entertainment. And in Joyce Meyers words, ” It’s all about Me! Me! Me!”. And I’ve been as much part of that as anyone else.
As a church member and as a church leader, I’ve seen it and experienced it from both sides. It’s left me hungry for something more. Something that’s authentic, simple, and more focused, led and controlled by Jesus. Unencumbered by programmes, constitutions, business techniques and ‘christian’ celebrity worship.
I desire to see groups of people committed to becoming like Jesus. Who share their lives together and delight in including and sharing with others who are on their own journeys through brokenness and pain. Sharing the wholeness and healing that can only come from Jesus.
I’ve done a lot of repenting of my part in man-made church. So much so, I now find it hard to find a church that I want to be part of where I live. Don’t get me wrong. I love the church and I’m passionate about it’s future. But unless things change, the church as we know it will become smaller and irrelevant in western culture. I don’t want to be part of something that’s broken.
Thankfully, I’ve been reading the writings of people like Floyd McClung, Neil Cole, Brian McLaren, Shane Claiborne and others as they bring hope for the emergence of a different church. And I want to be part of that emerging movement. If you do too, let me know. Maybe we can walk the road together…