“The operation of the Church is entirely set up for the sinner: which creates much misunderstanding among the smug.”
– Flannery O’Connor
We live in a big world filled with 8 billion people, 195 countries (or 234 or 249), and as many as 10,000 religions. Christianity, according to the World Christian Encyclopedia, has about 45,000 denominations. Some estimates are even higher.
It’s safe to say, humans don’t agree on much. Considering the number of denominations, it would be impossible to determine how many churches exist. If we’re really being honest about it, many of us can’t even agree what a church is much less agree on how many of them exist.
Recently, I made a post on one of my social media accounts that got a few people to unfollow me.
“It’s Sunday, will you be attending a performance today?”
It may sound like an odd question or, at least, one with an intention to provoke a response from church apologists. The question isn’t meant to challenge anyone’s relationship to a body of believers, a denomination, a congregation or even a building. Instead, I wanted to draw attention to how we use church in our society.
Yes, I said “use church” because much of Christianity approaches their particular building of choice as a consumer product. I know. Your church is different, right?
Some people view church as a hospital for sinners and others look at church as a fort where you hide from a world filled with “those people.”
Over the last few years, I’ve had an opportunity to travel around the world a few times. Sometimes, I traveled on vacation and other times as part of my former role in mission work. Whenever possible, I visited churches in different places.
I’ve heard some Christians in the U.S. comment that Europe is no longer Christian (possibly the smug said this, but I digress). While it is true that church attendance in Western Europe is declining (it is also declining in the U.S.), I noticed a distinct difference in the way people in Europe “use” church.
I didn’t get to attend a service in every city, but i noticed many churches were open even if it wasn’t Sunday. No matter what day of the week or what time of day, I almost always saw people in the sanctuary praying.
That is not as common in the U.S.
Many of the social activities in the community took place in or around the churches and there was always an opportunity to donate to feed the poor—even hungry sinners who didn’t attend that particular church. Some of them might not even have been believers but they still needed care.
Can you believe it?
I grew up Southern Baptist. In the South (capital “S’), you are likely born Baptist and you’ll make your grandma sad if you go somewhere else on Sunday. I’m no longer a Southern Baptist. I’m a member of a Methodist church but I like visiting a variety of services.
Although I spent a few years in contemporary services, I love a beautiful old building. It feels like home.
I’ve been in church buildings with historic sanctuaries and I’ve been in repurposed storefronts with above ground swimming pools for baptizing. A couple of places had no Christian ornamentation whatsoever. I’ve been in services where the priest wore robes and services where the preacher looked like he’d just thrown on his cleanest dirty shirt. I did that this morning. No judging!
I’ve heard beautiful choirs, classical music, praise bands and everything in between. A couple of services looked like everyone on the overcrowded stage just arrived from an audition to tour with The Wiggles. It’s possible.
I’ve heard Christian counselors pop off advice to “just get involved in church” as if that was the solution to any problem. They didn’t say whether the person should go to high church, contemporary church, swimming pool church or Wiggle church.
A little clarification would be nice.
It’s easy to see why we have so many varieties of church. I’d argue we should have even more. You see, YOU are the church and your relationship with Jesus is one on one—very personal. Until we have 8 billion denominations, we still have work to do.
I’m kidding. Maybe.
Consider why you go to a building on Sunday morning—if you do. Are you going for a Sunday morning fashion show, a concert, a prancing speaker? Or are you going to learn to love God and love your neighbor?
Below, I have posted a few photos from churches I’ve visited around the world. I hope you enjoy seeing them.
I’ve been in Pentecostal churches in Africa, Catholic churches in Italy and High churches in England. I’ve even sat in the choir loft where John Lennon sang as a child and donated at the former Salvation Army church and children’s home that inspired his song “Strawberry Field.”
Although it is now an event center, Strawberry Field houses several ministry and community programs to help people with disabilities find work, to learn, to pray and to serve.
Pretty cool!
I stood in a tunnel under the Vatican on the morning the current Pope was announced and said the Lord’s Prayer next to the bones of Peter and others.
And, I’ve sat on my sofa and prayed out loud to God like the Christian mystics, believing that He was (and is) sitting in the room with me.
Jesus spoke of his purpose when he said “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. I didn’t come to invite good people to be my followers. I came to invite sinners.”
Take a look at the quote at the top of the page.
rebootreligion 
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