I want Oceans of it!

I sat in the movie theater in Bowie a few weeks ago with a number of good friends patiently awaiting the start of the ‘show’ for that evening. The lights dimmed, the screen darkened to black, the music began to play in that dramatic theatrical way and then it happened. My world was rocked. My world was challenged, by feelings were insulted, my senses were challenged and my mind was blown and my heart was issued the ultimate challenge.

You see, when we go to a movie theater we expect to be entertained, to have our conscience stroked, to have a place where the wounds of the day or week can be salved over with good feelings and the balm of laughter. We long for the escape that the movie theater often brings with its other worlds that delight and stimulate, its display of far off lands that offer intrigue and adventure. We salivate at the thought that one day, just one day, we might be able to trade places with the lead character, we might be the one that comes out on top, we might be the ones that get the girl, or the guy. We might be the ones who ride off into the setting sun with victory under our belt, love in our hearts and gold in our pockets. Just one day we might be the people on the big screen.

As I sat with my friends around me in that dimly lit shrine to the ‘possibility of what may be’ I was excited, I was eager to be an active part of what I was about to view. I was filled with anticipation of what was to come and the wonder of imagination as to how I might take the starring role in a similar production that would never reach the silver screen. I was ready.

Those feelings quickly changed. What happened in the next few moments stole all of those feelings away. The next few minutes of darkness, narration and written text did not fulfill my anticipation. The next few moments did not fill me with awe and wonder, they did not set my heart racing with the anticipation of what would follow or how I could see myself in the sequel.

The next few moments stripped my heart bare. The next few lines of prose reduced my anticipation to angst. The next few moments reduced me to a humbled position of reality. Reality of the world we live in and reality of how blessed I am with my version of this world we live in.

The narrator’s softly spoken voice conveyed a truth so un-mistakable that there was little else to do but allow the tear to form and slowly fall down my cheek. There was nothing else to do but listen to the words, to watch the images before. There was nothing else to do but to wonder what I could do.

As I listened my heart began to break, my world began to shake and my ideals were once again challenged with the reality of the world we live in. As I listened with my ears to the words of the narrator I was unable to close the ears of my heart to the deafening cry of my Savior. I couldn’t drown His voice out with soda or popcorn. I haven’t been able to drown His voice out for 2 weeks now. I pray I never will be able to.

My prayer is that these words of prose will grip me so deeply that I will never be the same again.

My prayer is that these words will disturb me so much that I can do nothing but answer His cry and change my life to reach out hands of justice. My prayer is that I will want what God wants – as deeply as He wants it.

“I can't stand your religious meetings.

I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions.
I want nothing to do with your religion projects,
your pretentious slogans and goals.

I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes,
your public relations and image making.

I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
When was the last time you sang to me?

Do you know what I want?

I want justice—oceans of it.
I want fairness—rivers of it.

That's what I want.
That’s all I want.”

Amos 5:21-23 (The Message)

http://www.theiheartfilm.com/

Thoughts on Church - Membership

Next week I will be preaching at our church and the subject matter, well at least part of it, concerns the church. I have spent some time over the past few weeks listening to podcasts, reading articles and of course, reading the bible in preparation for next week. This week Rev Ray posted an interesting article on his web site - http://raymcd.blogspot.com/ - which asked a couple of questions about church membership.

Church membership is one of the things that I have been considering recently - well, more so I have been wondering why we have it. Church membership is an interesting concept, because, unlike other memberships that one may have, there are actually few, if any, perks that come with church membership. There are no "Member's Only" sections in churches, at least I hope there aren't. No 'Member's Only' parking spots. There are no special rates for members - a tithe is still 10%, even for members. Your prayer requests don't get jumped to the head of the prayer list just because you are a member. So what is the point of membership? More importantly, is there a danger to having church membership? Could people feel excluded from our community if they are not identified as a member? Does the rhetoric we use set up invisible barriers to people belonging to our church?

As I have thought about why churches have membership lists I can only think that they do so to identify those who are 'with them'. I guess that churches have membership rolls so they can provide a list of all the people who have decided that this particular church is the body with whom they will work and serve to build the kingdom. But does that truly require membership - or does it simply require demonstration? Are there people on the membership roll of a church who have taken a class, signed a declaration, or made some specific statement that are not working alongside the church to further the kingdom? Are there even people on those lists who are actively working against the direction of the church due to some grievance or aggravation they perceive to have been foisted upon them? What about those 'members' who are inactive, or move away to another city or state? Their name is on a list, but their demonstration of alongside-ness has ceased.

If the idea behind membership of a church is to help to identify a group of core people who can be counted upon to work with the church to fulfill its mission then how tough should the joining process be? I once heard it said that a church should be hard to join and easy to leave. The harder the joining process involved then the greater opportunity for prospective members to prove that their actions will demonstrate that they will be active supporters of the mission of the church. If the joining process is too easy then is there a greater risk of people becoming members and then not fulfilling their membership duties? What if we made the membership process more stringent, where people took time to complete a series of steps. During this time they would be demonstrating that they are willing to give their time, energy and money to support the work of the church? I wonder how many 'members' we would have in our churches if this were the case? I also wonder if some of the issues we currently face would vanish too with those who should not stay connected to our bidy but should move on to find one where their gifts and talents could be better used.

I know that for some this discussion could be a difficult concept - but maybe it is time to look at the things that we have always done and ask ourselves a few questions:

1. Are these practices biblical?


2. Are these practices practical?


3. Are these practices hindering anyone from joining our community as they travel along their own spiritual journey?


4. What would really happen if we ceased these practices?

Just some thoughts on the church. Check back this week for more thoughts as I try to sift through the information in my head and hear the voice of the Lord for this week's message.

I covet your prayers this week and hope to see you in Mt Oak on Sunday morning. If you read this and dont live close enough to travel to our church this week then check out the podcast of the message next Monday morning when it is available.