I’ve recently started reading a book called “Pop goes the Church” by Tim Stevens. As I started reading the book, I felt like a traveled back in time. The book hits some great points on how today’s church needs to engage today’s culture. I will give my review of the book as soon as I finish reading it.
I grew up in the christian church culture since I was about 10 yrs old. I have tons of great memories, and tons of… mixed memories and feelings. I remember being in Church about 4 or 5 days out of the week. I didn’t do to many activities outside of the church calendar…Mostly because I hated dealing with the guilt. The guilt that anything outside of the church’ agenda was unholy, and proof that my love for God was not genuine. Well, at least that is how I was programmed to feel. Don’t get me wrong, I am in no way bashing the church, I just feel the true essence of what the church was called to be, wasn’t. Instead, it created a “members only” culture. Everyone talked the same, pretended to be the same, believed the same and anything outside of that was unholy. Countless were the times when I was cast out of friendships or groups because I was me, and not the majority. Some still don’t talk to me…LOL Speaking out and sharing your heart was a sign of rebellion. I remember sitting down in a conference room, being questioned about the music I was creating…I wanted to feel welcomed, and feel part of everyone else, so I chose to live in the church bubble. I had no clue what the real world was like. What the real world was talking about. What the real world felt and what it was searching for. When I entered college I met tons of real people. People that did not think like me. People that did not believe in what I believed. People that were so freakn talented. They spoke art, music, history, philosophy, food and more. It was then that something inside of me sparked like never before. The world was new to me. Was I supposed to not know of these great things like culture, history art and music? Why would God create beauty and keep me away from it? Or was I misinformed?
These new people were polite, spoke with respect and seemed genuine…But I was told they weren’t. So my bubble instinct was to have them come to church so we can change them…But then I thought, if I bring them to church they’re gonna hate it. And for one, they were way too cool to be changed. I wanted them to remain cool, creative and innovative in the way they thought and lived. But I wanted them to experience God and follow Christ as I was trying to. Why can’t God love people for who they are? So I started reading more about Jesus on my own. Trying to look deeper into who he was and is still supposed to be today. What is the role of the church today? Are they really showing Jesus to the world? If so, why the heck are statistics showing a decrease in the christian church today?
I am passionate about my faith in Jesus, and I am still learning more and more as I go. I have experienced God in such an amazing way and want to share that with anyone who would wanna listen. I can’t help to look back at moments when I felt I lost. But all I can do is look forward and live right now! Could it be we’ve complicated the message of faith, hope and love with a different agenda in mind? Are churches still creating members only bubbles? It seemed like the church culture had it’s own language. A language that was difficult to understand for a regular person walking in. I get really excited when I meet people, pastors, leaders and artists that are real. Who talk like ordinary people and not like fortune cookie machines. People who do life, and live it to its fullest. People who are not afraid to break bread, regardless of your social and economical history. People who are not afraid to help strangers in need. That inspires me. That is Jesus in this world. That is a glimpse of what the church should be. I don’t claim to know everything, but I know what feels real and natural…I believe the true Jesus unifies people, not divides. I believe Jesus sets you free and not showcase you in a glass box. I am in now way a bible scholar or theologian, just an ordinary dude living life to the fullest and sharing my experiences with those willing to hear about it. I am on a journey, and in that process I am being challenged, stretched and refined. So how do we engage this culture? How do we become relevant catalysts? How do we reintroduce the real Jesus, where he has been made a phony? Thoughts?
-fuser+
