Church is Family not Building

Well the topic of the week seems to be about how people engage with the church. I have had a couple of conversations with individuals about how God has not called us to a church as a ‘building’ but rather a church as a ‘family’.

We used to take team of young people to the Corn Exchange in Leeds in the days when it was surrounded by hundred’s of awesome young people expressing themselves creatively through clothing, multiple piercings and generally cool hair! Those were amazing times, we would see people saved and encountering God and this was before we operated in signs/wonders and the prophetic!
I remember once going with surveys for the young people to fill out and we did it so that we could:
1- find out what they were thinking and feelings
2- have an opportunity to tell them about God.
We did have to offer them a free lollipop for filling one out but it was well worth it.

The biggest thing that would stand out from the surveys was this

The young people would have no problem with God, but rather the institution known as the ‘Church’

Wow, how had the very people assigned with the task of leading people to God actually manage to become the very thing that put people off Him!

We soon realised that we had to become radically different in order to break the mind-set so clearly evident in our generation. The fact that we were young helped them understand that the church wasn’t just what they’d seen on ‘The simpsons” or ‘songs of praise’! Although, still in their minds, Christianity was a religion. Any young person knows that religion = rules, regulations, can and cant’s etc. etc. Our response has simply become “we’re not religious”.

Now some people will be thinking, you can’t say that because religion means you have a set of beliefs that you follow. Whether it be Atheism, Buddism, Christianity etc etc. and yes I would agree. I believe Jesus died for me and paid the price for my life so that I can have salvation. It is what sets me apart from every other belief.

My point is this, I am not religious about my religion!

I do not have a religion like most people think, in fact in their understanding of religion, it is closer to the truth to state ‘I am not religious’ then it is to state otherwise.
My life is simply devoted to my relationship with God and then my relationship with people, the two most important things (Matthew 22:36-39). From this I can go to a ‘church meeting’ and not be caught up in obligations, religiosity or tradition but rather just relate to God and people.

Sadly a lot of people who want a relationship with God don’t want it with the church. I want to make something clear. I believe God is raising up a new kind of ‘church’! God is renewing the church to bring us inline with his original intention. Each one of us beautifully unique, we all offer something different and relate to God and people in our own way. These differences are to be celebrated not hidden or made to conform. If you are really creative, I want you to come to our church ‘family’ and share your unique expressions for everyone to benefit. If you are very analytic, I want you to come to our church ‘family’ and draw out the real truths for the bible for everyone to experience. The key is that you first know your who you are and what you were made for, once you do, you can share it wiuth others in complete confidence. I am not saying everyone will understand you and yes you might even need some fine tuning yourself, but if I have a hand, it is no good without having an eye in which to guide it. Our family isn’t complete without you and your not complete without your family.

This is an open invitation to everyone, whether you consider yourself a christian or not. God wants you as part of his family, not on the side. Trust me when I say, it is the best family to be in!