Wolfgang Simson gives us a book that discusses Christianity’s possible third reformation that is occurring right now. In his book, Houses that Change the World, Simson explains that the first two reformations (Luther’s being the first, and the time of the Great Awakening in America during the 18th and 19th centuries being the second) brought about changes to certain theological dogmas the catholic church has instituted, with the actual structure of “church” remaining untouched. Here is the story briefly discussed from his first chapter.
The church in the first century (as we read in the New Testament) was structured very differently than what we see today as a result of Emperor Constantine’s actions in the fourth century. During this time, there were no sanctuaries, songbooks, leather bond volumes of the entire canon, individual men “pasturing” a certain congregation, small sips of Welch’s grape juice with small tidbits of crackers (the smaller the piece, the more holy), etc. Church looked a lot different. In fact, it probably looked more like your family’s Christmas or Thanksgiving celebrations.
Each home church had an average of 8-15 people in attendance, meeting around each other’s kitchen tables throughout the week. The seemingly small individual numbers did not mean that Christians were not in abundance, or that they were struggling to grow. This culture simply had a different mindset than we do. Today, with a focus on a city’s success based on skyscrapers and individual effort, we define a good church plant as one congregation that has achieved a membership of 250 with noticeable continual growth.
In the first century, family and community was the primary focus. Undeniably, the churches presented in the New Testament were house churches. These small units were designed to multiply and spread through natural every-day evangelism, creating other churches to spread out. If today’s desired church growth is described as upward, then the original growth pattern of the church was sideways, effectively spreading around the world.
Our churches of today focus on programs, rites and rituals that are directed by centrally trained professionals. Home churches tend to focus on accountability, fellowship and growth that are guided by kind and patient fathers and mothers. The church structure has transformed from a living family dynamic to a participatory event.
Last night, over Easter, my wife and I went to a rural church in Manchester, TN with my parents for the Sunday evening service. The attendance was half of Sunday mornings with only one other young couple besides us. For the past few decades (from my understanding) attendance has been decreasing for other services. More and more young adults choose not to come back during the week for whatever reason and this has become a problem in the eyes of many older Christians. I often wonder if there is a problem, if so who's problem is it, and what exactly is the problem?
All of my life, I have always known of two types of Christians: the gold star church member attending all services and Bible classes and the erring brother or sister that only attends on Sunday mornings. Being the son of a southern preacher, I have constantly heard problems local congregations had regarding attendance on Sunday nights and Wednesday Bible Studies. "Why will they not come?" "What do we need to do to increase return attendance during the week?" Such questions have always been asked that assume only going to church services once a week is a sin according to Hebrews 10.25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some
is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching." (KJV)
I would love to go back in time to see church life when two services each Sunday where becoming mandatory. The second service on Sundays were added during a time when a lot of people had to start working in factories and during harvest. This allowed everyone a chance to have communion, you only went to one service. I can imagine going to both services became a fad in certain key areas (Nashville, Memphis, Huntsville, etc.). Later on this might have caught on and some seemed to develop a "holier than thou" attitude because they attended more Church services. (Adhering to the notion that just showing up for Church makes you holy and spiritual). Before you know it, it was decreed that you have to come for all services by authorization of the verse quoted above. I want to see some early documentation of this, so this is educated speculation.
The individuals not coming back during the week is not unnecessarily a problem with them. They just don't feel the need to return. If there is no reason to do something, why do it? Or why not go completely go all the way. Acts 2.46 gives us an apostolic example that we could interpret as action we need to fulfill. The Bible says here that we must meet every day, attending temple, eating together, being glad, and generous. How many of us do just one of these every day. I don't really know of anyone that is following by this, so we must all be erring Christians?
As a practical answer to this problem, I say have stuff offered at the Church building every day. People can come and go as they like. My wife even threw in that people should actually live at the Church building. One good thing about the Christian Student Center at UTC was that it was open almost 24/7 due to the fact that people lived there.
Could you imagine going over to your local church at 2AM on a Friday night to get a late night snack and see what other people are up to? What do you think?
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Finally after a year of searching and jumping through hoops, I have been hired as an exceptional ed teacher at Brainerd High. This has been a huge relief even though I am not promised a job for next year. Finally getting a job as a teacher seems to be a capstone for my 4 year long quest to find a place (for the time being) in the working world.
I had started this blog almost 4 years ago to help me keep track of where my life is going. A lot of huge things have happened to me during this time (one of which was when Jake "The Snake" Roberts called me a "sick bastard" to my face a few weeks ago--which was awesome) and part of me still feels like I am in the same place where I started.
The reason is this. Four years ago, I thought life was strictly defined by what I was doing and what I had accomplished. That Thomas would have posted an ecstatic posting the day I started my new job. Over the past few months my perception of things have changed. Now my new life as a husband (just had our 1st anniversary) has overtaken my priorities. This newfound discovery has got me worked up and bent out of shape. You don't just get married and go on with your plans. To have a completely fulfilling marriage (we are definitely not there yet), the two of you becomes the plan, the ministry, the job, and all of your energy.
During this development, I have struggled with finding my place as a husband and providing appropriate leadership (knowing when to speak and when to shut-up) has been difficult since I had pretty much ignored these things the first few months of our marriage.
So that is where I am at now. Not quite the same place as I was when I started be blog, but I am back at a beginning. Hopefully four years from now I can be blogging about having a solid and passionate marriage.
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