Church without the Spirit?
I grew up in the church. My father is a retired Presbyterian Minister, my sister is an Associate Pastor, my brother is in seminary, and my other sister, well, she goes to church too. From the time I was born, I spent every Sunday, and most days in-between, at church or a church-related function. I grew up in the church. But, for many of my friends, I am a bit of an anomaly. Most of my college friends, for instance, do not attend church. They are “spiritual, but not religious.”
Statistics show that the numbers of people attending mainline denominations weekly has dropped significantly in the last few decades. Why? Why have my friends not felt the same desire to be a part of the Body? Or, the question that sometimes keeps me up at night: If I hadn’t grown up in the church, would I have heard God’s call to be a part of it now? In every measurable statistic, the mainline church in America is failing. Why?
The standard answer is usually that society has changed, that the church has been pushed to the margins and no longer holds the place it once did. The standard answer is that culture has moved to a post-church era that threatens our very existence. The standard answer is that society is the culprit and the church is the victim. Well, I don’t buy it.
There is one culprit for why the church is failing: the church. Did we ever stop to wonder why people say they are “spiritual, not religious” when making excuses for not going to church? The church used to be the place of spirituality, the purveyor of all things spiritual. The church used to put the spirit in spiritual, but somewhere along the lines the church became more religious than spiritual. Perhaps it happened the first time a congregation was torn apart over the color of a carpet, or the style of stone.
When the people were gathered in Jerusalem at Pentecost, it was the Holy Spirit that came to them, and gave them abilities, and on that day the church was born. The original church was filled with the Spirit, but then at some point it became institutionalized, and turned religious. If we are to turn around the trend toward irrelevance, then the church must be willing to look in the mirror…not dimly.
Anyway, a blog isn’t supposed to give all of the answers. So, as tempting as it is, which of course I could (that was a joke), I won’t. A blog is supposed to begin a conversation. So, some food for thought:
- Pisgah seems to be different. Is it? Where could we be more spiritual? Where does the institution of religion inhibit us?
- This Sunday in worship, we lit the candle of love. If we were to follow that light, where would it lead us? How might it change us?
- What brought you to church, originally and now?
- God gave us the church for a reason, what is it? Are we living up to it?
- If you were charged with writing a mission statement for Pisgah, or any church, what would it be?
Respond to this blog and let’s start a conversation. Who knows? The Spirit might lead us to a new understanding, and a new direction. Advent is a journey. Join the conversation and let’s journey together.
Peace and grace,
Pete
When I was growing up, my mother took us to Mass every Sunday and I went through the Catholic tradition of “CCD” (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine), being baptized, making my First Holy Communion and being Confirmed in that church. Attending church was more of an obligation than a joy for me as a child In Junior High and High School, I was invited to attend a youth group at my friends’ Presbyterian church. This is when I truly began my relationship with God and his Son, Jesus Christ. When Joe and I started dating and attending Pisgah prior to our wedding in May, 1990- Pisgah felt like “home” and for me, it has been a place of education, a place for spiritual growth and a place for Christian community. I still visit the catholic church where I grew up and I have mixed emotions about being there. There is a comfort in the familiarity of the words but the Mass has not evolved much from the time when I was a child (when I found the same words each week to be somewhat boring). Even though that “place” is no longer my church home, I am truly grateful to my mother for bringing me up with a Christian foundation and then allowing me the freedom to choose which denomination suited me as an adult. With regard to churches-what is “comfort” to one person may be “boring” to the next. People need to find the place where they feel comfortable and welcomed Pisgah has been and continues to be that place for me!
Art and I have been reading a book: Reading the Psalms with Luther. We read just before going to sleep and had reached the 117th Psalm when Advent started. We decided to lay aside Luther and the Psalms and, instead, read our Advent booklet. Since we were already in the reading habit every night, it has been easy to continue with the Advent series – and so meaningful. Such wonderful messages by our friends, encouraging scriptures, and prayers. Our Advent season is greatly enriched.
Al lot of attention is given to tradituion of the grounds and old families at Pisgah. Perhaps more time with the scriptures could lead us to sincere spirituality and less with instituation.
I came to the church through regular attendance of Sunday School and Church. What was called habit developed into a love of neighbor and the pursuit of learning from the scrpiptures. This habit carried over in the training of our children and has culminated by them teaching their children the same. What was once habit developed into love and devotion. Some will say that rote has no value in training of the heart, but certainly rote is of more value if the result is a loving heart rather than the way of the world.
Jesus gave us the Church to be a source of nourishment and a place of worship wherein we can experience love of neighbor.
A mission statement for Pissgah could contain many things but certainly would include the establishment of a viable witness to Gods presence.
Pete: With respect, the Presbyterian church needs to release itself from some centuries old Book of Order precepts that hinder changes in worship, especially as it relates to the exuberant kind. Dignity and decorum IS respectful to God, but does not connect with many youth in or out of the fold, or anyone new to worship.
Good comment, John. It’s true that we can certainly be married to decorum in the Presbyterian Church, and we need to be open to the Spirit’s leading (open to change) as we continue this journey. Worship should always bring us to deeper understandings of our faith, while allowing people to express that faith as they feel so moved. As long as worship is doing that (deepening, not shallowing), then I am all for it!