May 26, 2007

  • The Church and I: Drink More Kool-Ade

    There are always problems in the church that bother those of us who think independently. I used to try to improve church bodies and para-church groups much more than I do now. However, now I have realized that a lot of our attempts to be change agents in the church can cause splits and enmity in the church. As long as that new church program or guest speaker isn't blatantly against Scripture, I wonder, should we just go along with the flow more? Should we "drink the Koolade" as the saying goes, and go along with our leaders even when their recommended dosage may be distasteful? After all, don't the words of Gamaliel in Acts 5 still hold true; God will take care of those who are led by their own spirit, not God's?

    Now you probably know where the "drink the Kool-ade" statement comes from: Jim Jones poisoned his followers by having them all drink Kool-ade laced with poison. And sometimes, a church does have a truly wicked man in charge. But too often, I have seen so-called reformers arise in the church, who really did more harm than good in the end. The church may be the only place where whistle-blowing can earn you praise and rewards. You look spiritual if you can show that what you want to do is holier than what others think is right. So don't think that every pious would-be Moses is going to lead you out of Egypt. Even those of us who think we are being thoughtful and Biblical should be careful that what we fuss over really is worth fussing over.

    Worse, I sometimes wonder (getting personal) if our desire to improve the church really comes out of a sort of perfectionistic bitterness at our own failings, selfishness, or a desire for control and respect. Pull up some of the roots of your heart on this issue. Sometimes I find more rottenness than redemption at the core, myself, on this issue, and I've learned not to think so highly of my attempts at reformation. Books can deceive us here; we get attached to this vision of the lone martyr, standing for truth, light, and cheaper Captain Crunch in the grocery aisle ($2.50 and under or no Crunch for me!) Martin Luther may have found 95 Theses of what was wrong with the church, but usually only 2 or 3 are worth posting on.

    Thoughts?

Comments (11)

  • I have never thought of the topic in that light before. It's true that many a time we are upset with the church and call for reformation, but do we ever check our motivation? Interesting. With that said, I think a call for change does more good than harm, provided it's done the right way. If it's in a way that you're undermining church authority or doing things to advance what "I" believe church should be like, that's bad stuff. It needs to be a shared vision, or else one that's scripturally sound.

    I also think, however, that there's a lot of staleness in churches today that comes from a lack of change. One of the primary goals for a body of believers should be to glorify God by ministering to everyone. If the church is ever exclusive or non-sensitive to the needs of a particular group, that's when change is needed. When the church is doing a poor job of loving sinners (read: everyone) just as Jesus did, that is when change is needed. It's also important to realize that these words are useless without the accompanied action.

    I dunno, I just woke up so that might not make sense. But the bottom line I am trying to get at is...be unselfish whether you think change is needed or not.

  • Thoughts: I just couldn't help thinking "It's spelled "Kool-aid".

  • my test is always: is this the hill i want to die on? at my former church, i was restricted to teaching women and that was fine with me because i was part of a vibrant ministry. i was willing to submit to a less than optimal framework in order to... ummm... work.

    then again, note "former church" with the plurality of choice of church in america there is really no excuse for divisiveness. just find a community that is a better reflection of your core values. i have other things to say about the health of all that plurality, but i think it's a separate issue.

  • Great post.  Churches need to be quicker at ignoring revolutionaries whose motives are intertwined with personal failings and spiritual shortcomings.

  • How timely. From Galatians 6, which we just went over with my Bible study:

    1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry his own load.

  • good thoughts.  The best thing we can do in a church we're not comfortable in is pray and let GOD move... not us.  We can't do squat on our own feeble strength.  Nothin'.  Zilch.  Absolutely nothing.  We should pray and then act--- either by doing what we feel called to do in the church or by moving to another church entirely as the Lord may will.

    I'm leaving Xanga.  Details in my post.

  • I think its important to pick your battles. I think if we were more ready to overlook the insignificant topics that divide us, we'd be more united as a church. Now granted, there are heresy issues we are obligated to not overlook... but unfortunately it often happens that the much smaller issues are what divide us.

  • i have thought the same thing...

    ugh.

    if i am called to live in community... i should be able to give up some things ... like the koolaide flavor because i prefer unity.

    "Worse, I sometimes wonder (getting personal) if our desire to improve the church really comes out of a sort of perfectionistic bitterness at our own failings, selfishness, or a desire for control and respect."

    Yes. exactly... when that comes up... you have to repent and that is hard. its easier to endlessly improve.

  • But real Cap'n Crunch is so tasty!  you should splurge, at least every once in a great while.

    I understand your points, truly.  Unfortunately, I think I just subconciously decided that I don't want to choose ANY hill to die on (thanks, B) and I do my own thing.  I am annoyed with the way some things are going, sure, but my annoyance manifested itself in extreme frustration and apathy that I am just now struggling out of. 

    I've found that whistle-blowing only brings you deep exclusion and isolation... at least in my church.  I choose to think my own way, and take it all in with a HUGE grain of salt.

    (At least I'm still here!)

  • ryc: Thank you

    Hope the rest of your week is WONDERFUL

  • i tend to side with iaskforsilence...but at the same time, i worry that silence is complacency (no pun intended) and that people whom i influence with my life will be led to believe that, by being quiet and taking things with a lot of salt, i actually agree with them. and i'd therefore be guilty of perpetuating said things.

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