June 25, 2008

  • Xanga TV Tonight and What is a Good Church?

    Hi friends. This evening I will be doing a video session using Xanga TV. It is at 8 PM Eastern Time on Wednesday (today), right here on this page. Please come and visit. I'll be telling various stories and starting discussions. As a bonus I'll tell you my most embarrassing moment on Xanga. It involves 12-year-olds. You'll want to hear it.

    Now, with that said, I'm starting a new series on the Christian church. You can read many of my old writings about church here: http://weblog.xanga.com/GreekPhysique/tags/thechurchandi/ . Most Americans have stepped inside a Christian church at one time or another. Many have been blessed by the experience and found spiritual renewal. However, many Americans have been wounded by the church, or decided to quit Christianity because of their experiences in the church. 

    My question to you is, what are the characteristics of a good church?

    I have planned a series on imperfect churches. Such churches can drive you to discouragement and despair if you do not understand what a good church looks like. But first, let's be positive about this. What would a good church do? What would it believe? What type of relationships would form, and what would the services be like? Tell me about the good churches you've been a part of. Looking forward to your answers in the comment section.

Comments (14)

  • I really appreciate churches that perpetuate what is, in my opinion, the Christian ideal of love.  Instead of pointing fingers and laying blame, they come together and do community service in the name of faith and sing hymns and help one another in times of need.  In my opinion, this is the best way to worship.

  • Is that 8PM EST?

  • 1 - Preach the word without resorting to a lot of opinions and stories. Good at exegeting what the word says.
    2 - Good worship
    3 - Good fellowship
    4 - Good missionary programs
    5 - Provides opportunity for the people to use their spiritual gifts.

  • I loved the Napoleon quote as well which is why I decided it was post worthy.

    My experience with a good church is genuine people who really care but live in the real world. The church I went to growing up had a mixture but unfortuntely the "fake" people is what ruined it for me. When I was in my early teens a group of us (all adults, the average age at the time was 50 yrs old and above) would go to blocks bagles after the service. I would sit there and listen to the older folks comment on who was doing what and blah blah blah and even my preteen self realized how hypocritical it was.

    The church I went to in college was more modern and had a much younger crowd. But I had a serious issue with how they hid behind religion to protect them from the outside world. It was like they had blinders on. But the upside to it was how much there was to do and how the service was organized. There was about 30 minutes of singing by a live band (many were friends of mine) and about an hour of preaching. It was actually very interesting because each week it was something new. You could be as involved as you wanted to and there was not pressure if you just wanted to come every Sunday. I attended the weekly young adult bible study which was nice to get to know people on a personal level.

  • A priest who knows how to elicit a chuckle or 2 from the audience is something that seems to be lacking from most of the churches I've attended. Most people have a short attention span, which is all the more reason why laughter is important, at least IMO. In addition, it also forges an emotional connection between the pastor and the audience. One of my pastors, Father Dennis, had this propensity for making people laugh each and everytime during his sermons. Aside from that, what also made him stand out from the other pastors was his *cool* factor. He was the type of guy who spoke in such a casual and laid back sort of manner, like he was proud of being an all-American man. I think that's why most guys like him, cuz he was just like the rest of the guys....into sports, drinking, cars, and all that other guy stuff. When the time came for him to leave the church, many people were affected and saddened by his departure. 

  • Ah, classic material. A good church loves God and loves people...
    and a good church is not just about Sunday mornings, because a good
    church is not a building. But of course you know this, and for me to go
    on would be cliché. I look forward to reading your posts... and perhaps
    I might just go back and read what else you've said.

  • I think I go to one of the most amazing churches in the whole world.  Seriously.  I moved to my town to go to their ministry school which completely changed my life.  I am not sure everyone would agree, but I am EXTREMELY lucky.  It would be like if you asked who has the funnest job and if I said I was an amusement park ride tester for Disneyland.  My church is great.  ibethel.org

  • The best church is non-denominational. Unwritten law says that protestants hate catholics, catholics hate lutherans, so on, and so forth. Denominations are like football teams. Each Christian picks their favorite denomination, and is the arch rival of the others. Every denomination of Christianity abides by the same Bible, why not set aside our ways of going about following those rules, and just follow the stinkin rules? Who cares what color the pews are? Or what the official name of the guy speaking the Word is? A non-denominational church, like mine for instance, focuses on the Bible and what it says. I like that, because I could give a rip about what the church building looks like, what the pastor is wearing, or the seating arrangement. Sure, it's great to have a church building that's comfortable, and presents an atmosphere that's easy to learn in, but is any of that really a big deal? Why do we have to fight over whether it's ok to have chairs instead of pews, or whether the curch should have a steeple or not, or what day of the week it's okay to have a service and what day it's not? Ridiculous!
     
    A good church is smart with it's money. In other words, do we spend this $2500 on a 65" Plasma TV for the youth room, or to help fund a missions trip to Hati? A good church does what God prompts them to do, in all things. A bad church runs itself like a business, basically trying to "sell" the idea of God to as many dedicated tithers as possible.
     
    A good church appeals to it's members, without going overboard. If everybody in the church want's the worship leader to wield an electric guitar, rather than a pipe organ, the church should consider it. Music is a big part of a church service, and if everyone in the congregation is bored to tears singing hymns written in the 1800's, update the music style. It only makes sense. People don't want to attend a church that proves to be a negative experience. Plus, people who've only seen the stereotypical mockery of the church experience on TV and in movies, won't even consider returning to a church if everything that goes on in that church is just as ritualistic and boring as they expected it to be based on what they've seen.
     
    Basically, a good church is one that doesn't shove rituals, or the bible, or it's beliefs or ways of going about following them down the throat of newcomers, or members for that matter.  A good church preaches the message of God without force, and in a way that will make true Christians, and those "on the fence," sincerely think about it.

  • I think what make up a good church is:

    The leadership has to be involved with parishoners lives.

    They have to have thought provoking/encouraging messages

    They have to do outreach ministry to people and not hide in the church.  Really get out and meet people and invite them.

    Music should be blended well to reach all age groups.

    Making people feel comfortable and welcome right off the bat.

    Plenty of social interacting activities.

    Bible study groups  

  • All of the churches that I've been to have been imperfect, but a couple of them have helped me grow in my faith. I think a good church teaches correct doctrine from the Bible, creates a community, and reaches out to the greater community with love and the Gospel.

  • I know,  too many questions,  but hey,  it got featured!  Yay!

  • My connection seems to be too slow to watch Xanga tv!

  • @Dare2BDiferentt - Yeah indeed Congrats on that.

    @jalixx3 - Sorry Maybe next time we'll just do chat.

  • If you're ever in Cincinnati, come to the Vineyard Community Church in Springdale.  You'll be in a good church!  Our motto is "Small things done with great love can change the world".  Our church is all about outreach in the community and the world.  I absolutely love this place and feel good everytime I'm there! 

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