Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Now there's a church I just might be able to go to...


I saw this again the other day, and was reminded of a few things. I've been so disappointed with so many church environments that promise so much and deliver so little, it would be truly refreshing to see this on a church sign out front.

I mean, wow. How I enjoy hanging out with people who just don't know anything, and aren't selling anything or trying to build their own empire. It's so refreshing - no "holier than thou", no judgement, no comparisons - just people seeking to know God in a deeper way, and willing to admit how much we don't know.

We may be wrong. We may be right. It doesn't really matter to us, because we are growing to know God more, and we are encouraging each other to just "be"- be who God made each of us to be. We don't have the answers. We don't need to "fix" anyone, because they may or may not even be broken, and only God really knows.

I would love to continue the discussion with any folks who happen onto this site and are interested in this discussion. If you're looking for a philosophical, hermaneutical, homeletical debate, please pass on by, but if you, like me, realize that the only things that matter are real and intimate relationships and knowing God, then come on by and stay a while.

Gotee

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love that t-shirt...
A friend mentioned to me today that what the church is missing is simple...it's salt! The world comes and gets a taste and finds blandness, and they aren't going to want to stick around for any more.
Ah, this is a subject that could fill about ten blog entries, alas, it is late and time escapes me! But its so true that there is nothing that equals the feeling of walking in a room and sensing the hunger and passion of people truly in love with Jesus and wanting to know Him and serve Him more wholly...no agenda, just Him.

GoteeMan said...

MB -

thanks for the post... i agree that nothing is like being with (and being one of them) folks who have a real hunger and passion for Him, and aren't "systemy"..

Look forward to talking more with you...

Jeff

Anonymous said...

bro,

you know that's the church I'd go to.

love ya man. take care of yourself.

: )

Anonymous said...

Yeah like the other day a pastor got kicked out of his position. And I wonder... how about we all get kicked out every time we go and mess up?

People need some slack. Honestly.

When will we ever live the "judge not."

GoteeMan said...

Gaston -
I love that idea, dude... let's all get kicked out of our positions and get it started up in here...
Jeff

GoteeMan said...

Continued (to Gaston) ... Cause if we're all kicked out, then it doesn't mean much to be in, does it?!

Somehow, I think Jesus would get kicked out of most churches today. He just wouldn't play the hide and seek game - you know, "I'll hide my sin, while I seek out any rumors to try to crucify others..."

It's amazing to me that I have found the most transparency and safety in relationships OUTSIDE the church, and that the most judgemental and harsh responses seem to come from people who claim to know Christ. Some of the things they say He says to them - I have to wonder if it's even the same God I talk to...

LYM,
Jeff

Anonymous said...

Hey Jeff, thanks for dropping a comment on my site. It's fun to rip on this and put down on that, especially when it come to church business. The truth, though, is that we need to be the ones out there changing it. I, on the contrary, think that if Christ started going to our church, he'd become a leader really quick and people wouldn't have to rely on their "faith" to keep them on the straight and narrow. They'd rally behind him, try to make him mayor, with plans to make him governor, and then president! I think many Christians truly want that connection, but life get's in the way, crap happens, and it's just easier to sit back and "judge" what we see is wrong. and that's okay as long as you are willing to be judged just as much. So, what are we doing to make it better?

GoteeMan said...

What we are doing to make it better is to lead real lives, being authentic and transparent in real relationships. Being real people, not sucked into the traditions and doctrines of men, but being the real thing - who God says we are....

Thanks for posting..
Goteeman