UncomplicatedSample

What is church?

Family and tradition go hand in hand, as do church and tradition. When I was growing up, my family had a handful of traditions, some of which were passed down from my parents. Some we just made up on our own. One of our most memorable traditions took place on Thanksgiving. Every year, as we sat around the table eating turkey, we would take turns saying what we were thankful for.  I always loved hearing unique things for which our family was thankful and it filled the room with a grateful spirit.

Traditions change over time because it is too easy for the original significance to get lost to the next generation. Sometimes, if you want to keep the tradition alive, you just need to contextualize it — put your own spin on it. The important thing is that it honors the creator of the tradition and its purpose.  This helps us understand the difference between what church was and what it can be for us today.  It’s ever evolving and organic.  The church isn’t so much a place, but a people, and as culture changes, the church adjusts.  It never loses its values or principles, but it adjusts in how it relates to the world.  

As a pastor, I continue to grow more convinced that there is no right or wrong way to “do church.” The important thing is that we honor the One who created it and the purpose that He had in mind.

Maybe you see church as something old and crusty that was passed down from a previous generation, or maybe you are a part of forming something new. Whatever your experience, God sees the gathering of His people as a family and He isn’t nervous when you contextualize that experience to help you engage God and His people.

-Questions

What are a few words that you’d use to describe church?

Since church is more of a family than a place, how can you help keep the family strong and united?