How far is far enough with loyalty to the institutional church? In my early years I was trained to believe there’s virtue in holding the line, standing fast, sticking with it–when it comes to the local church. Through thick and thin, damn the torpedoes, it’s our church and we must remain loyal at all costs! In that doctrine, all of the above applied to the local church as well as to the denomination.
In recent months, we’ve really come to doubt that around here–Sarah and I anyway. We’re starting to wonder if others share the same struggle–We had a visit with “Cousin” Karen today and had our first candid conversation with a church member about how we feel, finding out in the process (as we suspected) that others feel the same!
Here’s my point: If we have to “fight” for our church to deal with or overcome factions, what’s the use? I don’t go to church to fight! Or to win out. Now if our local church were THE body, that would be one thing–but it’s not THE body! It’s just one puny little ingrown toe nail, I’m afraid. Shucks, maybe that’s too harsh, but since a little while before Mike D. left, we’ve just had this gloom cloud hanging over us, and I believe it’s because we’re being forced to realize and accept that this FBC ingrown toe nail is not going to grow and blossom into some helpful body part. It’s going to remain painfully insignificant and insignificantly painful, (to extend Christ’s analogy of the church as the body).
Anyway, Zach started exploring–He and Autumn are free as birds and so excited–I envy their freedom a little. He found the Crossroads Church in Lafayette on the web–non-denominational, I presume. I listened to the guy’s sermon from last week, and I admit he sounds solid. Looks intersting.
In the present circumstance, what an interesting name for a church: “Crossroads.” Something to pray about.
