MORE DIFFICULT CHURCH

Nobody said this would be easy, but somehow I think it's been made more difficult than it needs to be.

Further to the queried themes of what is church, what can it be, and what should it be, here is an observation about the complexity now associated with church.

The multi-generational and sometimes multi-cultural church today has a herculean assignment. It tries in one hour on a Sunday morning to provide a worship experience using predictable elements such as greetings, announcements, readings, music, oration, and benediction. This attempt is made before a congregation that is comprised of children, youth, young adults, young parents, middle-agers and seniors and that is united by varying degrees of faith, maturity, experience and education and dissimilar interests and preferences. As music has occupied a progressively more prominent role, the majority popular listening partiality has influenced the decision for instrumentation to move from the pipe and electronic organ and piano accompaniment to a band presentation with guitars and drums.

Most churchgoers respect the homogenized product and even understand the challenge of straining to be so many things to so many people. In some churches creative planning has provided distinct offerings, a liturgical service, a traditional worship format, a contemporary worship program. This satisfies preferences and yet brings a measure of separation of the body attributable to nothing more than worship styles. Yet another model, the magachurch has determined to appeal to crowds of people using the concert stage, technology and performance approach, since that is publicly familiar. The intrinsic limitation is the anonymity it encourages, so relationship within a body is disregarded and those benefits neglected.

Church appears more difficult than it needs to be don't you think?

I suspect that most of my friends will either wonder or worry or disapprove of my current series of 'GPS blog speaks' about church. I have no other purpose in mind than to responsively study and discuss what God has in mind for his church, Christ's body on earth and his bride.

CHURCH ENVISIONED IN GOD’S MIND

I have been a pastor for 34 years and a denominational executive for 6 years. I have understanding of the organization we call the contemporary Christian church. It is with unthreatened objectivity and clarity that I can now examine church as I practiced and promoted it; as I watched it evolve and transition to meet cultural challenges; and as I envision it to be in the mind and the Word of God.

Those three viewpoints are not contradictory, yet I am compelled by the knowledge that church was simple yet uber-dynamic just minutes after the Holy Spirit ly decades later emerged in Rome and over time became known as the Roman Catholic Church. It looked nothing like reformation groups that broke away but soon related strength and solidarity not with doctrinal affiliation but with bureaucracy and governance.

What was forgotten so soon after Jesus ascended was that He, Jesus, the Christ, is central and foremost and all who are "in Christ" are members of the family of God, the Church, without need for any further initiation, assimilation, confirmation, or certification.

GOD AND FISHING

SUPPOSE THAT I NO LONGER ATTEND AN INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH

Would you pretend with me please? Let's suppose a scenario. I haven't quit going to church, but suppose that I have. Suppose that I have made a difficult decision to stop attending Sunday worship at our local church. I am not a cranky irritant. I am an earnest, studious Christian. I love the Lord Jesus and I love his church. Suppose that I have been an active member and participant for many years. I have enjoyed your respect and we have served on committees and boards together. We have always seemed to have similar vision and aspirations for church ministry, expansion and progress. Then over the months of this past year you have heard me question rather than complain about church priorities, practices and methodology. I have expressed concerns about how we spend money, about the weak theology of much of the music we sing, about the topical sermons and lack of scriptural content. Perhaps I have mentioned my need for reverence. Perhaps you have told me, "you sound like an old person." Yet maybe I have pointed out that I like many of my age group do make every effort to accommodate to the changes within church culture and I along with them do not carp and complain. We don't whine or grumble. We sing and we pray and we stay interested and involved. We cherish our church friends and our pastors. We support the evangelistic fervour and outreach into the neighbouring community. What more can any of expect? And then, at some point, for my own reasons, some of which I myself cannot fully understand or explain, I conclude, I can't do this any longer.

This has all been supposition. I am not really thinking about leaving my local congregation, but suppose that I had left. How would you as a church member look at me? How would you treat me? Could you agreeably see me as analytical rather than critical? Could you accept that I was no longer satisfied with the status quo of organized Christianity? Would you trust me when I said that I am still growing spiritually as God's child and that I do desire significant relationships with other believers because I know God has not called me to isolation? Would you believe me when I told you that I made my decision after studying scripture, and because I live in relation to Christ and to other followers of Christ I am convinced that in that relational network I am integrally engaged in church? With how much do you agree?

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? CHURCH AT THE STRIP CLUB BAR (part 3)

the John Sleeman mansion

I will grant you, it's a stretch. Jack and Sharon and their ministry colleagues are teaching, sharing, singing, and being gospel, good news, in the most likely of places. If you have been following the past two articles about this, here's a recap with further details to make your mouths drop open.  The Manor in Guelph, Ontario is promoted as Canada’s premier Gentleman’s Club located just 40 miles west of Toronto. The Manor is self-touted as one of Ontario’s most elegant strip clubs and it is located in the historic John Sleeman Mansion built in 1896. In this exceptional building with elegant decor, signature VIP Room and Bottle Service Lounge, beautiful dancers serve and entertain patrons at almost all hours of a work week. But for a few hours on Sunday afternoons the interior is transformed and the emphasis and message and music is changed in ways that seem to be incompatible.

The Manor Gentlemen’s Club

How can there possibly be any harmony, any congruence between liquor excesses and lifestyles that are endorsed in this facility and the three hour truncated gospel communication. Well none at all. That's the astoundingly dramatic impact of the Church at the Manor. That's why it is working. The contrasts are so vivid that for people whose lives have been screwed up by bad decisions, addictions, violence and abuse, the authentic loving welcoming news demonstrated in real, live people is not lost. It's more real than anything they have ever experienced in the name of Christianity or Christ. Faith becomes a viable option. Jesus Christ becomes a sustainable Saviour. Jack and Sharon Ninaber and friends put food in people's stomachs, redemptive seed thoughts in their minds and contagious love into embraces and sincere conversations. Does it get any better than that? Only as some of the seekers become believers and then are baptized and become disciples of Christ and that is already happening. The question might be asked, "then shouldn't those new converts leave such a place?" It's probably the wrong question.  Rather, "now that you have trusted in Jesus and you sense your freedom and strength and you see the changes happening in your attitudes, conduct and choices and family life, don't you want to share that with a few other people?"

CHURCH @ THE STRIP CLUB/BAR (part 2)

Jack & Sharon Ninaber

Jack doesn't preach a sermon but instead arranges for guests to share stories that are uplifting and inspire hope, optimism and courage, maybe even faith if God. Sharon and Jack and their colleagues arrive on Sunday to host Church at the Manor. They are the church; the church in action. They lay out an array of sumptuous food for a 12:30 pm start; set up the venue chairs so they can see the speaker and the worship leaders; cover up the 'girlie' posters; hang a few engaging pieces appropriate to the purpose and the people come, seventy to one hundred people, who would never be found in a conventional church. Among those attendees are people who in recent months have put their trust in Christ, have even been baptized to declare that faith. They are the church too -  the Church at the Manor.

Some folk in nearby chapels and churches have said that what's happening at the Manor is not really church. I understand the reticence. It's that to which these recent articles have been speaking. I have stated before that church happens anywhere. Church is not a building even though in common idiom we associate the word that way. As Jack puts it, "For us, it's not telling people to go to church. It's telling people they can have a relationship with Jesus. Even in a bar."

Many who come, walk the short distance from Sue's Inn next door, a transitional housing unit for homeless folks who are struggling with additions or are recently out of jail and want to be clean and free. That's owned by Roger Cohen who also owns the Manor. Jack Ninaber has also extended his invitation to patrons of the downtown Drop-In Centre and to anyone in the city who wants to take part in a different kind of worship. He'll provide transportation to drop-in clients.

You may feel like you would like to help this effort, this ministry. Someone in Vancouver financed a Christmas meal for them this year. I am sure they would welcome you financial help and your prayers. If you care to correspond with Jack and/or Sharon about this ministry you can reach them at manor@ercf.ca

Here are some links to the story when the work began:

From the New York Daily News: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/canadian-gentlemen-club-turns-christian-church-service-easter-sunday-article-1.1764141

From the Guelph Mercury:  http://www.guelphmercury.com/news-story/4478076-guelph-strip-club-becomes-church-on-sundays/

CTV News Kitchener:  http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/guelph-gentlemen-s-club-to-start-hosting-church-service-1.1784066

From the Guelph Tribune:  http://www.guelphtribune.ca/community/easter-with-difference-at-church-at-the-manor/

CHURCH AT THE STRIP CLUB

It is perhaps, short of a prison cell, the most emphatic demonstration of the truth that church happens anywhere. A gentlemen's club is an urbane title for what is commonly known as a strip club and bar, and that's the way the New York Daily News alluded to the venue of the church begun by my friends, Jack and Sharon Ninaber. But this is not an American story. This church meets at the Manor in Guelph Ontario. The Manor was once the home to Guelph's beer baron George Sleeman and it is now a tough stripper bar. One does not customarily associate finding Jesus in such a location, but that would underestimate what God can do. The Manor is now owned by Roger Cohen, who also has a side project next door, called Sue's Inn, a transitional housing unit for homeless folks who are struggling with additions or recently out of jail and want to be clean and free. Sharon and Jack shared their vision with Roger and he bought and caught and champions it. He himself attends every Sunday service at the Manor and urges others to attend. Roger says, "you can get busy dying or get busy living. I think God can bring hope to people and enrich their living. But it starts with relationship."

Jack and Sharon have pastored conventional churches and could not imagine they would be doing this but I know they are transfused with huge doses of faith, joy, courage and adventure and God is using them. For the past eight months Church at the Manor has ben operating. Jack says, "Jesus was called a drunk and a friend of sinners in his time because he hung out with these people. For us, it's not telling people to go to church. It's telling people they can have a relationship with Jesus. Even in a bar." Doors open around 12:30 and there is grand array of foods. Some attendees have come just for the food. Some come so hungry because they haven't eaten for days. Some come angry at God, and finding that no one reams them out for their attitude but an offer of another sandwich, they begin to talk and they return the next Sunday.  They hear stories by people whose lives have been changed and they hear live music – uplifting, Christian rock, singable with lyrics anyone can sing in an atmosphere which has been transformed from Last call Saturday night. Topless girlie posters and $4 beer signs are covered and appropriate signage to draw attention to hope and healing and God. On their opening Sunday, they had none other than Bobby Clark, hockey great, shared his own story of recovery and the place God had in that.

I'll tell you more about the Manor tomorrow.

CHURCH CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE

In principle we all know that church is people rather than place. Christine and I stopped for an ice cream cone. The proprietor of the Bluebird Cafe & Ice Cream Kiosk, a handsome young man said he was closing up but he agreed to serve us.  We asked why he was closing up at 5PM. He told us that on Tuesday nights he and a group of people held a Bible study there. We asked whether anyone was welcome and he said of course. We told him we would like to stay. That night we met and spoke with a group of people seeking to grow spiritually and also seeking ways in everyday life to make Christ known to the community.

Church is more than a place to go. In practice the edifice where Christian worship and ceremony takes place cannot easily be dismissed from one's understanding of church. Chapels, temples, cathedrals, sanctuaries and churches possess familial, historic, artistic significance and it's difficult to consider respectful, sacred ceremony anywhere else. Yet some have rethought church. Building costs today are excessive where I live because of programming needs, building codes, parking requirements, audio-visual technical preferences, food services, and special needs. For many years, new churches have been forced to lease space in schools and commercial buildings. If we truly believe that church can happen anywhere, then meeting in the mall, in a theatre, in a storefront is fine because church is more than a place.

We have friends who are key influencers in a new church that meets in a strip club and bar with an adjoining hotel called Sue's Inn.  The motel houses people that are trying to kick addictions, stay clean and sober. The owner heard our friends' vision and said, “So let me get this right, you want to bring light into a very dark place,” and then he granted permission to rent the bar in order to create church. It's called, Church at the Manor. They are eight months into this venture. I'll tell you more about it later.  That's an excellent illustration that church can happen anywhere, don't you agree?