FROM ZEALOUS ADVOCATE TO RELUCTANT ATTENDEE TO DELIBERATE ABSENTEE

"From zealous advocate to reluctant attendee to deliberate absentee."

Someone other than me threaded these descriptors to illustrate the evolution of the unaffiliated Christian. In a series of prior posts I have tested terms like 'de-churched' and 're-churched' to describe the believer voluntarily disassociated from the local church. The expression tracks the emotional and convictional movement of a person who has been enthusiastically involved in local church ministries and over time for reasons irrelevant to this comment, begins to attend sporadically, declines service opportunities, reduces the tithe/offering in order to support ministries outside the church. Then one day, after consideration, this person stays away from church, never to return.

A point that some of my readers make, is that community/family/body of Christ and a consequent accountability is essential to the corporate entity that we have together become as new creations. We are all called to holiness. One of the ways by which this transformation predictably occurs is by being transparent and answerable within a localized gathering of other believers, some of whom are approved to shepherd and care for us. The concern in part may be that the unaffiliated Christian without this mutual accountability may spiritually depreciate.

The concern is valid. What will the unaffiliated Christian do to remain a zealous promoter of the gospel, filled with the Spirit, pure, godly. Can this health status be maintained unaccompanied? Why don't you tell me. A married couple can cheer lead one another. Even they do better in the company of other Christians. Some readers say this is the way God intended for his church to function in the world to emit light and to flavour companions. I suppose that is church.

SERENITY & GRIPPED BY GOD

Today I will continue yesterday's refrain.

It pleases me when anyone says, "I just love my church. There's so much happening. I get so much from pastor's messages. Lives are really being changed. I love the worship music, it's so uplifting, enthusiastic, and all genders and generations are active and helping out. We have weeknight small groups and ours is closely knit and loving, like a family. "

That speaks of an environment that is conducive to adoration, teaching and learning and service. Who could want anything more than that? How can you improve on that? And yet, some people have sensibilities or needs that are not met there.

CHRISTIAN SONG LYRICS - GIVE US SOMETHING MORE

My spirit desires lyrics to newer songs of worship to God, to appropriately reflect his excellence, his holiness. I need songs that incorporate theological truth. I can accept that songs should incorporate the vernacular and speak to newer generations using new idioms, yet I question what seems a default composer habit of converting transcendence to familiarity, privilege to banality. Some songs typify this for me. Even a good composer like Chris Tomlin puts out a song like 'In The Secret,' that assumes through capitalized pronouns that we should know to whom we are singing, although there is no reference to that person.  And yet we sing the chorus of words, "I want to know You, I want to hear Your voice, I want to know You more. I want to touch You, I want to see Your face, I want to know You more." And I cannot escape the feeling that I am singing about adolescent love. Perhaps it's just me, yet I hope you can understand my preference for thinking of the sovereign 'otherness' of God and of Jesus, the uniqueness, the distinctiveness.

If I never sing the lyrics of the emotion evoking, 'One thing Remains,' I can be content. The refrain is, "Your love never fails, never gives up, Never runs out on me," to be repeated three times, after each of three verses, and likely a couple of more times for good measure. The thematic content is something that I myself have prayed with thanksgiving to God so the lyrics are not fundamentally flawed. The song itself is simply thin theologically and not worth my time, specially when married to the tune which becomes vexing, because it is repeated so often. Yet, that's why many people love the song. So, again, perhaps it's just me. It feels to me like discount worship, bargain stuff.

As a balance to my view, I am quoting a friend who has written recently a counter point. I am impressed. Bryan Swash "The ever ending critique and misunderstanding of current worship expression. 1. As for repetition ever read Psalm 136? 2. As for no mention of God. Ever read the book of Esther? The context of those songs is the worship service. If someone's mind goes to their teenage crush it says more about them then the song. 3. The purpose of the song is to engage a left brain encounter, a part of us that Jesus drew attention to in Matt 22:37. 4. No one song says it all. Like no one scripture says it all. Again balance is important. The psalms often declare one aspect of a truth but need further scriptures to balance the truth out. 5. Let's rejoice a new generation is seeking to draw near to God (James 4:8) and discovering he is drawing near to them. A very sacred desire and privilege. Is Psalm 134 a ditty? 3 verses only! Blessings all…."

RETHINKING GODLINESS

One might expect that a former pastor and teacher now past his apportioned three score and ten years of life, would not only possess a superior understanding of godliness, but also would be living within a state of godliness. I concur with the expectation but I question that it can be assumed that a pastor or any Christian is living life that way because so much can be feigned, pretended. A senior often moves slowly, speaks infrequently, smiles tranquilly and perhaps conceals a world of hurt and trauma and fear and perhaps anger.

I admire writers but I am also weary of writers who multiply titles with trite formulaic approaches to subjects as profound as godliness. 10 disciplines of a godly man.  10 characteristics of a godly man. 10 steps to a godly life. I reject or strongly react against this methodic, mechanical spirituality. I refuse a suggestion that having accomplished the ten steps one receives a virtual graduation certificate. I prefer to understand the pursuit of godliness as a constant way of living in relationship with God.

I want to be a godly man. That is at least the starting point. If I am going to be godly, godlike, then I appreciate that I need to be with Him. I need to know him and let him know me in the sense of talking my life to him. Of course I understand that knowing God requires learning what he has told me about himself in scripture, and yes I know talking to him with regularity is prayer. I want to disassociate rules and guilt from my definition of godliness. That would seem to me an advancement, a superior understanding of godliness. I desire a steady and developing confident daily life of conscious interaction with God’s Spirit so that I know I am in step with him, and from that righteous centre-point I trust, think, act, talk, read, write and help others. I can then even try new things, step out in faith, surprise myself and be surprised by God. In the course of this everyday holiness, God’s attributes become evident in me and God is reflected in me and He is pleased.