I went to church today. Been a while. Last time I went to church it was at a completely different church, they were doing “special fellowship activities” in their series, putting tables out everywhere so everyone sat in groups, starting off with throwing pictures of Friends, Seinfeld, and the like up on the projection screen, and asking us to identify who we are. (I identified myself as George.) They then had us write down all the ways we don’t love people or something or other and had us talk about it. Being brand new there, I wasn’t exactly comfortable, but that wasn’t even the most uncomfortable part. Somebody “kindly” asked me to join him for lunch, I accepted, and he proceeded to make his rounds in the lobby “fellowshipping” (talking to people) while I stood and sat around patiently waiting. I wasn’t feeling very well and I just wanted to get out of there. Twenty minutes later, he walked out, then popped his head in again and said “I’ll come right back for you”. I waited another fifteen minutes. Finally, I just got up and left, and I never went back to that church again.
This other church I attended today, though, I’ve been there before, a couple years ago, and things seem to have changed. I’m sure they have. The whole dynamic is a bit different, it’s far more energetic and has a far more artistic/graphic edge than before. They also had a name change; it used to be named with the pun of a major bank (eww), whereas I really like the revised name.
I was immediately impressed by the dynamic nature of music at this church today. It’s not at all what I remembered of two or so years ago, which was painfully uninspiring. They also dimmed the lights, something I think is totally appropriate as long as you’re going to involve the tourniquet-like podium-and-microphone combo that almost every church today uses. It’s all about focus.
Parking was scarce, though. I’ll have to always come quite early, I guess.
They spoke on humility today. The pastor impressed me, but what I’m always watching for when I visit a church is whether, and how, they focus on God vs. behavior patterns. 90% of the sermons out there talk about behavior patterns. “Be nice.” “Be happy.” “Be pleasant.” “Be wise.” Frankly? Yuck!! I hear that and find myself screaming inside, “FAKE!!” But when a pastor preaches “be dependent” (on God), and particularly when the congregation cheers upon hearing stuff like that… I can sense elements of trueness. When I hear people shouting to God during musical worship, see people raising their hands, watching people clap, and the guy next to me mutters statements of praise, it’s honestly a relief to see it and hear it because I didn’t know Scottsdale had it in it. It was my impression that Scottsdale can only produce going-through-the-motions religiosity and the typical grind of Hummer-driving bored folks who sit around staring blankly at the front while the music plays, or else substance-less “fellowship-makers” who seem to think Friends and Seinfeld are worthy highlights of a sermon.
For whatever its worth, all churches around here have something over me; they are. I will never be a “churchian” (swearing by church attendance over the fundamentals of the Christian faith) but the truth is I have found it difficult to maintain my Christian faith without at least occasional fellowship in Jesus’ name.
Maybe given the fact that I liked church today I’ll manage to make it routine again—a nice change. I did ask God for some “deliverance”—whatever it takes, a friend, a church that motivates me, whatever, to get me back into church for Christian fellowship and spiritual focus and leadership back in my life. Maybe convincing me to go a few blocks down the street and try this church out again, He came through.