Church – A Backyard Barbeque?

So, we’ve been looking for a new church for awhile. It’s got me thinking. Seems like the whole idea of church (the way we do it in America, or at least in the churches within a 2 mile radius of our house) is wrong somehow.
Since when did we let ourselves believe that 200 (or however many) people can come sing some songs, but sit at least 3 seats from the other people in the row. They can have communion without ever explaining to the children why they do what they do. They can come drop off their children and get some free baby sitting because its easier than disciplining them and keeping them in the service (I’m talking about over nursery age). They can listen to a sermon that may or may not be relevant to the members of the church and the things they are struggling with, but lord help us if the pastor actually identifies a sin that one of them is struggling with, or if he even mentions sin in a sentence. And we can all go back home without ever even looking at someone else let alone having had a conversation with them to see how their week might be going.
I know its not really that bad, but it just amazes me that we have turned church into this watered down useless activity on Sundays, just because we’ve always done it that way.

Seems like church should be more like a good old Texas backyard barbeque. Everyone knows everyone else, everyone is welcome and any newcomers will be dragged around by someone to be introduced until they can’t remember anymore names. The children will be underfoot and noisy, but everyone loves them. There’s good food and good conversation. People actually ask other people about what is going on in their lives and might actually organize some type of fund raiser for someone who is down on their luck. You might even sing some songs around a fire after all the foods been eaten. It would be someplace I would actually wake up wanting to go on Sunday morning. It would be someplace I would actually feel comfortable inviting my friends and coworkers. Who really wants to come to church and listen to someone preach at you instead of hear someone talk to you and listen to you?

Haha, maybe I just miss Texas and am starting to get the itch to come home to the good ol’ bible belt.

Acts 2 – “42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”