Written after a conversation with a friend about empty, poisonous church antics. It burned my biscuits.
I don’t want to do church.
I don’t want to play church.
I am the Church.
The Church is me.
It has to breathe.
It has to be.
It has to reach beyond what my eyes can see.
It has to feel the Truth in front of me and slay the dragons I have yet to defeat.
I still have victory over the enemy, but I fight for the prize of the high calling, while boxing these rabid thoughts behind my eyes…
Everyday, I rise.
I am the Church.
I am the walking, living, breathing mouthpiece of the most high God.
I inhale His goodness and exhale His obedience.
He is in me and I in Him.
So, I am His hands.
I am His feet.
I am everything He created me to be
Impeccably.
I’m tired of noise in sanctuaries filled with hungry souls.
I’m tired of watching aching bodies leave with gaping holes.
I’m sick of seeing the sick and tired, dying inside pretending to be inspired.
I’m sick of boils bubbling from despair.
Hope expired.
Applause! Applause!
A round of applause for everyone on stage
for everyone engaged in cinematic display.
I’m not looking for actors to fill a role.
I’m looking for the Church
the crease
the Fold
the boundaries drawn with blood stained veins
the lines that separate the road from the Way.
Do not tempt me with your tinkling cymbals.
Do not entice me with your exclusivity,
But draw me in with Love unscathed
Draw me in with the beauty of His Name
Draw me close to heal my pain
Rain motivation on me
Protect me with your arms of prayer
Don’t manipulate my heartstrings and tell me you care.
Bottom out with me at the feet of Jesus.
Let our souls pour into His Hands until He feeds us
His joy, His love, His strength, His faith.
I’m not interested if it’s any other way.
I am the Church and so are you.
If we can’t be real,
then who are you?
I was always taught that Church was a hospital and an oasis for all to leave better than they arrived. Unfortunately, this isn’t happening every week. Instead, we attend as spectators of a traditional requirement or as mindless participants of a circus act. In a way, we have become conditioned to be churchified.
What do you think?
Listening at the Speed of Life 
September 21, 2016 at 9:45 AM
I think today when it’s so critical to reach people it’s difficult to find the balance between giving our best and putting on a show. Perception plays a big part of it too where the ones whose heart has grown cold are going through the motion and perceive that they are doing what they’re supposed to do as if that’s the end goal. Being consistent with geuine ministry is so necessary and letting that translate everywhere we go. Like u said we are the church. You hit on something real!
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September 21, 2016 at 11:15 AM
Thanks, Jess! You bring up a good point. The “balance between giving our best and putting on a show” is delicate. So often the two are confused by the public and the even the participant. I’m a firm believer in giving my best, and I have had my authenticity misunderstood as a show for an audience. I felt insulted. Isn’t it interesting that we will pay to see a good concert and expect perfection, but allow substandard effort on behalf of Christ? His blood should trump any ticketed admission we can buy and He definitely deserves our all. You also hit on something real!
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