What Dreams are Made of

About two weeks ago, my friend Cindy had an opportunity many of us only dream of.

The lay leader of our church has requested input on the future of the church. You know I have thoughts. Many thoughts. Which ones to share and how to do so is what I haven't yet figured out. I've been putting it off for 2 weeks, and now I have to do it. Wish me luck, or better say a quick prayer? I don't want to overwhelm this nice man who is genuinely trying to do what is best for the congregation. But, I'm sure he has no idea where I really stand on much of anything.

Today, she posted her ABSOLUTELY STELLAR RESPONSE.

I think the church-centered christian life (as opposed to a Christ centered christian life) that american protestantism has created in the last few generations is what is killing the church in america. and the new generations see it for what it is- empty activity that does little besides sustain itself for more empty activity. not that nothing good happens in local churches; far from it. but the abiding culture of complacency we've allowed to take over so overshadows the true mission of God's people that we risk losing it all.

we need corporate worship, we need corporate teaching, we need fellowship. But, we also need to get the heck out of the church building and live lives that show we care about somebody in addition to the people we worship with. we must address this corporate addiction to church that we ourselves have created. call it a church intervention, maybe. and if we succeed, the withdrawals will be ugly, angry, and very messy. If we don't succeed, thousands of local churches just like ours will be gone in 20 years or less. I'm not even sure if that isn't what should happen.

that is what i think.

About 18 months after I quit all my ministries, we received an ironic e-mail; it was a survey from our CLB about their operations. I wrote about it HERE. The sheer irony of it all was that our CLB was so big that they were still sending us leadership e-mails 18 months after we had resigned from all our ministries and quit attending church. However, would anyone have listened had I been brave enough to fill out this survey; brave enough tell the truth? I doubt it.

How I would have loved and been honored to be personally asked (rather than be sent a form e-mail as one person on a long list of e-mail addresses in some mailing list) what I thought about how things were going.

But I know I wouldn't have been as eloquent, articulate or sincere as Cindy has been. I'm very excited to see if anything eventually evolves out of what she has shared with her leadership.

I'm so very proud to call her 'friend'.