The Smell Of Coffee Reminds Me Of ...

Been going to a contemporary church lately, well ... at least that’s how they describe themselves, "a large contemporary church" ...

Yet - how come if they are so modern and contemporary they wrap new wine in old wineskins? (There is indeed new wine there and wonderful folk and yet it is wrapped in Old Testament clothing) They talk of coming up to the altar for this is where the Holy Spirit does business and transacts – doesn’t He? – for are we not in the House of the Lord? They talk of tithes and offerings ... that worship is singing a song, the sword of the Spirit has become the Bible you hold in your hands – like all this to me sounds pretty Old Testament and dictatorial, how can this be called contemporary? - in fact, it’s misleading advertising – this does not describe a Kingdom people it describes the Church of Ephesus mentioned in Revelation 2. Busy, busy hard working church but the eyes of Christ saw a fatal flaw but then nobody loves God as much as right wing, middle class white evangelicals do.

I thought the sacrifice of Jesus had done away with these things. Judaism built around the Priests, the sacrifices and the temple all torn away by the power of the resurrection – behold all things have become new – but where I sit the old things are STILL THERE!!!. – the coffee though is darn good, the parking attendants do a great job and the helpers in company tee shirts are a credit to the organisation and franchise and they say they dance to their own tune, all I can say is - ha!!.

They have I think 3 pastors, there’s CEO Pastor so and so, nearly inerrant and just Pastor so and so but really should be Teacher so and so –I read in Ephesians 4, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers - and I discover a 5 fold ministry and yet in this large contemporary church only one part of the five fold ministry is given relevance – “The Pastor” and by the way this is the only time Pastor is mentioned in the New Testament – the Pastor has become nothing more than an Old Testament Priest. How come just the Pastor is acknowledge? Where are the others, they need to be there so that the people of God can be prepared for works of service, where’s Teacher Bob or Prophet Jane?

I like the people many of them are close friends - but the smell of coffee wafting from the foyer reminds me so much of McDonalds – I enjoy the smell of fast food, I smell it wafting down the street as I am about my business and then I crave for a burger and fries and yet when I’ve eaten my burgers and fries I leave dissatisfied – why is this?

The goal isn’t to bring everyone into the building - the goal is for the church to go into the world to be a Kingdom transforming people where we live, work and play declaring that the Kingdom of God is at hand - for it is not just the building that is filled with the kavod of God but the whole world.

The franchise is a yoke I choose not to wear ... I have discovered miracles don't just happen at "the altar at the front of an auditorium" they happen where you live, work and play for we are citizens of the Kingdom of God - for us eternity has begun .... behold the old has past away ... hasn't it?

God has left the Building ... take a look around can you see Him? He's often naked maybe a little hungry and wanting some water - in a run down room on a road to nowhere, it's in these places and situations I discover how to worship God. Serving the building, the machine is not what God intended, those days are gone - serving those in need and each other, now there is another thing. Preparing God's people for works of service is a mandate ... go ye into the world He said and by the way He promised us that - He would be with us always.

I wonder if Christ were to appear in the parking lot - would He be reconised? No designer jeans, no designer shoes, would He be recognised? Could we pick Him out from the crowd? Would He recognise our structures, our liturgy, our marketing skills, the thimble and cracker? Would we let Him speak from our pulpits to hear what He had to say?

Would He say to us, well done good and faithful servant?