By Steve

on going to church, some thoughts...

If someone said:
"go to the gym," you might go to 24 hour fitness
"go to the store," you might choose Albertsons
"go to the doctor," you would find yourself at a hospital
"go to church," hmm, where might you go.

The answer to this is difficult not because there are many choices, as there are gyms, stores and hospitals, but because we first need a correct understanding of what church is and second, church, correctly understood is not a place (noun) where you can go. Sure, there are many buildings identified as a church, a place you can go, so on one level it is possible to "go" to a church. And I think this is a good idea, finding a church whatever the style, strategy, day, time etc. where you can join with others in your journey of life and faith. But the notion of going to a church has also created many problems. We, church leaders, have learned how to attract people to "our" church. The right combination of location, music, refreshments and childrens activities will draw a crowd. As with all other products, simply going to church begins to wear out so we, the church leaders have to keep upgrading our product/presentation or say goodbye to those who choose to find a better offer. While this has created some very high quality church productions, happening every single week, it has, in my humble opinion, attracted people more to the church than to God or the way of Jesus.

So what is church? Many minds far brighter than mine have debated this for sometime. In fact it has been in flux from the start. The first church in the New Testament writing of Acts was an experimental, although many thousands attended, failure. The church at Jerusalem did not last long and the approach from temple court meetings shifted to meeting in homes. Much of the rest of Acts and many of Paul's writings are in part an attempt to figure out church. Along the way, even today, people have adopted an approach they like and have worked hard to preserve it. Others continue to explore. Some have given up.

One compelling reason for me to move to San Diego and start a new church was to continue to explore. I do not want to give up and I want to give hope to those who have or may be considering it. In my exploration of church, I have determined that it is more important to consider what it means to be the church, live as the church and carry out the role of the church. These ideas seem considerably more important than how do we get people to come to our church. But. And I continue to watch words carefully here although I've certainly already misspoken somewhere...

I don't want to do this exploring alone. The role of the church is meant to played out in relationship with others. So I want people to come so as the church we can go. Maybe this is what it means to go to church, or, church go to.

There may be nothing more beautiful than the church when it is functioning properly...and maybe nothing more disturbing when it has failed. I want us to want to go, to be a part, to join in the mission because we think its beautiful even though there is much work to be done. It is sad to me that so many people I know would rather go to the gym, go to the store, in fact even go to the hospital than go to church.

So consider this your invitation. An invitation to come, because I don't want to go at it alone. An invitation to explore, to think and to experiment because somewhere in this mess of religion is the church in all of its beauty. An invitation to live.