I'm not being critical, this is merely for prayer.........
It's been said recently to me that I am being critical of “The Church” (we're talking christian here, though I'm sure there is a blog out there by some disgruntled Muslem or Jew etc). Well to be frank, yes I am, but only in a broad sense of the organised, controlling and hypocritical body that it has come to represent to me over the past couple of years. At a “local” level I think most of the churches do have a true worship of god at the centre of their focus which is a pretty good place to start in terms of following Jesus in my opinion.
The flavour of one persons faith group i.e church, and their practice methods doesn't concern me at all. Some of my friends go to a very traditional high C of E gaff, some to what may be called more contemporary. Each has it's own merits. Maybe the traditionalists like the familiarity of their youth and seeing the Angels in the architecture as Paul Simon brilliantly put it. Maybe they really do cling to the fire and brimstone theology I have heard spouted there. Perhaps the trendy churches some of my mates go to help them to feel more connected to the real world in the way they dress, sing, preach and pray. It's not really my place to say what's good or bad in the main. I only know what floats me own boat (or sinks it).
Freedom of self expression is very important to me.
What is also important to me though, is that all of the differing groups are allowed a freedom of conscience and conciousness in how they choose to interpret the stuff that happens in the gatherings they attend.
I'm really concerned that there needs to be a liberty of self interpretation, exploration and realisation to the stuff learned in church meetings. Equally of course, most of us will need some guidance to begin to understand the teachings in the first place. This though need not be dogmatic and absolute.
All to often there is an agenda for all members of a church gathering (congregation) to totally toe the party line and there is a resultant backlash against those who may not.
“Belong before you believe” was always a catchphrase that used to resonate with me when we used to encourage folk to come along to our church.
Unfortunately I think it actually meant to say;
“Belong before you believe what we believe – and while you're about it don't leave it too long”!
