Ruins of the Church of Mary in Ephesus
I’m thinking of needlepointing this on a pillow: “All the Churches Paul Started Have Closed.”
This comment was made by someone at an event I attended on Saturday and it was exceptionally appropriate considering what I did on Sunday: I worshipped with a PCUSA congregation on their penultimate Sunday. After almost 50 years of faithful ministry, they will close on October 2nd.
What I experienced with this soon-to-be-closing church was this: about 40 people in worship, lively (pre-recorded) music, colorful banners on the wall, about 5 children including a newborn, ethnic diversity, and faithful preaching. It was clear that they really love each other. But it wasn’t enough.
According to one charter member there were too few who took discipleship seriously and too many who saw church as an organization primarily created to take care of them. When they heard talk about serving the world in the name of Jesus, it wasn’t what they signed up for. This is a very simplistic explanation to a much more complicated situation, but the systemic issues boil down to discipleship and an understanding of what church is supposed to be imho. All of us are at fault for missing the point.
The 21st Century Church is about signing up for servanthood, hospitality, obedience to God. And even when we try to live into these things, still there are seasons. Even the churches Paul started eventually closed only to have new communities rise up.
A Church for Starving Artists 
Thanks for being there…
LikeLike
Congregations, like individuals, have life spans, and there comes a time when a congregation’s baptism is complete. It has run its race faithfully, and completed its calling. Often there is no fault at all, any more so than in the death of person who has lived a full and faithful life. As often (or more), fault lies with those who keep congregations on life support for years after their natural lifespan has been reached and surpassed. Of course, we are a resurrection people, and witnessing new life arise in an old congregation is great. The challenge lies in knowing whether you’re in a place of death or one of life. It can be remarkably difficult sometimes to tell the two apart when it comes to congregational life. A congregational brain scan might be useful!
LikeLike
Pingback: More Pillow Theology | achurchforstarvingartists