Recently, I was asked why would
someone who knows some of the “deeper aspects” of the Spirit attend The Simple
Church?
This person quickly added that he was
not looking to make a change in his church attendance, but just wanted to know
my thoughts. I assumed that he was implying
(or at least I inferred) he was not
asking a rhetorical question, but asking ME a PERSONAL question: "Why do YOU attend the Simple Church?"
The way I heard the question was more like "Why would anyone who has any depth attend the Simple Church?" In fairness, I have great admiration for this person so don't assume I think of him like the church-lady, but there are others who have asked me the same thing ... and they were/are a bit "churchy."
The way I heard the question was more like "Why would anyone who has any depth attend the Simple Church?" In fairness, I have great admiration for this person so don't assume I think of him like the church-lady, but there are others who have asked me the same thing ... and they were/are a bit "churchy."
Apparently, he assumes that someone who is aware of "deeper things of the
Spirit" wouldn't get anything out of attending "seeker-friendly" church. Of course just because I KNOW stuff and have been introduced to deeper
aspects of the Spirit, such as the gifts of the Spirit and more intense
worship, doesn’t mean that I have applied what I have learned.
Like many other
Christians, I know a lot but I wasn't really DOING anything. I’m kind of
tired of the most recent fads. As I see it, the SC has not done it like other church plants. What we have done may not be the best way or the only way, but something seems right...for now, but we have to always be on the edge. Never complacent.
There are lots
of churches which are socially conscious but Biblically immature. Some people
see the Simple Church as immature or shallow because it unashamedly and strategically
seeks out those of US in the margins. I say “US” because I am one of those
people in the margins, even though I have been very active church for years. I
am no better than anyone. In fact, I am quite worse because I have been a phony.
I have attended church, but I have not dealt with my addictions, habits,
hang-ups and pain of my past. I glossed over them.
As I think about why I attend the
Simple Church, these are some of my reasons (in no particular order):
