Why I Hate Church

For quite awhile I've been struggling with the idea of church.  But lately, it's been heavily on my mind. The silliness of it all.

I don't think that it was supposed to be "silly".  Back when whoever came up with "church".  But it has gotten that way.

So, these are my thoughts on church.  Because I blog, and blogging is a purging of the mind.  Or, diarrhea of the mouth via the fingers.

 . . . . . .

I think church was created, or has become a way to alleviate guilt.  I think it's a man-made thing.  At least in the United States.

It doesn't matter the denomination.  We go to church because. . .  "that's what you do"?  To learn about Jesus?  Sing songs?  Be together as one body learning about Jesus and singing songs?  To feel good about ourselves?

And then, what do we wear?  Our best?  Or the usual?  Does it really matter?  Do we feel guilty if we don't wear our best?  Or is not having nice enough clothes one of the excuses of why we don't go to church?  Why are clothes always a hot topic when it comes to church?

We smile nice and have "no" issues going on in our lives.  We shake hands like fake soldiers and gush pleasantries.  And say things like, "be blessed" and "good to see you".

We sing songs that make us feel good.  And have too big screens with fancy swirls zooming across.  Video clips.  Too much air-conditioning.  To the point where it is imperative to bring thick sweaters.  Programs to wisk our kids off too.

I really hate all of it.  So fake.  So needy.

And maybe it's not.  Maybe I'm just having a poo attitude.  But where else in the world is this going on?  Isn't simple Jesus enough?

What happened to just plain old regular church?  A sermon that teaches truth, encourages.  Gives hope.  What happened to kids sitting up with their parents and learning the art of sitting still for a bit?  Learning the art of listening.  Hearing together.  Why.  Why do they have to be separate?  Entertained?

To make it fun?  So people come back?  To pay the bills the church ensues from having a flashy place?

Church doesn't need to be entertianing.  Church doesn't need to dull either.

If you truly want to gather together, be filled with God's truth and hope.  Isn't that enough?  It is everywhere else in the world.  Why isn't ok for Americans?

Because we're whiny and needy and selfish.  And need to be entertained.

And I'm not just talking about "big" churches either.  The "smaller" churches,  even more conservative churches are just as guilty.  The ones that follow the "rules" that they've set up.

Where is God's heart in all of this?  Why does it all seem so man-made and controlled?  Who are we trying to impress?

What if we just went bare bones.  What if we as a church were brave enough to open our hearts and not feel fear of revealing.  What if we included each other in our lives?  And didn't care about who thought what about what?

What if we were ok with just hearing truth?  Without screens and swirls?  What if our songs were strong, that yelled out truth.  Old songs that meant something.  They don't have to be slow.  Or boring.  There doesn't need to be an organ.  We can still dance wild and free.  New songs that really roared.

What if kids sat with parents.  And learned too?  And it was a family affair.

What if we really looked at our hearts and discovered why?  And then did something about it to break boundaries.

What if we danced wild and free - not because of the music, but because of freedom.

What if we broke tradition?  And looked each other in the eye and said, "I'm not having any of this".  No to guilt.  No to shaking your hand.  And stop watching porn.

Take Aways
1)  Where is the heart and what is behind motives?
2)  Refuse to shake hands and bow instead.
3)  Stop being fake and ruled by guilt.

By saying all of this, I am not trying to put down any church.  I have just found that overall in church-hood too much is going on that doesn't matter.  Man is played up.  And I'm tired of the facade.  Where is the truth?

Ok, I think I'm going to step down off my soap box.  Anybody else out there have thoughts?

Also, there are things about church that I do appreciate.  But my title is "why I hate church" - so I'm going to leave it at that.  The end.  Or should I say, Amen.