The Church in the Bubble

I have been back from vacation for a little over a week now, and during that time away I had plenty of time to think about the question, "why do I do what I do?" Not just why am I a pastor, but why am I leading our church to get out of the "church" bubble and become a powerful connecting force in our community? It sure isn't because I like to just stir things up for the sake of stirring things up. I hate controversy. I like people to like me. So why bother trying to become a church that is going to reach this generation? Why bother getting out of the bubble?

Believe me, I have contemplated that question quite a bit. And sometimes I am frustrated and throw up my hands and say, "why bother?" But the thing that keeps me going is Jesus command to us to go and make disciples in Matthew 28. He is saying go and reach people for me and help them reach their potential. And that is what drives me on.

If you look around, the church in North America has totally forgotten the mission. We talk about it. We give lip service to it. But if you want to see what the church's focus is - look at where we spend our money, where we devote our time, and on what we expend our energy and passion. Over what are we frustrated or over what are we saying, "if only..."? And when you look at those things it is clear the church in North America's focus is on being a clubhouse for religious people who like to hang out with people like them. It is all about us.

Most churches live in a bubble. Inside that bubble they have their own church culture with their music, language, dress, etc. But people outside the bubble see "the church in the bubble" as increasingly irrelevant. They are interested in spiritual things and how to connect with God. They are interested in Jesus. They simply don't think that the church in America has any answers for them. They don't want to live in the bubble.

For most churches, if you want to connect with God, you have to come inside the bubble, learn to like the way things are done inside the bubble, and then you can connect with God. I am afraid that the church is substituting being immersed in church culture for an authentic, intimate relationship with Christ and real Christlike character. I want our church to get outside of the bubble and connect with people,and help them connect with God. Pray that God will help us get out of the bubble.