Haven’t been here a while – mainly due to work. Home and the end/start of year. It doesn’t leave much time for blogging. I still have just as many random thoughts dribbling through my head.
Things that have happened since I last blogged…. Hmmm… probably one of the most significant things was seeing U2 in Sydney in Nov. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. It is really something else to be “part” of something so big. We were quite close, and it really was quite a spiritual exercise. I think even if you were a ignorant to all things religious you would have still tingled from the sincere moments of worship, both from the crowd and the band, that occurred during the concert.
I have also been reading a bit of the website signposts.org.au. It is really a website that finds it most interest in its comments rather than posts! Most of the comments are regarding “penty churchs” such as Hillsong, CCC and Riverview and the way they conduct church/business. It has made me think a little further about how churches operate. I was always prepared to give churches the benefit of the doubt, that others do things differently and if people find that a different worship style, preaching style, is what they want , well then that’s fine. I am now aware from reading signposts that some churches do have leaders that operate contrary to the gospel, and many people end up used and hurt from attending these churches. I don’t think they are evil, and in actual fact I think they actually do a lot of good but there’s a number of things that seem dodgy to a little Baptist boy like me. The ones at the top of the list would probably be: inherited leadership positions through family lines; business style church governance; the prosperity doctrine; emphasis on being successful; church celebrity culture; the Pentecostal speaking circuit; unknown financials; the teaching of tithing and the lit goes on… It makes me quite thankful of the church I am in, as many failings as a diverse group of people meeting together for a common cause can have, we really are quite functional. There is know offering sermon; the leaders are approachable; there is many generations, families and backgrounds – not just attractive middle class 17-30 year olds; we have pretty good music but there is still a spot for someone who is learning to play or wanting to get better; and we are growing!
I try not to leave posting for so long…
