The Body of Christ
I think I need to find a church. Since I got back from college, I've been attending my parents' church (which they started attending during my sophomore year at PHC, so it's never really been my church). I've tried to get to know people there (well, I tried a little bit . . . sort of), and I'm volunteering with Awana. But the experience has been rather unsatisfactory, for the following reasons:
1. I am, so far as I can tell, the only single person between the ages of 18 and 30 in the church.
2. Everyone thinks I am my sister. (Okay, there is one other single person).
3. There are few opportunities for individual discipleship. The church leadership is, to be fair, making an earnest attempt to start small groups, but they're not making much headway. People are afraid to discuss what's actually happening in their spiritual lives because it might not be cheerfully positive, or might offend someone else's theological foibles. Everyone smiles at everyone, but it's hard to get beyond, "How are you?"
4. I would really like to sing in a choir, or help with music ministry somehow, but it's impossible at this church. The music ministry consists of the same leaders every week trying to coax the congregation into singing the praise choruses in tune.
In short, I'm drowning in the bland niceness of standard white-bread evangelicalism. So, with my parents' encouragement, I've decided that I am a grown-up and can find my own church. In pursuit of this goal, I spend most of the afternoon on the computer researching local churches. So far, I have discovered the following (since I'm making lists today):
1. Baptist churches do not have websites.
2. If it says "Church of Christ," it is alarmingly liberal and, if "Church of God," alarming the opposite.
3. The Reformed denominations (CRC and RCA) have delicious creeds (I had never read the Belgic Confession before, and found it perfectly delightful) but are mushy on questions like divorce and the ordination of women. I do not know how much weight to give such matters, especially if the local congregation is theologically sound.
4. The only Episcopal church within reasonable driving distance has a female rector. (Actually, I already knew that one, having attended a Good Friday service there one spring break.)
5. One nondenominational congregation claims to be "orthodox, but not tied to human traditions." The sad thing is, they don't even realize the irony.
6. If the word 'relevant' appears anywhere on the church's website, they should be automatically eliminated from consideration.
Is this dismembered collection of curiosities the bride for whom Christ gave himself up, cleansing her by the washing with water through his blood? But then, I am a dismembered collection of curiosities myself, and He has not abandoned me. One day all things shall be made whole. But in the meantime, how is one to know which dismembered bit to attach oneself to?
1. I am, so far as I can tell, the only single person between the ages of 18 and 30 in the church.
2. Everyone thinks I am my sister. (Okay, there is one other single person).
3. There are few opportunities for individual discipleship. The church leadership is, to be fair, making an earnest attempt to start small groups, but they're not making much headway. People are afraid to discuss what's actually happening in their spiritual lives because it might not be cheerfully positive, or might offend someone else's theological foibles. Everyone smiles at everyone, but it's hard to get beyond, "How are you?"
4. I would really like to sing in a choir, or help with music ministry somehow, but it's impossible at this church. The music ministry consists of the same leaders every week trying to coax the congregation into singing the praise choruses in tune.
In short, I'm drowning in the bland niceness of standard white-bread evangelicalism. So, with my parents' encouragement, I've decided that I am a grown-up and can find my own church. In pursuit of this goal, I spend most of the afternoon on the computer researching local churches. So far, I have discovered the following (since I'm making lists today):
1. Baptist churches do not have websites.
2. If it says "Church of Christ," it is alarmingly liberal and, if "Church of God," alarming the opposite.
3. The Reformed denominations (CRC and RCA) have delicious creeds (I had never read the Belgic Confession before, and found it perfectly delightful) but are mushy on questions like divorce and the ordination of women. I do not know how much weight to give such matters, especially if the local congregation is theologically sound.
4. The only Episcopal church within reasonable driving distance has a female rector. (Actually, I already knew that one, having attended a Good Friday service there one spring break.)
5. One nondenominational congregation claims to be "orthodox, but not tied to human traditions." The sad thing is, they don't even realize the irony.
6. If the word 'relevant' appears anywhere on the church's website, they should be automatically eliminated from consideration.
Is this dismembered collection of curiosities the bride for whom Christ gave himself up, cleansing her by the washing with water through his blood? But then, I am a dismembered collection of curiosities myself, and He has not abandoned me. One day all things shall be made whole. But in the meantime, how is one to know which dismembered bit to attach oneself to?
posted by Deborah | 3:02 PM
2 Comments:
Aww...you could always research some of the more conservative Anglican splinter groups (Anglican Catholic Church, Anglican Mission in America, etc.) They sometimes have parishes where you wouldn't expect them :-)
-Maggie
I'm sorry to hear about your church-searching troubles. :-(
If it makes you feel any better, I've been going to my present church since I was four, and people *still* think I'm my sister. But having no singles is--very hard.
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