conversation is an engine

Not so easy to answer for most of us.

Church is not a place of questions. It is a place of sameness and routine, where old stories—even ancient stories—are retold. We go to church to be reassured, right? Reassured we are forgiven, for instance. Reassured that I am personally going the right direction, and perhaps even welcoming that kick-in-the-pants reminder of how I veered off-course—yet again. Reassured there is a God. And that God has something to say.

No, church today is not a place of questions. It is a place of answers.

It was not always so.

I’ve been reading through an ancient text that documents the questions the early church was trying to sort out. One primary question was, “What is this thing?” A question even more visceral was surely muttered silently, “What the hell is going on here?” And after that, questions tumbled forth from any and every quarter:

• “How can this possibly work?”
• “How could I be friends with you?”
• “Is this belief so dangerous that I am hunted for it?”
• “Why are you sharing your fortune with me?”
• “Am I ready to die for this?”

Questions everywhere because what was happening was outside the control or vision of one or any individual. Questions because they were watching God do stuff. Extraordinary stuff.

Today we have it figured out. Programs and formulas and seminars and best practices—just like with any industry. We’ve got experts who know stuff.

But every once in a while, I see something in a church and say under my breath, “What the…? How can that possible work?”

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Image credit: Alleanna Harris via 2headedsnake