Is This What Church is Supposed to Be Like?

I didn’t grow up in the church. In fact, I think my only experience with church as a child was the occasional holiday visit to St. James Cathedral in Seattle, WA (i.e. Easter and Christmas Eve). So, working in a church as an adult, I don’t have a traditional background to turn to in order to ensure I’m doing church “right.” I don’t understand church politics (oxymoron?). I don’t understand tradition. I don’t understand the rules. I don’t fully grasp the do’s and don’ts. There’s a LOT I don’t get…stuff that just doesn’t make sense to me.

This has led to me forming an almost cynical view of the church. I think sometimes we get so caught up in making sure our own little world is all neat, tidy, pretty, and clean that we neglect THE world, the bigness and vastness of the world. We’re like a horse with blinders on. We can’t see to our left, to our right, behind, or around us…our vision is NARROW and focused on just a SMALL piece of God’s glory. We treat each area, each component, each ministry, each program of the church like a puzzle piece. We cut it and shape it and make sure it fits nicely in place…no rough edges please, no surprises please…that doesn’t look right so please try putting it somewhere else, like down the road.

We’re disconnected. Fractured. We cry from the stage or pulpit or wherever it is we speak from for UNITY and COMMUNITY…yet churches are divided, separate, competing with one another instead of working with one another. Again, narrow focus. My area. My people. My place. My thing. You stay there. I’ll stay here. We’re no different than dogs urinating all over the yard to say, “This is MINE! Stay OUT!”

To me, this doesn’t make sense.
To me, this is the opposite of God’s plan for His Son’s bride (Ephesians 4:1-16).
To me, this replaces the C with a c (THE Church vs. MY church).
To me, this limits the potential of the local church to bring about change.

Am I missing something?
Is this how church is supposed to be?
Maybe it’s because I didn’t grow up in church, but this seems more like the bride has ran away from the altar.

What would happen if local churches started working TOGETHER instead of wondering who’s left MY church to attend YOUR church?
What would happen if local churches started working TOGETHER instead of wondering what the other party wants?
What would happen if local churches started working TOGETHER instead of wondering how to promote the next program?
What would happen if local churches started working TOGETHER instead of pretending to pursue Jesus?

It seems to me if the local churches were truly pursuing Christ, it would be TOGETHER, not apart. If we, as the bride of Christ, are unable to come together to make a difference in this community, your community, who will? Again, I didn’t grow up in the church, so maybe I’m missing something. Are we supposed to take a backseat while some OTHER organization rises up to take the lead? I thought the church was about life change, not marking property lines and maintaining attendance.

If this is how church is SUPPOSED to be…then I don’t want it.
If this is church TRADITION…then I don’t want it.
If this is the PURPOSE of the church…then I don’t want it.
If Jesus isn’t the HEAD of the body…it’s dead (John 4:14).

But…then again…I’m still new to the game. Maybe I simply haven’t been properly “assimilated” to church culture. Maybe Jesus didn’t really come for the sick. Maybe Jesus really did come so I could get mine and you could get yours. Maybe it’s about building MY kingdom.

Or…

What if God entrusted His perfect plan to imperfect people and somewhere along the line we’ve made mistakes, we’ve messed some things up, we’ve lost sight of what He intended? If that’s the case, then let’s ADMIT IT and start working TOGETHER to make some changes, make some renovations, let’s build the church into the Church and see REVIVAL resound across the globe.

THAT’S something I can get behind.
Let’s BE the difference.