Have you ever played church?
When I was in 5th grade, when other kids were playing spy games, or basketball. I played church. I would have my sister and the other kids from the church sitting in their straight rows of chairs while we sang songs we could barely understand, and listen to me ramble on about some Bible verse.
As adults, some Christians are still deeply entrenched in playing church. Playing church is where you are content with showing up for an hour, getting your God-fix, checking off another Sunday of perfect attendance, and leaving without really connecting with God or another person. Playing church is putting God in a two hour a week box. Playing church is dressing in your Sunday best to cover how you live and act the rest of the week.
I must confess that there have been times when I have been guilty of playing church.
God been stirring something inside of FCC Chicago – a real discontent with playing church. People want to experience what God’s Word says the body of Christ – the church – should look like, should act like, and should love like. We are not content to play church - we want to be the church!
Here is a beautiful description of the kind of church we are seeking to become from Acts 2… "They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord's Supper and in prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all ... And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. They sold their possessions and share the proceeds with those in need. They worshiped together ... each day, met inhomes for the Lord's Supper and shared their meals with great joy and generosity - all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved."
What if our churches started to look more like that Scripture? Would you want to be a part of a community of faith like that?
I am tired of playing church. How about you?
Steve came to Chicago in 1996 after God prepared him for urban ministry with 4 1/2 years of wandering in the wilderness of North Dakota. He now lives in the Ashburn neighborhood, where the church is located, along with his wife, Laira, and five children their dog, a Dutch bunny, three rats, two koi and three goldfish. (Yes, that makes 10 pets!) Steve was named the Senior Minister in 2007 after nearly 11 years as the Associate Minister of Outreach and Discipleship.
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