Hold the Hymnals, Hold the Dramas, Others’ Preferences Cause Us Traumas….

Thank you Burger King for letting me modify your jingle.

Before I proceed, it was pointed out to me that my last post misspelled Jane Eyre as Jane Erye. I apologize and thought it only right that I air my Jane Eyre error. Pretty clever, eh?

Enough of my faux-cleverness. One way to stir up people's rancor about preferences in church is to insinuate that you shouldn't have rancor about preferences in church. The sermon at our church last week did precisely that.

There are three categories in which the decisions of how to do church can be divided into. They are preferences, convictions, and absolutes. These are simple categories which require processing and have some disagreement. However, they are just handles to help and are not going to make every issue crystal clear.

I knew I wanted to write on this topic, but I have struggled to know what to say. Some are helped by the categories while some are offended because they feel legitimate concerns are swept away. Trying to address all of the issues I've dealt with on this subject this past week would take too long. Instead I will report some summary thoughts about church and people that may be helpful.

Here are my observations:

• The more time we pour into the absolutes (creation, fall, redemption, church, new heaven/new earth) the less time we will stew over preference dislikes.
• We love to be unhappy. I know we think we are striving for happiness, but many of us relish being unhappy, displeased, and generally contentious. We must like that state because there is usually an alternative that we refuse to take. Being unhappy is easier than being content.  Contentment forces us to use our will to look past disappointment to focus on appreciation. That takes work. Unhappiness uses the downhill momentum of our hearts to focus on what we do not like. That takes no work and often feels exhilarating and powerful.
• Speaking of power, we hate to feel powerless. We are so accustomed to exerting power that times of powerlessness are painful and unacceptable.
• Dissent can be good as well as bad. Discerning the difference and handling it well takes up a big chunk of time and energy.
• God does care about preferences but where there is little to no Scriptural clarity on which to move authoritatively we must tread lightly. Sin brings a cloudiness and confusion that limits our discernment. Patience and humility are needed.
• Each of us holds tremendous potential energy to be positive and uplifting to those around us. The Spirit is in us hoping we will use His power to love. We must use it more often.
• Church is a unique institution and we should be careful drawing analogies with other institutions like corporations, schools, stores, etc.... For example, a store will tell you the customer is always right. If you buy into that you will be demanding and if you take that thinking to church you will be destructive.
• Finally, my church is great. God has used it to save my life, my marriage, and my family. I am amazed how much God has used my church family to help me. Thank-you.