Rules without Relationship

"Rules without relationship always leads to rebellion. The only thing that tethers us is Love."

Coincidentally, I heard this on the radio right after I left a story about a church closing. I spoke with a young man who works with a group called Dirty Vagabond Ministries, and he said he focuses on teen outreach by visiting teens where they are, developing a relationship and" earning the right" to minister to them. For example, he goes to sporting events and to bus stops to bring the kids snacks before school and try to build rapport.
It's better than just bringing them in the church and preaching at them, he said, and that's not what Jesus did. He didn't have Bible studies and seminars, He went to people where they were.

Those words really resonated with me - his idea of building a relationship and letting ministry develop naturally. I think he's right. Ultimately, people just want to feel loved.

I've been really reflecting upon what draws people to a church and what keeps people in a church. We're in a trendy, superficial society that needs bells and whistles to catch people's attention. Ur church needs to have a Web site, and a text message sermon and a live Web stream and needs to be televised. You need to have lyrics posted on projectors and announcements via video and a ministry for every single population - the ski club ministry and the pet ministry and the married with kids ministry and the married without kids ministry, etc etc etc.

What if you have a smaller church that can't compete? (Because let's face it, times are tough, we got bills to pay so we need butts in seats, and it is a competition.) OK, to be more accurate, what if you have a smaller church that is simply fighting to sustain itself? I've been to big churches. It turned me off one day when I had to sit in the "overflow room" and watch church on TV.  I could've done that at home - without having to pay an offering.

I guess you just have to wait for people to mature to a point where they realize that flashing lights are less important than finding a place where you feel the Love of God.

And all you need for that is...well, somewhere that teaches the full gospel of Christ. Doesn't matter the size of the sanctuary or the amenities they offer.

"The only thing that tethers us is Love."

A New Concept

I went to an interfaith service today in memory of 9/11, where people of various faiths spoke about working together and respecting each other's beliefs in light of recent hate-mongering events that have taken place. The last speaker's words really got me thinking.

The gentleman, who is 19 and is Muslim, said he was reading a book by Mahatma Gandhi that spoke about tolerance. "Tolerance" is not enough, the speaker said, because it still implies an air of superiority. "We'll tolerate your religion" is the same as saying those other faiths are inferior. He instead mentioned a concept called ahimsa, which means to do no harm -- not even with your thoughts.

In essence, we need to transcend tolerance to reach a level of acceptance where we accord to other religions the same amount of respect that we give to our own.

That's a good idea, I thought. But wait: those of us who believe a certain religion do so because we think what we believe is thee right way. For instance, Christianity speaks of a straight and narrow path that few will find.

So with this in mind, is it really possible to give other religions the same level of respect that you give your own? I understand we can be intelligent enough to hear other ideas and whatnot, but if you believe your faith is the true faith, then how can you equally respect another religion?