Hop-churching

I have a confession to make.  There have been times in my life when I was an inveterate church-hopper.  When I was younger working through my relationship to Christ and His body I had the idea that I needed to find the church that was right for me.  Where I felt fed by the preaching and partnered with like-minded folks who were theologically in step with what I felt was right.  I was young.  I was selfish.  I was looking at the local church I attended more in the light of what it could do for me.  I was a total consumer.

As a result, I’d go to a church for a few years and then something would happen.  I’d have a falling out with another church member.  Or the pastor would change and the new one was too Scripture-light or liberal.  Or I’d hear from a friend that they’d started going to Wonder Church X and that their pastor was an amazing teacher.  And off I’d go.  Hippity-hop.  There were times I’d go for months and months from church to church to church.  It was easy to do.  There are a lot of churches in a pretty tight radius.  Sometimes my divorces were painful but it was pretty easy to settle into a new relationship.  But although I was constantly in motion something inside me seemed stagnant.

I’ve changed the way I look at church a lot over the years.  I try to ask myself what I can do for it instead of what it can do for me.  I don’t look for a new church because I get hurt or offended or whatever.  I stick around (although I do take the occasional few months off here and there).  And it changed and deepened both my relationship to my church and to Jesus.

Now, I’ll bet your wondering what in the world this has to do with what Grace is doing while Vince is away.  Although I’m pining for Vince big-time and looking forward with longing to his return, I’m really blessed by the speakers who’ve been filling in for him while he’s away.  My goal (we’ll see how this goes) is to do a post that touches on each one of their messages at some point or another.  Not necessarily in any particular order.

Our theme for this season is “This Is Church” and each of our speakers has been developing this theme as we move through the Book of Acts and see how the early church did it.  It’s wonderful to enjoy the diversity in style and viewpoint and experience.  It reminds me of my old church-hopping days, but instead of leaving my church and going to hear different speakers they’re coming to us.  Lenny even brought his church with him!  I’m enjoying this hop-churching more than ever I thought I would.

And there’s more to come!

Peace, Dave

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