Church

The Church as an institution has been the most significant influence in my life, outside of my family. I was born into the Church. My extended family for several generations were very much involved, even as leaders, in the Church. All of my education after high school, except for a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma, has been in the Church’s educational schools. Even in my grade, junior and high school experience, many of my teachers attended the same Church as my family. I have been on Church staff several times and have been a Pastor for 3 years while in college and, later, 21 years in Lexington, Ky. I love the Church. However, I am now wondering if we are seeing some kind of a significant transition in the way we are and do Church. This COVID pandemic has motivated Churches to make use of the internet, ex., Facebook, YouTube, Zoom, etc. Even the two Seminaries where I have taught now meet with their classes on-line. You can attend their classes from any place in the world. There are no geographical limitations. I have not been inside our Church’s sanctuary for a worship service since March (7 months). I have, however, “attended” most Sundays during this time. I have also “attended” several other Churches during this same period; often two or more services on the same Sunday. I have been able to “attend” Churches in several other States. I have also “attended” Churches not of my denominational background. I miss the personal contact that was available when I worshipped in person. Nevertheless, I confess that I have enjoyed and spiritually profited by the ability to “attend” various Churches during this period. I plan to continue to “attend” various Church via the internet. A friend tells me that she, her daughter, and their families are now able to “attend” their home Church. She lives in Kentucky, the daughter in New Jersey and their home church is in Massachusetts. Another friend, who is a Children’s Minster on a Church staff, says that her present task is to provide families the materials/resources, ideas, and help they need to provide spiritual formation for their children. Parents with responsibility to do spiritual formation with their children--that sounds Biblical. A serious question seems to be: Is Church primarily about personal contact or spiritual worship and formation? If the Church’s primary purpose is worship and spiritual formation as I believe, I wonder if we will continue to need all of the Church buildings. Those buildings consume much of a church’s budget. Perhaps, without large buildings the Church would be able to assist those with significant needs in some material ways that the Church’s present budget does not permit (see Matthew 25). Could it be that God is making the Churches simplify and downsize and this internet is more than an interim way to be and do Church? Perhaps we are not going back to former ways. If any of this is true, future Church leaders will be those with new visions and a great sense of creativity. There will be many who deny or avoid this new prospect and seek to return to the former “normal.” There will also be those who are so anxious that they will seek to sabotage any new paradigms. I hope there will not be red ball caps that say, “Make the Church great again.”