So I was having breakfast this morning with Karen in a nice little cafe and we happened to be eating beside two very audible ladies (apparently it’s rude to say old, so I will use the term ‘getting on’). It started as one of those conversations which you didn’t really want to hear at 10am. I am not really a fan of salivary ailments at the best of times, but especially not when I have just sat down to pancakes and maple syrup.
Anyway, after blocking as much of that conversation out as I possible could, we were invited with the rest of those in the coffee shop to passively listen to the ecclesiological events ongoing in the town. Most of the conversation revolved around the lack of skirts and hats in many of the congregations today. Apparently you could count the number of skirt wearers on one hand at one particular denomination on a particular Sunday evening, and all bar one had left their hat at home. It was at this point that we were introduced to the phrase "If you are going to accept the horse, you have to accept the horses head." It was some sort of metaphor or simile that this lady thought she had heard regarding ecclesiological head coverings. It was very bizarre. She continued by telling us that she couldn’t really criticise the sermon that the minister was delivering as she was sitting at the back of the church so she couldn’t quite hear it.
Anyway, after blocking as much of that conversation out as I possible could, we were invited with the rest of those in the coffee shop to passively listen to the ecclesiological events ongoing in the town. Most of the conversation revolved around the lack of skirts and hats in many of the congregations today. Apparently you could count the number of skirt wearers on one hand at one particular denomination on a particular Sunday evening, and all bar one had left their hat at home. It was at this point that we were introduced to the phrase "If you are going to accept the horse, you have to accept the horses head." It was some sort of metaphor or simile that this lady thought she had heard regarding ecclesiological head coverings. It was very bizarre. She continued by telling us that she couldn’t really criticise the sermon that the minister was delivering as she was sitting at the back of the church so she couldn’t quite hear it.
Now I have absolutely no problem with ladies wearing skirts or hats to church if they want, but I consider it rather petulant to pick on people that don’t.
It pains me that people believe issues like this are more important than spiritual growth, relationship with Christ, connecting in Spirit filled community, giving glory to God in corporate acts of worship, and many other important issues. It did however get me thinking about my perception and attitude towards church. Is church about what Church offers me, or is it about what I can give to building and sustaining Gods Kingdom here on earth? I would like to be known as a kingdom builder rather than a kingdom criticiser. I am going to take a good look and pray hard that this week God will show me some ways to be a Kingdom builder.
2 comments:
good words. especially here at school we get real caught up criticizing everything, everyone who speaks in chapel and all our teachers. but really, who are we to complain and nit-pick, if we aren't doing anything to improve the situation? we can get caught up in a lot of pettiness if we dont realize that nothing and nobody will ever be perfect, instead we should do like our Father: work hard and do the best we can with the messed up people we find rallying with us under the banner of Christ.
good words. especially here at school we get real caught up criticizing everything, everyone who speaks in chapel and all our teachers. but really, who are we to complain and nit-pick, if we aren't doing anything to improve the situation? we can get caught up in a lot of pettiness if we dont realize that nothing and nobody will ever be perfect, instead we should do like our Father: work hard and do the best we can with the messed up people we find rallying with us under the banner of Christ.
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