Sometimes I wonder if I'm no fun anymore. (Not as serious as Stephen Stills felt in the late 60s, but still I wonder.)I enjoy mindless entertainment. I even enjoy intellectually stimulating entertainment. But as I ponder churchy things and try to analyze why our small groups didn't work out last fall, a couple things occur to me.
Thing #1: People want to have fun together - even churchy people. And this is a fine thing because Fun Is Good. But a spiritual community needs more.
Thing #2: When people get together for spiritual things, some want to be entertained. Some want to see their friends. Others want to be inspired.
Thing #3: Too few of us want to change anything about our lives. We want to be comforted. We want to be nurtured. But do we really want to alter our habits/spiritual practices/perspectives?
(See what I mean about being no fun?)
I get depressed when people seem so uncommitted. Many church members attend worship irregularly. There are clearly good excuses (e.g. out of town, sick, Grandmother's 100th birthday party) and there are not-so-good reasons (e.g. Hillary's on Meet the Press, Ann Taylor's having a sale.) Maybe they are committed to God, to following Jesus but they just aren't committed to their spiritual community. For others "membership" simply means that their names are on a list somewhere and that's enough.
(See what I mean about being no fun?)
Here's the thing: I am really fun. Cyndi Lauper fun. I draw the line at certain roller coasters and American Gladiator tryouts but I'm a fairly fun person.
Nevertheless, I'm longing for people in my spiritual community to crave God to the point that they become a committed part of the community. I'm wishing more people made room for their spiritual lives in a committed way.
I'm told this doesn't sound like much fun. But to respond by saying something like "Faithfulness isn't always fun" sounds obnoxiously pious. Still I long for brothers and sisters who want more in their spiritual lives. Actually, this is the most fun kind of ministry.
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4 comments:
I've seen this in our church - folks who want to be entertained rather than challenged.
And you know, I've seen it in failing marriages too; I have a friend whose husband left her, partially on the grounds that he was no longer entertained. I remember being so angry, because since when did one's marriage vows include the phrase, "I promise to entertain you." Gah!
I think one can have fun while service, while learning, while worshipping.
Depends on what you think "fun" means.
Maybe that's where the rub is....
...I think it means rewarding, joyful, take-your-breath-away inpiring, restore-your-breath comforting. Stuff like that.
"Don't try to entertain your youth group or you'll be chasing your tail," someone advised me once. Someone younger than myself, and wiser. PS She is now the mother of 3 rambunctious girls. Somehow that seems worth mentioning.
Amen ... I share your longing ... and I'm fun too!
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