Some people came back to Sunday night service, some people even made it to Bible study on Wednesday... but that was really it for having church. You lived your week how you were going to live your week, then when it was time you'd go back to church.
And that was religion! The path to salvation, wrapped up in attendance, scattered in with commandments like "don't cuss", "don't drink", and "don't talk bad about people." In fact to hear it told, coming to church and staying on your best behavior (along with getting baptized) pretty much paved the way to heaven and I was OK with that. That was easy enough to do and it didn't really get in the way of my life.
So, with this knowledge of what Christianity was, I matriculated to Mississippi State University where I briefly continued to attend a church that fit right into that little nook I'd made for God in my life which was Sunday around 11pm-noon.
As I continued through college and into my career, I became kind of bored with it all. Go to church, hear a sermon similar to one I've heard before, sing, done for the week... eventually my attendance became sparse... once or twice a month and no Sunday night or Wednesdays anymore.
It was a strange position to be in. I believed in God, and Jesus, no doubt there, but I didn't feel different from what I perceived my non-religious friends felt. There is supposed to be a light coming from me that makes people want to know God if they don't already, but where they thought I was a cool person, they were typically happier getting to sleep in on the Sundays I decided to get up.
This lack of whatever it was I was supposed to have kept me right where I was. The typical Lukewarm Christian. I grew up, got married, had a kid. Church attendance picked up out of a strong desire to raise my daughter (and Son coming soon!) to know God, but I was still just going through the motions.
In our most recent search for a church home, we branched out from what we knew, visiting more "out there" congregations. While the more "enthusiactic" worship services weren't for us, seeing people with their hands raised, dancing, and shouting unashamed praises to the Lord sparked a question in me that has stayed with me for about two years now...
Where is my fire?
Seriously! What do people have that burns inside them? How are they this excited to come to services? Do they feel a Love inside them during their workday? After they come home tired from the office?
I wanted that, and quite obviously I haven't gotten it from my "be a good person" Christianity. With that quest for the fire in mind, our search took us to a new church... "Austin New Church" to be precise. My first thought: "Is there anything different?"
And there is. It is a very missional community, dedicated to helping. They are constantly serving the community, reaching out to help others, and NOT actively angling to lure them to "come to church." In fact, in an introductory meeting, we were told that here we have permission to "Not invite people to come to church."
WHAT!?
Yeah, this is based on the idea that if we do as Jesus did, show love, and help people while loving God, then He will work to bring people to him. That gels with what I've always believed personally... I've never been an "in your face" type of person even when asked about my faith. I am who I am, being a Christian doesn't make me less fun or weird to hang out with. Often, people who have known me for a while are shocked to find out that I'm a Christian because they don't like Christians. Whether that's good or not, I don't know for sure, but I like that they don't liken me to the Christians that have ruined their view of Christ.
Will I find my fire here? I don't know, but I am being challenged to think of others, to put myself out of my comfort zone and actually help people, and if I'm only turned changed from a homebody into someone who helps those less fortunate, then I'm better off than I am now.
