I have been aloof from the whole church thing lately. I find myself sitting in Sunday services, wondering just what the point is. We spend much time, energy and money on getting people in the door on Sundays. And I wonder for what. In this time of hyper-change, the institutional church seems to be lumbering along way behind the times.

It is evident here in the Seattle area. You can go to almost any club with live music on a weeknight (shows are usually from 9pm-1 or 2 am) and it is packed with professionals. Many of them have early mornings the next day due to work. Yet they pack out a nightclub on a weeknight. Just try to find them in church on Sundays.

I hang out a clubs, you see. No, I’m not hoping to run into Paris Hilton (I doubt she’d stoop low enough to visit Seattle anyway). And no, I am not pursuing hedonistic aims of drink and revelry, though I do enjoy hanging with my peeps. What I am attempting in my feeble way, is to connect with the masses that seek something more spiritually. Everyone wants more for their souls.

And so the throngs come to worship. And it ain’t Jesus. It’s the latest band. Or the chance to hang out with others to have fun and a few Jaeger shots. It’s the chance to dance to some grooves, hands raised in reverence to funky musical strains. And it’s the chance to connect with something deeper, with the most shallow of strategies.

As I sit in these postmodern worship environments, the deep hunger of the soul is palpable. And I sit largely alone as a follower of Christ. I have yet to run into other Jesus followers in these settings, save for the few brothers and sisters that have occasionally joined me for a cold micro or a healthy pour of Italian red. I feel alone, along with the throngs that surround me. Alone in places that yearn for the presence of Christ. Where is the Church?

Am I all that? No. Am I providing some great outreach ministry to the lost masses? Uh uh. But I am letting people into my life, so they can see something of Jesus through the haze of my imperfect soul. We have been taught for so long to preach the Gospel. I for one want to be the Gospel.

Those seeking fulfillment in their souls are flowing in a torrent past us, and the Church is largely not to be found. Oh yes, there are efforts here and there that reach into these lost and lonely places, and they are to be commended. But you have no idea how many people are starving for the heart of Jesus, without even knowing it. It has shaken my soul.

Take my friend John (not his real name) for instance. He has lived in the same neighborhood for 50 years. Born, raised, and now living in the home of his dead parents. He is depressed and lonely. He does not want to sit at home watching TV alone. So he goes to the neighborhood bar and grill. We have talked a number of times as he nurses 4-5 bottles of Bud Light (which really can’t be called beer). He is a good guy, and the heart of Jesus longs after his. I aim to dignify him, and let God reflect his heart through mine. He is opening up to his need.

Or consider the 6’2” hostess of the same establishment. Being 6′8″ myself, I am kind of freaked out by her. She is intellectually challenging to me. MENSA counts her among their membership. She strives for dual advanced degrees in theology and politics. Her aim? To understand the intersection of religion and diplomacy. Whoa!! All the while, she is developing her singer songwriter career and spouting quotes from Walt Whitman and Rainer Maria Rilke, while enjoying red meat and foie gras.

Did I tell you she was an animist? I love this woman. She is inches away, intellectually, from a completely Judeao-Christian worldview. Her heart has yet to be yanked forth in God’s grace though.

St. Francis said it well: Preach the gospel and if necessary, use words.” I know that this has started to become overused. But it is our key into the lonely souls of the hypermodern generation (to use Erwin McManus’ term). Consider the small act of paying for my drinks. Same club, different gal. She’s a great woman – and bartender — that is in the process of starting an EcoTourism magazine.

The other night, I noticed that I had only been charged for one beer, not the three that I actually had (this happens regularly, being the regular that I am). I had a slight twinge of temptation to let it be. After all, it was busy. But I called her on it. She slugged me in the arm, and told me she was “gonna kick my ass”. I fully believed her. She got a tip on the original amount. I will strive to be Christ in the situation. And maybe get beat up by a girl in the process. Preach the gospel…

I could tell you story after story like this (and probably will). I am probably at this establishment way too much. But oh well. People are getting to know me, and I them. I pray fervently that they see Christ in me. Please God, let it be so. I am building my – no God’s – influence to get credits to spend with people. I yearn that they let me in a little more each time. And I anticipate the day when they see directly into the heart of God.

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 3rd, 2008 at 9:30 am and is filed under Church, Criticism, Culture, Emergent Church, Evangelism/Outreach. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.