Categories: uncategorized
Date: 19 May 2005 14:02:59
Some musings.
Is stressed-out Christianity a genuine path of discipleship?
I've just had a week where things have been fairly hectic. I've accomplished quite a bit of stuff at work, and it's been a bit tiring. In the evenings, I've come home, cooked and cleared up. This has taken me until about half seven or eight. After this, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week I've spent the best part of 2 hours each evening trying to sort out various aspects of the music at our church.
Now, it's not that I'm terribly stressed. But I'm sane enough to know that I need to have a bit of time to relax during a week. Modern church culture doesn't seem to allow for this as legitimate though. The expectation is that a faithful Christian will attend Sunday worship, prayer meetings, housegroup meetings and member meetings; then in addition serve in various capacities in the church.
Does this reflect real Christian discipleship though?
God gives us gifts, and we use these in the church to build the church up in our mission to the wider world. Fine. Service of others is a main part of Christian life - fine. I can't help but feel though that the pattern of modern church life is more to do with modern western ideas such as continuous improvement of everything; institutional commitment and activism.
Prayer and reflection seem to be bypassed. Relationships with others seem to be relegated to less important than serving the institution of the church. And I'm not sure that's very Christian.