Friday, June 26, 2009

C4, Connection & Christ

It's on the screen every week.
C4= Christ, Connection, Community, Creativity.
I want to write today about connection, but in a little different light.
We usually talk about connection with each other in the church and also form connections (or relationships) outside the church. All good stuff.
But I think one connection we don't talk about much is our connection with Christ.
I had a thought the other day (granted that doesn't happen often). Do we base our connection with Christ on 1 hour a week on Sunday?
I mean, is the highlight of our Christian walk every week merely 60 minutes on Sunday?
Think about this, for 1 hour out of 168 per week we connect with Christ. And that's if we come to church on Sunday!
Perhaps that why when changes come to some churches, the fur begins to fly. We don't want the pinnacle of our Christian experience messed with.
Sometimes pastors make it worse. We develop programs, gimmicks, light shows, whatever, so that people can connect with the church.
Shouldn't our churches help people connect with Christ? Shouldn't our worship services, classes, small groups, whatever, help people connect with Christ?
And not only connect with Christ for 1 hour a week, but every waking hour we have.
The church isn't a building, it's us. Christ is working outside the walls (believe it or not) of our churches. Are we connecting with Christ out there?
Christ is working in our churches too, but sometimes we demand that it's on our terms. We seem to connect when the church does things we like, because as everyone knows Jesus likes the things we like, and He hates the stuff we hate (that is sarcasm).
Discipleship is more than learning to read our Bible, and learning to pray. Don't get me wrong, that is VERY important. But discipleship is more than that, it is connecting with Christ on the journey. It is rolling up our sleeves, and connecting with Christ in the marketplace. It is our life, not a place and a time every Sunday.
Many people in Jesus' time knew who Jesus was. Many followed Him, for awhile. Some stayed and connected with Him however, and the world has never been the same.
Would our communities be different if we connected with Christ in His work to show His love for people? Would our churches be different if we used that time to worship Christ because of our connection with Him the other hours of our week?
And lastly, would our lives have more purpose and meaning when we connect, not only with the church, but Christ Himself?
Something to think about.