Other churches judging us?!
Mountain Lake has been criticized many times by more "mainstream denominational" churches for our sometimes unconventional way of doing church. From the type of clothes we wear, to the type of music we play, to the fact we allow people to bring their Starbucks into the "Sanctuary," and of course, for the way we teach. We've been accused of being a cult, a "devil church" (we were called this from the platform of a church in our community), and interested only in people's money (yeah, that's why I got in the ministry). Many times I have laughed at these judgmental attitudes held by religious people in our community. Other times, they tick me off; Still other times, they affirm what we're doing. If we're making religious people mad, we're more like Jesus!
However, recently, God has been speaking to our entire team about what we talked about in church this past weekend (see yesterday's post). OTHER churches aren't the only ones that use externals as a measuring stick. We do, too. OTHER churches aren't the only ones guilty of judgmentalism. We at Mountain Lake are, too, from time to time! When we look down on other churches because they wear coats and ties, or don't have a band, or don't do small groups in homes, or don't serve coffee, or who have a steeple, we are just as guilty! When we judge, we become the very people we can't stand to be around: Pharisees!
I love Mountain Lake Church. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else! It's the best church I've ever been around! I believe it;s the best church in the world! But that does NOT mean that everyone else has got it wrong. It does not mean God loves us more. It does not mean God favors us more. God doesn't play favorites. We'd better not either. So when we describe MLC, don't compare us to other churches. Compare us to the Bible. THAT'S our standard! Our desire is to help people belong and become through: Personal Growth, Using Our Gifts, Community Through Groups, Visionary Giving, and GREATER IMPACT, because that's HIS standard! Our benchmark is Jesus, not other churches. Church is not about music style, clothing style, preaching style. It's about Jesus-style. We are the body of CHRIST, not the body of music, the body of coffee, or the body of preaching, So let's keep losing our religion... and finding Jesus!
Shawn I just went through this with a group of people (Check out my blog for all the details) and you are right that there are people on both sides being judgemental. Sometimes I have to stop and remember that God uses all different types of people to accomplish His purposes. He equally uses pastors with suits and ties and guys with green hair and tatoos.
Posted by: Rev Scottie | July 24, 2007 at 01:53 PM
Great point. We'll add that to our list of "You Might be a Pharisee if..."
If you don't think you are a Pharisee, you might be a Pharisee.
Posted by: Scot | July 23, 2007 at 07:21 PM
Wow! I feel like this weekend was a huge home-run. Kudos to Rodney and the team. It's crazy that sometimes God's saying the same thing to a group of different individuals at the same time. Lately I've been convicted (now there's a church word) about the fact that I've become church-snob. I judge other churches for the way they do ministry when it was those very churches and denominations that led ME to Jesus! I don't think God led me/us into a relationship with him so that I could look down on other members of the body or criticize the way they do church. In fact, His Word confirms the contrary. Thanks for the reminder!
Posted by: Crystal Corn | July 23, 2007 at 10:48 AM
Awesome start to the series this weekend!
Posted by: Larry Whittington | July 23, 2007 at 10:13 AM