Our pastor was ranting about how we(the church) have blindly followed whatever happens to be the prevailing mindset in our culture. And yeah, I’m sure that happens. Consumerism and individualism, particularly in the US, are two examples that have schlepped their way into the way we live our lives.

But pointing fingers at what’s happening “out there” only gets you so far. And quite honestly I think it’s a safety mechanism to keep us from examining our own practices a little closer. What have we absorbed from the Evangelical sub-culture? What do we take for granted as necessary for “good” and proper church? I’ll start :

• Youth Group/Events
• A church building
• A gym (oops, Family Life Center)
• Paid pastors
• Sunday morning preachin’ (you know what I mean)
• Wednesday night Bible Study
• Pledge cards
• Revivals
• Traveling quartets
• Marriage seminars
• Men’s business meetings
• Ladies’ Day
• Children’s church

I’m sure there’s more. Add your thoughts in the comments if you like. I think I’d like to do a post next time on what makes a good and proper church member.