Week 9, Thursday

Ryan Bolger defines the Church as “the people who continue the work of Jesus in the world through the power of the Holy Spirit; it is a community formed around scripture.” This definition finally put words to what I have been feeling for a long time while at the same time taking away all condemnation of sleeping through “Sunday Services.” Bolger also noted that many Americans view Church as the Sunday religious ritual including all of the greeting, singing, preaching, altar calls, etc. The problem is that the Church has become a cheap imitation of Wal-mart (a definition that many pastors would applaud themselves for). The power of the Holy Spirit is lost to many as they have quenched it by being more concerned about time limits and flow of service. Let us not be condemned for not attending a “Sunday Service” any longer. As long as we are continuing the work of Jesus in the world and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us, attending a “Sunday Service” will only hinder us in our practical incarnation of the gospel. Let the religious ones sit in a building and wail about their caffeine addictions and the power that Satan lords through t.v. and culture while we actually act the gospel to those who are seeking it.