When They Claim I Hate The Church

I say: “You’re made for more than writing notes in your Bible”

They say: “Why do you hate the Church?”

When I say: “You’ve got more to give than tithes and offerings”

They ask: “Why are you so negative?”

When I say: “You have more of Christ to experience than what fits into a thimble of grape juice or a wafer cracker”

They say: “Why do you attack Christianity?”

I honestly don’t get it.

I mean, in a way I do. Because my statements – as positive and faith-affirming as they may be – are very much against the status quo. And here’s what I’ve learned about the status quo: People really love it.

To them, nothing is broken, so why am I trying to fix it?

If I suggest that something isn’t quite right with the way things are, then it shines a light in places they’d rather no one look too closely.

So, when I say, “Look up from your hymnal and rise up to your potential”, they envision their status quo crumbling to the ground as people wake up from their stupor and shake off the cobwebs of complacency.

That’s dangerous stuff. Especially if your livelihood comes from keeping things as they are. The last thing you want is for someone to start planting ideas in people’s heads about the way things could be if they abandoned the status quo.

The status quo is safe. The status quo is within their control.

But anything outside of that safety zone is chaos and – even if it’s actually a thousand times better than what anyone is experiencing right now – most people would rather stick with what they know, and what they can control, than to let go of that and step into the great unknown.

So, I guess it does make some sense that when I say: “You were made for greater things than warming a pew on Sunday morning”, some people hear: “I hate the Church.”

For the record, I love the Church. I long for the Church to become what it was meant to be: A light on the hillside. A beacon of hope. A coalition of love. An extension of the Father’s heart. A continuation of Christ’s incarnation on earth.

Because I love the Church, I cannot stand to see Her feasting on scraps from the dumpster when I can clearly see the table of good food spread out before Her, prepared by the Bridegroom.

I love the Church. And because I love the Church I cannot help but shout to Her: “You were meant for greater things! Rise up! Wake up! Be the Church you were created to be!”

I hope that doesn’t offend you. But I’m saying it anyway.

**

Keith Giles was formerly a licensed and ordained minister who walked away from organized church 11 years ago, to start a home fellowship that gave away 100% of the offering to the poor in the community. Today, He and his wife live in Meridian, Idaho, awaiting their next adventure.

He is also the author of the Amazon best-seller, “Jesus Untangled: Crucifying Our Politics To Pledge Allegiance To The Lamb” with a Foreword by Greg Boyd.

His Podcast: Heretic Happy Hour Podcast is on iTunes and Podbean. 

Can’t get enough? Get great bonus content: Patreon page.

Upcoming events:

*Hot Springs, NC – July 11-14 “Wild Goose Festival”

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