Why I don't like the Sunday morning service.

Last blog was about my problem with preaching. Let me expand that to the Sunday morning service.

My first problem is more of a semantical one. Service is a verb. You can't go to a verb. And the verb "service" really doesn't describe why we're there. We don't go to Church to serve, we go to meet with God and the Church. It's corporate worship. I could harp on this, but its not that important, so I'll stop. In conclusion, I call it a meeting, because that's what we do. Meet. And meeting is a noun.

My biggest beef with the Sunday morning service is that it leaves many limbs numb. What I mean is we are the body of Christ. Paul uses this analogy to describe our unity. We are all different parts of the body, given different spiritual gifts to use, and when we use them, our body is functioning well and we are united. But in our Sunday morning service, the one time a week where the whole body is meant to meet, many people are only expected to sit and listen, singing when it's time and then putting some money into the plate. We have a teacher teach, worship leaders lead in worship, musicians play/sing etc., but most of the other gifts are not exercised. When does the prophet prophesy? When do we heal the sick? When do those with words of knowledge speak them out? What if someone is supposed to speak in tongues? What we end up with are limbs that go so numb, we forget they are even there.

Or how about this- Perhaps a church cycles through preachers to make sure all the teachers in the congregation get to operate in their gift. But what if God gives a teaching to teacher John when it's time for teacher Seth? Or what if during the sermon, Holy Spirit gives one of the intercessors a burden to lay hands on someone and pray for them outloud? Everything is so regimented and we expect Holy Spirit to work through our plans instead of the other way around.

Cells are a good alternative. They give everyone a chance to share and are fluid enough to let Holy Spirit take us by surprise. But cell is only meant for small groups. I like the old Quaker model of worship. Everyone comes together without any kind of plan. If they feel led to sing, they sing or to pray they pray, if some gets a word, they give it, if someone has a teaching, they teach. We all just come together and let Holy Spirit do the "Order of Service." Nice. And what if there is no leading? We sit in silence and listen for His voice. Glory to God! Beautiful!

So are my complaints legit? Do I make a big deal out of a small one? Do I even make sense? It's been a strange day, I'm feeling a bit off. Pray for me. I'm going through an awkward stage of transitioning. And as always, feel free to give me a little feedback.