The "f" word

One day when I was still studying at Vanderbilt, I started talking to one of my favorite teaching assistants about my experience serving the Korean church. And I mentioned how frustrating it was to work with the Korean pastor followed by the commentary that I didn't think of myself as a feminist, but he came close to making me one. To which, she replied, "Oh, Sherill, you are one! You just don't like the "f" word."

I guess she is right. The "f" word has so much baggage associated with it that doesn't reflect my views. Yet, I do think women have gifts to bring to the table that men do not and I'm sorry that women are still struggling for the right to express those gifts in some areas of our culture. And, unfortunately, the church is still one of those places.

I discovered this video on the Urban Abbess' blog and it too comes close to making me a feminist.

What Post-Christians wish the church was like

• I wish church was not just a sermon but a discussion. They would love to be able to participate and ask questions.
• I wish the Church sometimes met outside the church building. Can’t you worship in a coffee house, a home, a dance studio?
• I wish church was less programmed and allowed time to think and pray. They long for more time to quiet themselves and pray meditatively.
• I wish the church was a loving place. Post-Christians believe that folks in the church love one another and perhaps others that are like them but they do not love those who have different beliefs or lifestyles.
• I wish the Church taught more about Jesus. Post-Christians like Jesus or at least they like what they think they know about Jesus and they would like to learn more. And they would like it if the Church acted more like Jesus taught!
• I wish someone would ask me to be a part of a church. They want an invitation from someone they trust who they believe accepts them and loves them as they are.
  
  Outreach magazine
  

Are we at Trinity the kind of church they are looking for? If so, how do we reach out? If not, how should we change?

What Post-Moderns Think About the Church

In an article in this month’s Outreach magazine, pastor Dan Kimball, lists some of the comments he has heard from non-Christians about common perceptions of the church and what they wish the church was like. Most of the people he spoke to were in their 20s and 30s and while some had grown up in the church some had no experience in the church. Six most common perceptions of the church:

• The Church is an organized religion with a political agenda. In other words, don’t come if you aren’t Republican!
• The Church is judgmental and negative. To outsiders, the Church appears to focus on what we are against more than what we are for.
• The Church is dominated by males and oppresses females.
• The Church is homophobic.
• The Church arrogantly claims all other religions are wrong.Post-moderns are willing to talk to us about Christ and the Bible, but first we have to take their beliefs and the beliefs of others seriously and respectfully.
• The Church is full of fundamentalists who take the whole Bible literally. In other words, don’t come if you believe in evolution or have any questions or concerns about portions of the Bible.

What do you think? Are their perceptions correct? How can we correct misconceptions?