Church for Atheists

Nearly 6 % of Americans are atheists or agnostics. But, they still want to go to church! A year ago, two British atheists were inspired to start a church “without the God bit.” Their so-called “Sunday Assembly,” provides like-minded unbelievers with a community and a message to “live better, help often, wonder more.” The budding movement is growing, now with 35 chapters around the world, many in the U.S.

Of course those of us who are ‘believers’ can see the contradiction of an Atheist Church. The meaning of “church” is the “called out ones,” referring collectively to Christians, the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23). Yet, you can hardly fault the atheists; over the years, the word “church” has come to mean a building.

Not unlike many Christians, however, the atheists have confused “going to church” with “The Church.” In 1957, the founder of the “home church” movement in England, Canon Southcott, said, “We don’t go to church; we are the church.” Not unlike the atheists, unfortunately, many Christians need to stop thinking of the Church as a building or a service. Nor as an organization, but a living organism.

Do We Look Like a Pile of Dry Bones?

Last month, I preached a sermon on Ezekiel 37—the passage where a huge pile of dry bones comes to life (if you’re not familiar with it, you must read it). Through the prophet, God breathes into the bones, quickening them to life—a picture of the energizing power of the Holy Spirit flowing from limb to limb, resulting in a huge army of God: the Church.

This brings to mind Paul’s description of the Body of Christ: “From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Eph. 4:16, NIV). Paul says we are a body, a living organism, made up of individual bones, sinews, joints.

Sometimes it’s hard to be ‘fitted’ to someone else. We are quite sure it won’t work. But a proper fit will require each member, or bone, to be broken of his own rights and his own way to fit into God’s plan, or His way—otherwise we will look like a pile of dry bones. "Lord, please break me of my own way so that I can be properly fitted to those around me."

How Many Friends Do YOU Have on Facebook?

In this week’s USA Today, an article entitled “Are Students Today More Narcissistic?” caught my attention. In a survey on “narcissism,” two-thirds of college students said their generation uses social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook and Twitter for self-promotion and attention-seeking. According to the researchers, the survey shows a substantial increase in narcissism from Generation X.

While I have no doubt the Millennial generation has perfected its own style of self-expression, they are not unique. My generation (Baby Boomers) had its own excesses in self-expression and attention grabbing. Back in the 60’s, everyone must have thought the “cult” of self-expression had reached its zenith, with its unrestrained self-gratification and hedonism.

Come to think of it, the human condition hasn’t changed much, has it? From the time of Babel, self-serving, narcissistic men have been seeking attention and promotion.

Using today’s networking jargon, the Genesis 3 account might go something like this: In the Garden there were two social networking systems—one was called “God-Promotion,” the other “Self-Promotion.” Satan said to Eve: “if you sign up for my “self-promoting” network, you will be able to control your destiny—you will be popular; many people will pay attention to you.” Well, you know which one she chose!

Think about this: Christians began “social networking” 2,000 years ago. By a network of brothers and sisters, an organism called the Body of Christ! And its purpose was to promote Jesus!

(BTW, how many times a day do you check to see if your friends have written on your wall?!)