Chapter Churches?

Bizarre. Ernie is blogging again, but stranger things have happened. I'm sure you can think of many bizarre but true tales, but that's not the point of this blog posting.

So, I just got back from Outbreak (our middle school program), ate a snack, took out the trash and settled into the couch for a bit of R&R (newspaper and tv) when I came across the very popular "Lost" TV show. I'm not into this show but countless people are. While sitting there I recalled some of my "must see" shows of the past. Shows like: Dukes of Hazard, Hulk, A-Team, Night Rider and my most current shows - The Shield and Prison Break. I can't get the Shield any more and I'm behind on Prison Break, so I simply flip through channels now looking for something to keep my attention. When I turn on "Lost" I am just that - LOST! I don't have a clue what has taken place or even who the characters are. I'm not wrapped up in the story. There is a bit of intrigue and societal buzz that makes me feel like it's worth my hour, but not enough to plunge headlong into it.

So, now my thought. Churches don't have much intrigue anymore. What's the buzz? Do people just go to church out of obligation or are they wrapped up in the story? In most churches there is no story. It's the same bat time on the same bat channel. No variety, no intrigue, no mystery. Should church even be like this? What would it be like to leave church with unanswered questions, shock, murmurring, intrigue? What would it take to cause such a stir within us that we just can't wait to see what happens next?

I remember serving in a church where we had "revival meetings" and there was this special evangelist that we called "Jumpin John". I don't know as I remember any sermon he ever preached or do I recall any verifiable miracles, but what I do remember is that A) He jumped and B) He sweated A LOT. He sweated so much that he would sweat through his clothes and not just in his arm pits. By the end of the night he would often have completely soaked his shirt (seriously) and down his pants. As the youth pastor I would make verbal wagers with the guys as to how far his sweat would go each night. Those guys would be there every night, not to hear what he had to say necessarily (oops!), but to see if they could outguess me about his sweat! I recall one night it making it past his knees! My point is 1) very loose and 2) that there was a heavy sense of intrigue.

I love reading chapter books to our kids. At the end of a chapter they always cry out, "One more daddy - pleeeeeeease". Sometimes I give in, but not always. I want them thinking how the story could go and what could happen next.

What would it be like if church was unpredictable? Intriguing? Like a chapter book or some must see TV? Should it be like that? Can sermons be left without a tidy conclusion? Can churches leave you hanging?

Rambling complete - must sleep.

E