We question "leadership"... of the human variety

Have you ever known a person or group that has gotten so enthralled with one leader and what the leader teaches that it begins to define who they are and how they believe? They seem to defer to them on how the bible is interpreted (if they are Christian leaders/people) and live according to the "wise leader". If you question something in life, they have a prepared response "in the words of...". I realize that most people don't live that way, however there are certain segments of the population that find it easier to attach themselves to a public figure and how they live. This happens in all segments of society, and is prevelant in the big ol' Christian world as well.

The sol cafe seems to avoid this. We may at times be too cynical of any one leader (well I am). We may throw out good teaching to hammer through an idea ourselves, but that's what we want. We want to read the bible, pray and discuss something. And as we said earlier, we may not agree on any resolution, but we accept that as well. The point is (for me anyway) "independant thought" and being open for the Holy Spirit to guide us, as well as accepting differing opinions.

I don't think anything sol cafe does is perfect or necessarily "right," but I work on a set of ideals that seems to fit into sol better than most Christian communities. Those ideals could be fallible as well, but hopefully God's grace makes up for all that I am lacking, which I believe is much.

We ask questions like... "am I the only lazy Christian?"

Is it me or is it true that much of the "mainstream" evangelical culture thinks and teaches that I must work harder at being a Christian? It seems that, through everything I have seen and read about what a "good" Christian is, I don't measure up. Every day I have to do a lot of stuff to be successful in my "walk." That it is completely up to me to make a good relationship with Christ. Well that is a little daunting, I have to admit, and I don't feel up to the task.

One problem I see is how I communicate with what I call "work-harder Christians." We all follow Jesus, yet I seem to be lazy about it and worse yet, I accept my laziness without shame or guilt. There I said it, I don't feel bad about my faith. I love Jesus and the price he paid for me, praise God. I love the Bible and reading it, when I get around to it. When I remember to pray I feel good about it. Church is fun to go to, as dangerous as it sounds. The sol cafe is fun to be at for me, I love the people and how we want to learn, then go for something to eat.

So is it just me, am I the only lazy Christian?

Church is not the building

The important part of a church is not the building. I think that most people after a very small amount of time would agree with that.

It is not the Sunday services either. It is definitely not the music (so called worship). It is not the Bible studies, potlucks, or other programs/activities that the church participates in.

Those are all just things to get people close enough to experience the real important part of church. People.

Don't get me wrong, I am not placing people above God. God is the reason we have church.

But the purpose of church is to take a person from a solitary relationship with God and add to that the group or collective relationship with God.

The most valuable lessons that I have learned, the theological and philosophical ideals that I hold dear, the practical everyday way I interact with God throughout life, all these I have learned from interacting with other people who are following God as well. I watch how they live. I see how they reconcile contradictory influences. I learn how they put their theoretical priorities into practice. I follow them as they struggle with obstacles and glean from their mistakes and/or victories. I learn from mentors, by example.

The best examples are real ones, not artificial. They can be observed while watching a hockey game in a bar, helping a person move, buying ancient appliances from somebody's barn, playing mah-jong, or eating bannock. Therefore church is two or three gathered together in God's name, doing anything, anywhere, anytime.

This is not the "right" way to do church, but it is right for us

I've had people take exception to our doing church this way, as if it implied their way was somehow wrong. I apologise if I've ever given that impression.

But more traditional ways of doing church are wrong for me. I know that God is present there, I see the good that he is doing, that he is moving people, and it makes me joyful. But when I stop by other churches, I'm just there to say a quick thank-you while he meets with others of his flock. God and I have our coffee date scheduled for a different place and time.

Doesn't mean he doesn't sometimes have something urgent to tell me, wherever I run into him. Might be in another church. Might be on the street. Sometimes he tracks me down and says "what do you think you're doing now!?"

But he's set some appointments for me at the sol cafe, and expects me to be there. That's where we meet God. And we're glad to take the time. We have a lot to discuss...

We don't give pat answers

Well, actually we do sometimes give pat answers, but when we do we hope someone calls us on it. Giving a pat answer just means we haven't found an actual answer. Unfortunately, getting pat answers to tough questions is one of the barriers for some people who are trying to get to know God through church.