Here we are now, entertain us.

Jan 26, 2012 by admin    No Comments    Posted under: Blog Archive

At Hope Church part of our mission statement is “Faith, not entertainment.” Today I wanted to unpack what that means for us as we begin gathering in North Park.

Entertainment is big business, but it is not the business of the church.

One of lines that for me defined the youthful angst of my consumer generation came from Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit where Kurt Cobain sings with that raw and guttural voice, “Here we are now, entertain us.”

In a culture that is over exposed and addicted with consumption, faith has suffered. The few have become responsible for feeding the many. The gathering place has become less of a place to share our gifts, and rather a place to devour the talents of others. It was intended to be a place meant to develop faith, however it has become in many parts, a place to live off the faith of others.

Every commercial or magazine ad constantly reminds me what they have is newer, faster, and cooler than what I have. At almost every point of culture I’m being sold something. And hardly without notice, the way we live and think has been transformed. For some of us our lives have no greater purpose or meaning than from one purchase to another.  Our identity is no longer what we consume, but that we consume. This mentality and pattern is then carried into our view of faith and spirituality.

• What’s the newest?
• What’s the best?
• What are they offering me?
• What can I take?
• What can I consume here?

The church, the rag-tag band of people who has been meeting and growing for the last 2000 years, centered on the life of Jesus, has nothing new to offer.  What we have is an ancient faith; a faith handed down generation to generation, a message that has never changed.

God wants to connect with you on the deepest level.  You don’t need religion, in all its forms; you can connect to God directly through Jesus. God wants rescue you from sin, the poison that affects us all. God wants to forgive you, cleanse you, and welcome you to live with him, here, in a better way of life.

Consumerism disconnects you from anything lasting.  I mean who still wears parachute pants, acid washed denim, or spandex body suits? (Sorry Superman.)

We want to welcome you.  Come be a part of something greater.

Faith is more than entertainment. Faith is about being connected to something greater than yourself. It’s about being connected to God, and those around you, and those that came before you. Faith is about living for something greater than trends. It’s about having a purpose greater than to consume, but to create, to serve, and to love.

We are a community that’s says:

• Simple is better.
• Less is more.
• Maturity is contribution, not consumption.
• Faith can be fun, relevant, engaging, even compelling, but it is not merely entertainment.

Come check us out. Visit our Sunday morning gathering in North Park, or one of our midweek Life Groups.

Got anything to say? Go ahead and leave a comment!