Dear Church, Let's Party!

Meanwhile the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard loud music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on. 'Your brother has come home!' He replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound. The older brother became angry and refused to go in to the house. So the father went out and pleaded with him, but he answered his father "Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never even gave me a young goat so I could celebrate. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home you kill the fattened calf for him! 'My son the father replied, you are always with me and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad because this brother of yours was dead and is now alive again, he was lost and now is found.

Luke 15:25-32

I've read this story in Luke like a hundred times and every time I read about how angry the older brother got I just think "Man- I don't get you. You thought your brother was dead but he's alive- What could you possibly be pissed about? Go in and celebrate!"

I guess I just don't get angry Christians. I don't get people who criticize the church instead of celebrating the salvation of others. I don't get why on earth you'd spend more time worrying than worshipping. I really don't get why you'd be pissed that your brother who you thought was dead, is actually alive. 

Today I read a blog about why people are leaving the church. Apparently, it's because it's a well decorated building, filled with people who make mistakes, say the wrong words, have vision and maybe go a little overboard celebrating God. Weird. I thought it was because the devil's good at division. Bummer.

As I read this guys thoughts about "rock show" worship and "church lingo" and "picking battles" I couldn't help but think "Man, this guy is super pissed about the dumbest crap"

Can I be real with you? The devil is not afraid of a big church. He's not afraid of a church with good worship leaders or great preachers or fancy buildings or even churches that say the right words or whatever. He's afraid of a united church. He's afraid of a loving church. He's afraid of a church that trusts and forgives and gets over crap and celebrates Jesus. 

You guys, if he can convince us to leave the church over stuff like someone using the wrong lingo or putting a few more lights on stage than we'd like- then he's winning. We know in the end he never wins, but let's not let him even think he's got a fighting chance.

So, while my heart breaks that this guy has obviously had a rough go with a church I think he could have shortened up his post by saying this.

"Dear Church, here's why people are leaving you. They're not the problem, you're not even the problem. The enemy is the problem. Let's ignore him and his stupid tricks of getting us to focus on things like lingo and worship band styles and let's go in, and celebrate those who were lost but are now found."

But, that probably wouldn't have made it in the "FaithIt's top trending posts" probably why that guy has 850,000 likes and I've got 3. Well that and he has a fantastic hipster approved beard. Again, Bummer.

So, let's not be angry and refuse to go in. Instead let's try celebrating and be glad because brothers and sisters of ours were dead, but now they're alive. They were lost, but now they're found. 

Look, the gates of hell aren't going to prevail against her- so I think she can withstand a couple of pissy blog posts and bitter hipsters. L et's not let those party poopers get in the way of our celebrating.

Grab the fattened calf, or whatever gluten-free alternative you'd like and let's party! With flashy over formulated rock shows and terrible lingo and whatever else you want. Not because we don't care what about the church is hurting you but because there is power in our celebration, and we know the One who can heal you.

I don't know about you but I don't want to have the heart of the older brother, just the Father.