Organized Religion?


If organized religion has become less relevant, it’s not because churches have held fast to their creedal beliefs. It’s because they’ve held fast to their conventional structures, programs, roles and routines. –Gary Hamel


“Organized religion” takes a lot of guff these days, doesn’t it? Between the Franklin Grahams and the Jerry Falwells of the world, small wonder any of us who are called to leading a church dare to get out of bed and show our faces most mornings. But we do.

For me (and I think, for most people), the problem isn’t with the organized part. After all, we pay good money for the latest Marie Kondo book. We contract with closet designers to make room for all the extra shoes and clothes we don’t really need. We make sure our phone is connected to our watch and our computer, so we will always be where we need to be, right on time! Being organized is a vital part of modern life.

But religion. That’s another thing. People talk about being spiritual but not religious, and I think that’s a mistake.

Religion, at its root, has nothing to do with Christianity or Islam or any other doctrine or dogma. Religion has to do with devotion and being deliberate and intentional in one’s way of living in a community. For me, that intentionality does, indeed, mean getting up on Sunday morning and being part of a worship service with like-minded followers of the Christ. Worship of and prayer to Something greater is part of it. We connect, to God and to others.

But so is dedication to working for change. Feeding those who are food deprived. Working daily for change in our social structures. Loving others, just because.

When did this become such a bad thing?

Monday How’s that Marie Kondo purge coming along? Who have been the recipients of your generosity? Pray for those who will receive your cast-offs. Acts 2:1-13

Tuesday Think today about the labels you give other people. How do others label you? Are you comfortable with these labels? Which one(s) make you cringe? Acts 2:14-21

Wednesday Let’s do some midweek worship today: pause and spend time in the quiet of early morning or after dark. Be aware of the sounds in the silence, and in your spirit. Psalm 104:24-34

Thursday Would you rather write a check, or feed the hungry face-to-face? Whichever you choose, find time to do so, today. Genesis 11:1-9

Friday The choice you made yesterday. Pray about that. Seek other ways to make a difference. Romans 8:14-17

Saturday As you pray for yourself today, be open to the movement of God, by whatever name you call God. Try harder not to resist God’s often-painful call to change. Proverbs 3:5-6

Sunday Do you look forward to worship? Are you truly filled with joy at the prospect of gathering with others to sing and pray and celebrate? Tell someone you love, just how much you care about them.   John 14:27

I believe that there is some spiritual entity that is greater than us. . . . I have always believed that, and I believe it even more so now. I believe that Someone was listening to me, and Someone is giving me an incredibly blessed life. –Jane Seymour

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