Advice, anyone?

Following on the heels of my post on further disillusionment with church, I might as well post about how my daughter is once again begging me to go to church. I've said how we hope to be part of a house church some day, and she strongly said that she doesn't want that, she wants to go to "Public Church" (the parallel to home schooling/public schooling).

I've been weighing out the factors:
1. I hate being in church
2. My kids could actually learn something good in church
3. My kids would probably enjoy being around other children
4. My kids could learn weird things in church
5. I'm am concerned about the ethics of spending large amounts of money on staffing and buildings instead of using the money to meet other pressing needs in the community and in the world.
6. I have no idea where to go if I decided to just let Taryn do what she wanted.

What people need

Warning: I am about to be critical of Christendom again. If you are tired of me blathering on in my detox state (and if you think I'm bad, you better totally avoid my hubby's blog) you should skip this post.

I went to a conference today which featured people who have lived the hot button issues: poverty, addictions, low literacy, sex trade, homelessness. The frankness of many of the speakers, especially those that used to be or are presently in the sex trade and including transgendered people, was something I don't think I have heard before.

Somewhere during the day, I recalled that it was the most down and out people in Jesus' day who wanted to be with him. I also realized that almost no one there seemed to have any contact with Jesus' people in the here and now, and if I asked they would probably say such contact is not desired. They are in contact with many social service agencies, however, and desire and appreciate that help. Why aren't churches - the supposed "body of Christ" - fail to attract the people who were so attracted to Christ.

The church doesn't meet the needs of the world because it has an overarching mission to convert people. Social service agencies supply what people need. Churches seek to get people to serve the church. People need things like: addictions programs, employment help, housing, financial aid, childcare. We like to provide: sermons and songs. We're okay with food distribution on occasion. As long as it doesn't lessen people work ethic, though.

A story by Taryn

Once there was a daddy who farted a lot. He was a king. His royal name was King Fartsalot. Nobody liked him. His royal daughters were Princess Taryn and Princess Ashlin. They were known as the proper children. He had a son named Prince Conor. They didn’t like their daddy’s farts. One day his royal wife named Queen Beauty said the girls and I are moving out give me $954637839214. Alright here’s your $954637839214. 10 years later he lost his farts and the girls and Queen Beauty came back.

THE END