You know, I was reading a couple of articles on line about the Anglican Church this evening:  it went on and on about gay marriage, how unwed moms can get hitched AND get their kid(s) baptized in one ceremony, etc.  I just shake my head an wonder how a supposed Christian denomination can be Christian when it’s not based on the Bible?  Well, in our bulletins today was an excerpt from C. S. Lewis’ “Screwtape Letters” where we have one demon (supposedly Satan) training his nephew on how to keep a Christian out of walking with Christ. 

Lewis writes (Satan speaking): “You must arrange to make him a devout Methodist or Anglican...he must come to accept the church as a type of religious social club...help him become more religious, but for hell’s sake, not more Christian!”

ZING! or for some readers just a big fat “YEOWCH!!”

My main point in that quote was the Anglican church and how they have really become a religious social club (save those who have broken off to become what is known as the “Anglican Church of North America”).

So I have found Facebook to be addicting in a negative way.  I find I couldn’t live without knowing if Kristen’s kids ate the new french toast she made?  Did Alex have a good time in Maine?  And why did Ruth suddenly disappear off everyone’s friends list?  I have collected a number of hearts (from many different apps) and hugs, but my farm town is failing.  I had to get off FB!!  It was taking away time from everything else – everything that is far more important.  It was becoming my god.  However, it has saved me money in that I am not going to attend my 30th class reunion...I have reunited with those I wanted to through FB!  Why worry about losing weight to look good in September?

However, has FB replaced blogging?  I see all my blog buddies on my FB friends list.  For me, however, being far more verbose that FB allows, I prefer the realm of the blog and regret not having shared via this method more frequently.  I will not go off FB forever, and I may skulk about in the background a bit, but hopefully this will be my primary source in order to really communicate.

For anyone who doesn’t know (but I think you all do) blogger G came up to take care of me when I came back from the hospital – I just wanted to send out more public thank you’s to her!!  (Do her a favor, do her friday folderol...I even dreamed about it one night).

So today’s service – let me narrow that down a bit – for this morning’s service, Pastor talked about being the BRIDE OF CHRIST.  Sounds a bit like the “Bride of Frankenstein” (and Pastor did clarify this evening that he did not marry a gorilla which I believe made his dear wife very happy).  The BRIDE is the church.  Not just PAG where I go, but the entire church body world wide. (I am stealing shamelessly from Pastor’s message so credit goes to Pastor JQ of PAG).  God wanted us to be in a forever love affair with Christ...thus, the church becomes the bride, which can make some men get a little squeamish but I am sure they will be SOO grateful they made it into heaven, they won’t care if they are wearing the veil.  God wants us united with Christ “not having any spot or wrinkle or any such thing.  (as Pastor pointed out, that’s why He gave us Oxy-Clean).

It’s really a pretty big honor to be blessed to sit at the marriage supper of the Lamb!  Imagine, He is getting married, and as His spouse He says “I pick....YOU!” and he points right at us!

Ok, so what’s my point?  The Church is where the discipleship happens, it’s where you go to grow!  It’s where the Spirit can minister to us (“wherever two or more are gathered in His name”), it’s where the Bible is taught, where we find our strength and our fellowship. (fellowship does not equal social club).

Pastor told a story that went something like this:   There was a man at a bazaar selling pigeons.  To keep them with him, he put tied a string around the leg, and a ring at the other end that slipped over a pole.  This arrangement allowed the pigeons to walk around, but the stick kept them going in a circle.

One day a buyer came along.  Having a compassionate heart, he bought ALL the pigeons and then told the seller to let them all go free.  The seller cut the strings, but the pigeons didn’t go anywhere.  The buyer said “Shoo!  Shoo!” and some flew off as far as 100’, but everywhere they landed, they continued to peck in a circle.

How do we fit in?  SALVATION is the seller cutting the string...DISCIPLESHIP is being reconditioned so we don’t keep going around in a circle!

Disciples are made in church – that’s “being about [our] Father’s business!”  We are to make sure that whatever church we go to the Scriptures are respected, taught, and the Holy Spirit is present.

Makes me think the Anglican church isn’t having any of that going on – or several other churches for that matter.  That stuff interferes with the social club ambiance, rather, as C S Lewis put it, one demon to another, “If you can obscure these facts, there’s a good chance that he will embrace what hell considers to be the perfect synonym for true religion – churchianity.”

So, are you practicing churchianity?  Or Christianity?