Three Pictures of Church

I couldn't help but notice the different ways we experienced church in the 3 different cultures we encountered. The contrasts were distinct. (The following are admittedly generalizations. Four days in a country is not enough time to really know the state of things. Nevertheless, here's what I came away with...)

In Senegal there are around 60,000 Christians - roughly 5% of the population. (Abba didn't believe the stats. He says there are many more Christians than the stats suggest.) There, the church is not as visible. Churches exist. Church buildings can be found. But, there is also a less visible movement going on in this predominantly Muslim country.

During our time there, we participated in church under a tree and met a passionate young missionary planting house churches in Dakar. We had wonderful conversation with Rodney who serves with United World Mission.

We awoke our first morning to the Muslim call to prayer. But, we left knowing that the kingdom of God is advancing and many are coming to Christ. So, for me, the church in Senegal might be less obvious, but it is there and it is active.

Contrast this situation with Liberia where the majority of the country is Christian. Churches and ministries abound, particularly in Monrovia (named after our 5th president James Monroe.) Our first full day there we worshipped with Effort Baptist Church. I had the honor to give a word of greeting on behalf of DBC.

Reading their bulletin it was evident that this was a traditional Baptist church, much like the ones I grew up in. This African church has committees for everything and meetings of some kind almost every night of the week. They have RAs (Royal Ambassadors) and GAs (Girls in Action). These are Christianized versions of Boys and Girls Scouts. I was an RA when I was a kid. They have WMU (Women's Missionary Union) and are even engaged in an hugely ambitious building campaign. Their new sanctuary is very comparable to our chapel.

So, for me, the church in Liberia is established, active, but shows signs of resembling a model of America's recent past. It's a church that has influence throughout the culture - all the way up to the President who is open about her faith. But, seeing the dramatic needs of that country I left wondering what the church there is doing to help in the struggles of the people.

Then, we spent our last day of this journey in Brussels, Belgium to rest and debrief. We stumbled, exhausted into our hotel room around 6 am and slept until around 1:30 pm. Then we set out to find our way to the center of the city and check out the sites.

The major attraction we visited was St. Michael's Cathedral. This majestic, awe inspiring structure was simply amazing. Walking around inside and out we wondered what such a project would cost today.

We took photos, as did many of the other people stopping in for a visit. We looked at relics and statues. We read epitaphs of those buried underneath the Cathedral floors.

I wondered about those who used to worship here. What did they sing? What did they hear preached? Surely those who built such a structure never imagined that one day it would stand empty, a monument to a faith once held by many. Surely they never imagined that such a building would gather tourists rather than pilgrims.

So, I come back to the US and we have a leadership meeting in our Dining Room. We discuss many important things and put forward our best ideas. I reflect on the churches we had just experienced. The contrasts were unavoidable. We had seen the church in 3 different phases - as a movement, as an establishment, as a monument. And so I wonder what it is we are intent to do. Which one will we become?

We could easily work on a church that eventually becomes a museum. We could easily work to gain influence when the world around us needs someone to suffer and die for it. Or, we could risk our lives to follow Jesus in a culture that largely doesn't see a need for what we believe.

To do the latter may mean that we find joy and contentment doing church in different ways. It might mean meeting as a minority in a building, in homes, or even under trees.