As an unCULTured Christian, I have no problem walking out of a church in the middle of a service. Although my desire is to learn and have fellowship with other believers, sometimes the message is so contrary to the Word of God, that I cannot stay around to hear it (read Psalm 1).
Sometimes, due to my duties in the church, I am obligated to stay, because 1 Corinthians 8:9 warns that our unCULTured behavior may be a stumbling block to others. In one such case, I sat through a sermon where I took account for the message. During this session, I counted how many times the names of God or His Son were mentioned compared to the number of times the name of their church was mentioned. I had counted 5 whole times the Name above all names was referred to, and after 50, lost count how many times they touted the glory of their church. Needless to say, I knew what they were selling.
However, the last disheartening speech I left from was at a church that was closest, in my mind, to the Word of God. The sermon began speaking about the disciplines of Christianity that I, believe it or not, cherish greatly! However, the standards that historically become like the Pharisees and the application grew like yeast on steroids!
Now, getting overly "holy" was not the problem either. The problem started when the focus started on other churches and Christians who did not hold up to these standards and application. One comment after the other on how "they" were "weak on sin", "ignorant about judging", and "leading people astray". Cheers came from the congregation as the fire was building.
The last straw, which got thunderous applause, but crying from me, was when 2 Timothy 4:3 was invoked against other churches: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but having itching ears, they shall heap to themselves teachers in accordance with their own lusts."
Those who had "itching ears" for Good News (aka the Gospel) were labeled as lustful. Those who preached "mercy and grace" were said to not have "sound doctrine". The congregation was so riled up that I thought they were going to grab torches and pitch forks, and in murderous rage, storm the other churches in self-righteous-indignation. For them, their ears itched for the pleasure of murder, they lusted for blood, and calling good what was evil (Isaiah 5:20) the usually sound doctrine I once knew to be preached in this fellowship was gone.
I am not a pastor, lawyer, or psychiatrist, so my conversations with people are not strictly confidential. However, my character has been known to be trustworthy, and so many have opened up their deepest feelings and regrets to me in a safe environment. Although unCULTured, my passion and knowledge in the Bible have been an invaluable asset for sounding ground to many back-slidden Christians, pastors and preachers, as well as many who have never dared step foot in a church.
"The Way of the Master", a highly unBiblical Evangelical method, starts with a question: Do you believe you are a good person? Although the method uses this as a trap, I realized that when God breathed into the nostrils of Adam that the DNA of the Most High became a living part of what separates man from the beasts in the field. So, all those who have life - have good in them.
In the secret places where I have met with people - like coffee shops, parks, and churches - I have found that most people want to do good. What I have been told by pastors and preachers has been the most astounding! While many people put a mask on around others to make them look better than they are behind locked doors, most of the Christian leaders put on a mask in front of their church which makes them look worse!
Out of nearly 100 church leaders that I have spent intimate time with, all of them have generally said the same thing. They want to preach the Gospel without restriction. Some of them believe that it is the government holding them back, some are restricted by their elders, yet most feel that their church does not want to hear the Good News in its fullness!
Remember the church with pitchforks? After speaking with the pastor about his real desires, he made a decision to become an unCULTured Christian. Instead of preaching to the sin-lusting ears of those who gave generously (paying the piper and calling the tune), he unashamedly began preaching the Good News. Over half of the existing congregation left within a month, but they needed more chairs to seat the multitude that replaced them!
You would think that preaching a Good message would be just vain platitudes of faith - filling solely the pockets of the salesman. However, just like when the original Gospel was preached, action and not just words grew exponentially (James 2:14-26)!
While I was a member in this church, I begged for developing outreaches to those who were struggling with addiction, but I was told it was a useless program. I asked how we could help with the poor in our community, and I was told to pray. I asked how to reach the community and grow, and I was told that we weren't that type of church. I was unCULTured, and slowly edged out of membership.
Although my love to and from this fellowship did not completely go out, my activity with them did. But the word of God that I spoke to them did not return void! Today, this fellowship still does not have a building yet are one of the most active in the community - heading up the largest area food bank for the poor, the biggest addiction counseling and job rehabilitation in the area, and honored recognition by both religious and secular organizations in the region.
From meetings in abandoned parking lots, in homes and coffeehouses, and wherever I go, I try to find the good God in people, and bringing out of the darkness - light. As a Christian, that is the minimum expectation - to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom.
... and you thought I was going to bash what goes on in Christian's secret lives?