Interesting thoughts. It’s funny… we were talking about some of these things in a meeting last week. Although I love our “family feel” at church, sometimes I miss the reverence and symbolism that come from a more liturgical, “religious” service. I didn’t really realize how much, until we did The Via Crucis again this year and how much those elements can truly impact lives. It’s the seriousness of the cross, the call to join with believers throughout the ages, and the reverence given to God. I agree with you… I think it is easy for churches to focus too much on relationship and not enough of the message of the gospel, which preaches repentance and “losing your life”. It’s something I have been thinking about, and how we can have balance in reaching people with the hope of Christ, but also discipling them into a life that truly is modeled after Jesus and teaching them how to think critically about why they believe what they believe. Interesting to hear your perspective.

On another note, do you read Relevant magazine? I’ve been subscribing for about three years and the last issue really got under my skin. Well… they all do… because I can not agree with the perspective they usually take, but I’ve kept reading because they address such controversial topics and I think I should be reading what people are thinking. But yes, usually, I finish the last page with rage steaming out of my head. Well… not that bad. But I’m curious to know if you have read the magazine and your thoughts.