If You Desire an Interesting Conversation...

If you desire an interesting conversation all you have to do is call into question any one of several key components of the institutional church. I did this last night on Facebook when I posted this comment, "If you've been told that you should tithe to your church, you've been told wrong."

My purpose in the comment was just to make people think and start a conversation. While most of my Facebook posts get little discussion going, whenever I deal with issues like this the comments start flowing in.

Specific institutional traditions to question to generate conversation: the church building, the worship service, the tithe, the clergy, the salary for the clergy, the sermon, and Christmas and Easter. If you question these, be ready to both listen and talk.

The answers you will receive will almost always be based on one of three things: tradition, Old Covenant practices, or supposed freedom we have to do whatever the bible does not prohibit.

Of course, we should always take a look at our own motives for beginning conversations. Winning an argument is not a reason to start talking. However, if the desire is to help folks begin thinking through some of their man-made traditions, then go ahead. Be ready to talk for a while. These are not quick conversations. Rather, they are paradigm shifting and often very uncomfortable for those involved.

Be ready. When you challenge a pillar of the institution it will require a long talk.