Maggie's Farm

As someone whose family has been Anglican for generations, I can only say that Anglican churches vary. I have attended Anglo Catholic churches that reverently celebrated the mystery of Christ made flesh in the Mass while also passionately preaching the Good News that Jesus came to save ALL of us, loves us and calls us to remake the world in His image.

I have attended spiritually dead Anglican parishes w fat endowments and powerful parishioners and liberal duds for clergy who flattered the rich and couldn't preach to save their lives. One stayed out of loyalty to the tribe and because of achingly beautiful choral music and admirable people in the congregation who did good works without fanfare, inspiring one to behave better oneself.

I have attended a mostly gay Anglican city parish w a vibrant ministry to the sick, the homeless and the hungry. Not much talk about liberal causes or faith journeys but a lot of sweat equity by all helping others--the Holy Spirit very much present.

Churches reflect their communities' values. I presently live in a community of white collar pirates, so our clergy are most toadies, mediocroties and preach PC issues that demand no real personal sacrifice. Very much like the chauvinist, fundy rubbish (over-spiritualizing religion, so it's in a box and never affects anything in your "real" life making money, committing adultery, accumulating toys, that I heard from the pastor who took over a wonderful evangelical Congregational church I attended for years ecause of two awesome formerly Episcopal female pastors (conservative, evangelical).

Scripture reminds us: "By their fruits ye shall know them." I am now back at a spiritually uninspiring Episcopal parish w beautiful music, dreary preaching, clergy I wouldn't call on if I was in the ER w a hurt relative (I'd rather call a neighbor than one of those overpaid PC clowns who leave all the pastoral care to well-meaning but untrained lay people). I stay because of the liturgy and because I admire my fellow communicants. Who are better people than I am. You can't be Christian in isolation. Christianity isn't taught, it's caught. So being around decent parishioners is good for my family. Also we have hordes of adorable kiddies.. The suburbs still do.

Of course I would like better priests, better preaching but the faith isn't a consumer commodity. I stay Anglican out of loyalty to family tradition but also because I really do believe in the Via Media. Texan99 will know what I mean.

A certain kind of person goes euw at the sight of church ladies and devoted volunteers. No one forces you to hang around the salt of the earth. So go to to a youthful hipster seeker church for a while for the rock music. They're entertaining for awhile. Then, when you want something more than a virtual church, come to a real church and you will be welcomed with open arms.

So the imperfections of the Institutional church should not be used as excuses by people who just want to sleep off Saturday night's excesses or have more time for kiddie sports or family hiking on Sunday morning. Worship and belonging to a church are duties and commitments that help us and improve us. Sort of like working out. Discipline and a struggle at times. Sometimes joyful. It's not entertainment because it isn't all about us, it's about Him and following Him.