What I want in my church

I wrote this list some time ago. Thought I'd toss it out there. One never gets all one wants, but it expresses a holy desire.

What I want in my church.

I want a church that hungers for Jesus more than being right, justifying its existence or trying to look cool.

I want a church on a quest for the deeper spiritual life, not one trying to stay in the last trend or running after the next trend.

I want a church that is connected with the martyrs and saints of old and honors and owns them, not a church that merely venerates their history or cherry picks their contributions.

I want a church that is wise in the ways to fight sin and the flesh, not one that is only wise in theology or postmodern philosophy.

I want a church with modern sacred music that supports the divine liturgy and chant that sounds the radical otherness of God, not emotive rock pulsing in my desire.

I want an ascetic church that calls me to renounce the world to apprehend Christ, not a church that embraces the world to apprehend nothing.

I want a church with honest, whole and free men and women, not a church that fosters weak emotional dependence upon personalities or positions.

I want a church that is true, not a church that says one thing and does another or constantly changes its mind.

I want a church that looks out to the world with inviting love, not a church closed to people, dialogue and ideas.

I want a church that suffers with those who suffer, not one that leaves at the first sign of inconvenience.

I want a church with intellectual integrity and shine, not one of narrow, cultic self-dialogue.

I want a church that honors the best of every Church that calls itself “Christian”, not one that fosters division.

I want a church with a big tool box. One with catholic screwdrivers and Pentecostal hammers, with orthodox drills and evangelical tape measures.