I don't understand the idea these days that numbers are an appropriate estimation for how much God is working in a ministry or church or whatever.

I would rather be part of a ten person group of people who are totally sold out for Jesus, Spirit-filled and hungry for Him, than 100 people dubbed Christians who gather together to "enjoy" worship, a "good" sermon and then leave feeling like they've gotten their tally mark for the week while simultaneously living a lifestyle they've always been happy with and never changing into who God calls them to be.

what is the mark of an authentic church? to me, it is a place where the Spirit of God is present. and if the Spirit of God is present, we need no fluff. we don't need dramatic presentations to reinforce the point, we don't need messages filled with thoughts other than God's (tons of quotes from philosophers or random "wise" people or even theologians). we don't need truisms (seemingly true ideas that are propogated in church or in Christian theology that don't actually have a Biblical basis).

I'm not quite hitting the mark here, but anymore the thought of "having church" motivated by compulsory actions or a sense of obligation just makes me sick. it used to simply annoy me when I could tell that a show was being put on and that there was performance mentality behind what a church or an individual was doing. but if it is a show, then it is NOT of God. and if it is not of God, then I really think it might be of the devil. I'm serious. there are a lot of people running around in all kinds of denominations doing all kinds of things "for God" who probably aren't really listening very closely. and it's not just a bad habit. it's scary.

I've been listening to a lot of Art Katz and Paul Washer lately and discussing it w/ my boyfriend, so if you think I'm totally off-base and want to hear someone talk coherently about what I'm saying, I recommend them.