From "life" to "institution"... if we are not careful, this is what can happen.  We start off with an authentic experience with God: a first love if you will. It is life!  From that "life" we give birth to churches, programs, ministries, initiatives, etc.  These are good things because they are expressions of our life connection with God, and expressions of our lives to serve God and bring him glory.  But, if we are not careful, slowly over time, like the frog in the frying pan, we move away from the source of life.  We are like a branch trying to sustain life without staying connected to the vine.  We are no longer connected to the source of "life", but we still have the same churches, programs, ministries, initiatives, etc.  However,because the source of life is absent, we are now left with "institution". (Another good word would be "religion".)  We still go through the motions, but the source of life is gone.  We are like an old wine skin.  It seems to me the deal is this: we must stay connected to the vine: to the source of life.  We must be careful to not "believe" in our churches, programs, ministries, and initiatives.  We must be careful to not "beleive" in ourselves!  When the "source" becomes anything other than him, we are doomed to become institutional.  But maybe this is the problem: it's actually easier to just "go to church" than it is to have a real "relationship" with God.  To have a relationship with God takes things like time, energy, effort, committment, struggle: it takes work!  It's hard to "face" God sometimes... it's hard to come "into the light".  But it's easy to go to church.  So more often than not, like water, we choose the path of least resistance.  We take it easy on ourselves.  And then, after a while, we complain because we sense the "church" does not have power.  "What's wrong with the church?  Why is there an inner emptiness in the church?  Does the church not work anymore?"  No, I don't think the problem is with the church.  The church is nothing more than you and me.  When our walk and relationship is alive and vibrant and authentic, then the church will be alive and vibrant and authentic.  It seems to me the solution is simple: we need to repent!  We need to put God in his rightful place of preeminence in our lives!  We need to stay connected to the vine: the source of life!  Then... our church will be alive with the presence and power of God.  A final thought: we should be very careful before we give up on the church.  I don't believe God has given up on the church.  The church is like Noah's ark.  Sometimes it "stinks" on the inside, but it is a far better alternative than what is on the outside.  The church is God's choosen vessel to carry us... to provide for us... to rescue us.  We need the church, and the church will be an accurate reflection of who we are as the people of God. 

Posted by Tony Ingrassia on 6/20/06; 9:14:08 AM