Been thinking a lot about church these days. Here in Ethiopia I go to a local church every other Sunday and do house church with half my squad the other Sundays. Obviously they’re very different experiences.
When we go to the local church service, we are packed into a small room into wooden pews. The service is crowed and full of passion. You can expect it to last 3 hours. At least. There’s worship with lots of dancing and shouting which actually reminds me in some ways of worship services in the church I was raised in, so it feels a little like home. There’s also multiple messages preached by multiple people who are all EXTREMELY passionate. It reminds me of the early church when all members were welcome to come and share what the Lord was speaking to them and teaching them. These church services are beautiful. And wild. I don’t understand a single word besides hallelujah, but I can definitely tell that the Spirit is at work in that place and in the people. It’s incredible to just get to see what church looks like here in Ethiopia.
On the other Sundays we have house church. It’s also a completely beautiful but completely different experience. We usually worship together and then people have the opportunity to preach (which is a scary word sometimes but really just means sharing what Jesus has been blowing their minds with). It’s a simple and beautiful few hours of just being with the people that are my community and building each other up with truth. It’s not in a physical church building, sometimes the worship is just from a phone and speaker, sometimes I wear my pajamas, but it’s always always always deeply encouraging and life giving.
I’ve been learning that church can and should look different. There’s such a beauty and intentionality in the different ways of worshiping, meeting together, and sharing. It reveals pieces of the complexity of the God that we worship. He has so many different sides. The church we went to and helped preach at in Kampot was beautiful because of its strong reflection of the idea of the church being a family. The church I go to in Harbu Chulule is beautiful because of the passion and power of the Holy Spirit that is poured out from every heart. The house church we have as a squad is beautiful because it reflects the idea of the simplicity of being a follower of Christ and being the church and really just a simple and deep love for Him.
One of the reasons church has been on my heart so much is because of my church back home. I’ve been going to the same church in Austin since 4th or 5th grade and I absolutely have loved everything about it. My church was so good at valuing individuals and authenticity, and it was truly such a beautiful space for freedom in worship and focus on the Holy Spirit. I love my church! Since I’ve been on the race, my church has actually decided to merge with another church in Austin because of a lot of different reasons. That was definitely a hard thing to hear and so sad. It’s been hard to be far away and not be able to be at my home church to mourn and grieve with my church family. Although it is a new season and not the total end of my church, the reality is that I will not be able to go back to the same church where I’ve spent the past over 8 years.
This all has made me think a lot about church. And what church will mean and look like for me when I get home. And honestly at this point I have no clue what I’m actually going to do, but here’s what I’m learning.
Church is way way more than a building. It’s about a community of people who are in love with Jesus and push you towards Him more. It’s a support system rooted in His love. It’s always open, always inviting others into the space. We are told to “be the church” in the Bible and we’re also told that “religion is looking after the widows and orphans”. So really church isn’t about Sunday mornings in a building singing worship songs. It’s about the people and really just about love.
There’s also such a beauty in the different traditions and expressions in the physical churches around us. He’s been showing me this especially through worship. I love worship! But I’m realizing that my perspective towards worship has been pretty small my whole life. I’ve had one style that I’ve seen as worship, when really there’s a million different ways to worship Him. I’m finding it in nature, hymns, art, writing, dancing, even working out and so many other things. There’s also so much beauty in just the different styles of church. Liturgical churches reflect so much of the sacred and holy nature of God. Monasteries speak of the beauty of devotion and simple dedication. More charismatic churches reveal the freedom and joy that is rooted in Him. Each side is important. The thinking and the feeling and the doing.
I’m excited to see more churches and experience more worship and meet more believers around the world. And most of all I’m feeling challenged to expand my horizons when I get home. To not just surround myself with people who believe exactly what I do or worship exactly the same way. To go out of my way to find the beauty in what’s different. To seek out what’s different. Also to challenge myself to think deeper about what I believe. To always make sure I’m rooted in the truth of scripture and to never just accept the words of others without taking it to my Papa first.
He’s not just in a church building. He’s in every moment of every day. He’s in so many different styles of worship. He’s in different cultures and different traditions. He’s in me and you. And He’s calling us to be the church. To practice love and acceptance. To reflect Him on every day of the week.
Anyways, thinking about what church will be like when I’m back home is a little bit sad just because it won’t look like the past, but I can’t wait to explore and learn and grow!
