Chapter 1 of Messy Church for Messy People
IT’S amazing what crazy things phones can do today.
It’s a camera, a sophisticated map, a music player, a movie player, and even a flashlight…
I’m waiting for the day my phone has a laser beam sword. Like the Star Wars sword.
The Star Wars sword can come in three modes—short, medium, and long. If it’s in short-mode, it’s a nail cutter. If it’s in medium-mode, it’s a chopping knife. If it’s in long-mode, it’s a deadly sword. But I guess that will never happen because while you are making a phone call, if you press the wrong button, swoosh, you cut off your head.
One of my Business Mentors was telling me that he set up CCTV cameras in all his office buildings. And so even if he’s lying down on the beach in Boracay, he sees what’s happening in those offices just by looking at his phone. Neat.
You know what’s even more nifty? One of my friends uses his phone to control his home appliances while he’s away. Fifteen minutes before he arrives home, he turns on the airconditioning unit in his bedroom— just by pushing buttons on his phone.
When I told this to my other friend, she said, “Ha! My cellphone can do that too. I just call up, ‘Darling, turn on the aircon…’”
But imagine if one day, a company makes a phone that can do all these other crazy things but forgets to put one important feature. It can’t call up anyone.
Then it’s not a phone.
Why We Are Church
Before fully ascending into Heaven, Jesus gave us the purpose of the existence of church: All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit… (Matthew 28:18-19)
Let me say it the way I understand it: Our ultimate mission is to go out of the church building, love people in the world (give them an experience of God’s Love), and invite them to follow Jesus.
Like the phone today, the Church does many things. The Church provides powerful sacraments. The Church holds worship services. The Church builds beautiful churches and cathedrals. The church opposes the government when it violates moral values. But sometimes, we forget its ultimate purpose. If we forget our ultimate purpose, we stop being Church.
Here’s God’s big message for you today: Get out of the building.
The Feast Is for Outsiders
Many years ago, our community, Light of Jesus Family, created The Feast.
We held first The Feast on August 3, 1997, in a military theater— at the auditorium of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
We knew we were building a strange animal.
We designed it for one specific purpose: To reach out to the Unchurched. We didn’t design it for insiders. We designed it for outsiders.
Yes, The Feast is still the main gathering of our spiritual family, Light of Jesus. But as unnerving as this may sound, it’s not designed for our members
.
But guess what: When we give, we receive so much more. That’s why our long-time members are so blessed every time they attend The Feast.
Every part of The Feast—from the smiles of the greeters, to the choice of music, to the topics of our preaching—is designed for outsiders.
The Feast works because it’s focused on one thing.
This Is What We’re Born To Do
We have found our destiny.
We’re called to love the Unchurched.
Those who don’t attend church.
Those who are uncomfortable with religious settings.
Those who feel distant from God.
As I walk around The Feast, I meet these people:
A pagan.
A 50-year-old lapsed Catholic who hasn’t gone to church since he was a kid.
A married guy who’s having an affair and is searching for God.
A separated woman who’s seeing a married guy.
A few porn addicts.
A young man who had an affair with the same sex.
And lots of young people who don’t go to church at all.
A few ex-Catholics.
On and on and on, I meet them.
And I tell myself, “We’re getting the right people.”
Listen To Outsiders: What Do They Want?
Sometimes, I get suggestions from our well-meaning long-time members
- “Brother Bo, please include more Doctrinal Teachings.”
- “Let’s sing more liturgical songs.”
- “Why don’t you preach about the Sacraments more?”
- “Give us more in-depth Bible studies.”
- “Our music is too loud, too fast, and too modern. Some of our members are old—and they don’t like it…”
Great suggestions.
I actually do some of them once in awhile.
But I always remind people that their suggestions are great for our other “member-only” activities (we do have those), but not for The Feast.
Because The Feast is for outsiders, we need to listen to our target audience. What do they want?
Why should the Church listen to outsiders?
Because Jesus didn’t come for the healthy but for the sick.
Because of this, I tell people the Light of Jesus Family is the worst community in the world. We’re all sinners. We’re messed up, broken, and fallen.
But we’re all taking baby steps in this journey towards home.
Why We Stink
Sometimes, the local church stinks.
Let me tell you why. If you spread manure on the earth, it becomes fertilizer and enriches the soil and the harvest will be humongous. But if you keep the manure in one place, it becomes very dangerous. Because of combustion, it will explode, kill, and destroy. That’s what is happening in many local churches.
Face it. There’s a lot of manure in us. Sin. Pride. Wounds. Insecurities. I always tell people that it’s very dangerous to stay in church too long without going out into the world to make disciples. Because God created us not to fill churches but to fertilize society. That’s who we are. That’s our identity. That’s our purpose.
I challenge you: Don’t just serve inside the church. Serve outside the church. How? Be God’s Love to everyone you meet, especially the unchurched.
Go to the church for nourishment, and then, get out of the building… and make disciples.
In the next chapter, I’m going to explain how we can love the Unchurched…
May your dreams come true,
Bo Sanchez
PS.If you don’t have a spiritual home, you may visit the nearest Feast in your area. Check out www.LightFam.com And if you want to start a small Feast in your office, school, or home, go to www.TheFeastVideo.com and see how you can change the world by loving someone, one person at a time.
Read the Story of
JL Chico – Past Imperfect, Future Perfect
Myee Campos – Cracks in the Core
Drake N – Victim Anonymous
