Let's Get Stoopid!

A friend of mine posted this to our community's yahoo group today...

"I went to a [other local church's] party the other night and had a cool
idea (to me anyway). "If a normal church had a party, that's what our
church is like."

Of course, I had to quickly throw together a logo...

Question. What if we took seriously the notion that church is where the real party happens? I'm not just talking about some lame attempt at "fellowship" where the most exciting thing is counting the number of different kinds of fried chicken. I'm talking about a serious party. Churches spend a ridiculous amount of time and money trying to entertain people with professionally trained musicians, dramatic lighting, and ornate architecture. You know what happens? People sit there taking it all in, nervously consuming, and then rush off to the nearest Chili's to eat with their friends and families! Why? Because as God's people, they instinctively want to party, not just be entertained!

Amber and I had a friend in Gainesville (Jon George for those of you who know him) who used to say, "God shows up during snack time." It's true. I can't tell you how many times I've been in smaller groups of Christians, sitting around some bowl or bag of something, and the presence of God arrives. Imperceptibly perhaps at first, but the awareness of God and his desire to be among us as we eat, drink, and laugh is often overwhelming.

When Jesus called Matthew to be his disciple, it says he left his tax collector's booth and immediately had Jesus and the other disciples at his house for dinner with many "tax collectors and sinners". I find it very hard to believe that this was a quiet, reserved gathering of pious Jews. Very soon after, John's disciples ask Jesus why his followers are not rigorously fasting as they and the Pharisees were doing. I love Peterson's paraphrase in The Message of Jesus' reply:

"Jesus told them, "When you're celebrating a wedding, you don't skimp on the cake and wine. You feast. Later you may need to pull in your belt, but not now. No one throws cold water on a friendly bonfire. This is Kingdom Come!"

That's what I'm talking about! When God's reign is announced and people receive it as good news, shouldn't that be grounds for a kick-ass party? Not just a little cake-and-punch reception every once in a while after someone gets baptized. No, I think every time someone begins to grasp the freedom and wonder, the drama and passion of God's kingdom, the church should celebrate with largeness. (Note: I'm not just talking about when someone gets "saved" or has a conversion experience.) We are constantly being reminded that Jesus is King, whether we like it or not. That awareness of his sway over everything, and consequently our position as his sons and daughters who get to revel in his grace, is permission to party. And as we party and play in his kingdom, we become more familiar with the way his world works, his and-the-last-will-be-first world.