Is the Church Too Much Like a Crack House?
If you’re at all familiar with Peter Rollins’ work, you know that he is one of the church’s more provocative writers and thinkers. Author of How (Not) to Speak of God
In this video from the great folks at Work of the People, Pete says the church reminds him a little too much of a crack house. That is, people take drugs to escape their pain – they’ve ended a relationship, didn’t get the job they wanted, lost a loved one, whatever, and they take drugs to escape that pain and feel happy. And they do…for a little while, and then plummet downward again. And so they have to do it again. Too often, Pete says, church is like that – you sing songs, praise God, you feel just great…for a little while, and then you spiral downward and have to do it again.
Instead of being like a drug den, the church, Pete suggests, should be like one of those great song-writers who always finds a way to put his or her finger on your pain, to name your brokenness, and in naming it to join you in it and help you come through it.
It’s a provocative image, to be sure, but also, I think, a compelling vision of a church that refuses to do anything other than tell the truth – the truth about our brokenness (a truth we know deep down and can only stop fleeing once someone names it) and the truth about God’s gracious and loving response to that brokenness.
One of the things I most like about Peter’s short interview on this video is his insistence that church shouldn’t be about creating more dependence on the church; rather, it should be about helping us see God everywhere. Can you imagine? 🙂
So watch the video when you have a couple of minutes. Pass it around. And let me know if you also think the church is a little too much like a crack house, and share what great ideas you have to make it more like the nightclub where you can count on hearing songs that break your heart…and restore your soul.
Notes: 1)If you liked this and haven’t seen his riff on the resurrection, click here.
2) If you are receiving this post by email, you may need to click here to watch the video.
I think you’re describing the dysfunctional church, not the healthy church. I go every week, not to get high, but to praise God for all the blessings that exist EVERY day in my life. I’m also there to share the love that God gives to us with others, to help them through the tough times, to learn about their needs and pray for them. And when I’m down, I go to church to allow others to pick me back up. I don’t feel it is a quick fix. I’ve learned so much in church but just as much living each day with God front and center in my life. Church for me, helps me to keep God front and center because as people we are easily distracted, well I am anyway and going to church helps me to focus on loving God and people.
I think that’s a very helpful response, Darlene. We can’t confuse mutual-dependence (healthy church) with co-dependence (the unhealthy church Peter is talking about). Thank for sharing your experience and insight.
Thank you for this. I’ve been in a few conversations lately considering if and when faith becomes a coping mechanism — and, if so, if that’s necessarily destructive or inauthentic. Perhaps when we, individually and collectively, jump to coping–and then celebrating–without first lingering as “professional mourners”…then we minimize the fullness of our faith.
What a helpful reminder!
I am reminded of Andy Root’s book, The Promise of Despair, in which he argues that church needs to be a place where we come together to share our pain and weaknesses, because Christ is found there.
I think that many people (and our society in general) are uncomfortable talking about pain and brokenness. I mean it’s just not what we’re taught to do. Focus on your strengths and ignore the weakness.
I think many would consider talking about brokenness to be depressing. Give me an upbeat sermon, already! But, as church leaders, I think it is important that we name our brokenness, and help others to do that as well. Because, after all, if we weren’t broken, there wouldn’t be much reason for Jesus. In churches, though, I have found that naming brokenness and pain is something that a congregation must learn slowly. It always makes someone uncomfortable when I preach on it. But I still do it, and like to think that means the Spirit is at work! And of course, it’s not like we end with the brokenness. At the end of the day, our brokenness always lands us on Jesus, whose power is made perfect in weakness.
At my church, when there was a deep tragedy, people wept in church. While terrible, I think it was good for people to see such pain expressed. The church embraced them and carried them in their pain. Which lasted a very, very long time. But that was ok, too. Sometimes that’s what church needs to be.