Viewpoint: To get Christians into rhythm, church must correct missteps
12/04/09Mary Faith “Zoe” Miles
Special contributor
“When I think of God, I hear a song,” says Rob Bell, pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Mich., in his video Rhythm. “It’s a song that moves me … . And people have heard this song … . They’ve heard the song and found it captivating.”
When I took dance lessons, I would quiet down the day’s noise to hear the song’s melody. Then I approached the barre.
The barre is the ballerina’s foundation. It’s the floor on which she can jump and turn. It teaches her the technique so that when performing, she doesn’t have to pay attention to her feet. She only has to hear the song.
As I worked on my foundation in class, my instructor sat at her desk and ate peanuts. When questioned as to why she didn’t work with us on technique, she responded that she didn’t want the girls to get mad when she corrected them.
I felt betrayed. I trusted her to teach me to swim through air, but by denying me instruction, I didn’t really become a ballerina. I was just a copper penny convinced of being a golden coin. Her kindness wasn’t kind at all.
The church is our barre. It is where we tune out the noise of everyday to learn the techniques of Jesus. We repeat them until they have been engrained into hurting muscles.
The church trains us to go into the mission field of daily life without watching our feet because the feet know how the song goes. We can allow ourselves to be moved by it.
My generation wants to look like the barefooted Jesus who healed and loved. For that, we need technical training. The United Methodist churches in Arkansas have the wisdom and experience to train us.
Give us small groups with mentors that will correct our posture. Deliver sermons that will work out our hearts.
Challenge us. We need to know that we’re loved, that we’re doing a good job and that we’re great dancers, but please don’t render the genuine compliments empty by eating peanuts at the desk in the corner instead delivering godly rebuke and criticism.
Don’t tell us what will make us happy. Tell us what’s going to make us whole. Help work our lustful desires, material dependence and busy lives out of our hearts.
I’m in the process of discussing the three fragrances of an attractive church. In the middle of the second aroma, authenticity, I overwhelmed myself by trying to pour all the ingredients into one article.
I decided that saying too much takes away from what needs to be said; therefore, I’m going to sit in authenticity until my spirit nudges me to move on.
In conclusion, be authentic about our shortcomings.
I’m not going to promise we won’t get mad. I’m not even going to promise we won’t put up a fight.
I will promise that if we are captivated by the song and if you challenge us to learn the rhythm, we’ll keep coming back to the barre.
Mary Faith “Zoe” Miles is a junior at Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma, a United Methodist institution. She can be reached at mmiles.stu1@my.okcu.edu.
