What does it mean to play church?
Pastor Mike Smith remembers a time when he and his sister would play church as children.
“My sister had a ton of dolls. She would set them up all around our little living room and she would start leading all of these dolls in singing. Then, at some point she would turn to me and say to the dolls, now here is our pastor to speak to us.”
While this story is cute because Mike and his sister were children at the time, Mike says that all too often we find ourselves playing church as adults.
“We grew up in a pastors home so that was just the culture we knew. However, I thought about that one time and I thought that playing church for children is really cute, but for adults it’s costly.”
Mike says that church often has its own culture, and it’s not always a good thing.
“We know when to sing, we know what to do, we know how to respond, and I do believe we’re sincere. But there’s been something stirring in my heart for years, there’s been an aching for something more. I’ve been aching for something that would go beyond a church culture, something that would impact people who are not in church.”
One of the most powerful forces in our day and age is terrorism. A mere mention of the word can strike fear in the hearts of many. However, Mike believes that when the church functions properly, it can have an even greater impact on the world in a positive way than terrorism has on the world in a negative way.
“I believe that the church that lays down its life in love has more power than terrorists. I’ve coined a phrase. I believe that God is raising up loveists. Instead of terrorism there is going to be loveism. We’re going to go beyond just going through the motions, or being in the culture, we’re going to impact our cities for Jesus Christ.”
Mike Smith is Senior Pastor of Redeeming Love Church, a congregation merging urban and suburban believers in Christ, located on the border of St. Paul and Maplewood, Minnesota.
Key Scripture: Acts 8:8
Featured Songs: There is a Cloud – Elevation Worship; Here in the Presence – Elevation Worship; Do it Again – Elevation Worship
Playing church
