Finding "Church" Everywhere Else

More and more Christians say the usual ways of "doing church" no longer resonate in a contemporary, postmodern culture. Seeking to fill the gap, a growing movement called "the emerging church" is developing new forms of worship and asking new theological questions.

Adherents to the movement don't align themselves with any established denomination. Their rites and worship settings are unconventional – often more coffeehouse or college-dorm ambience than church.

Many emerging churches weave together elements from different religious traditions, especially Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. Some are renewing medieval mystical practices such as walking the labyrinth. Some emphasize video images, electronic music and audience participation.

This Dallas Morning News story goes into great detail over the "emergent church" and pastors' alarm as Gen X abandons traditional worship. In this same vein, A Real Big Fish talks about finding church at work with fellow believers.

My reaction to all this is essentially Catholic. Any church that doesn't have the Eucharist is just a building where believers gather. Some may be pretty and some may be plain and some may have coffee and DJs that mix cds for the worshippers ... in fact, some may be like my Catholic women's book club. Jesus is there with any worshippers where two or more are gathered in His name but it isn't the same as having his actual presence in the Eucharist right there with you. Without the Eucharist then one place is just as good as another ... and no place is as good as being in front of the tabernacle.