It had been awhile since I had gone to church before inadvertently attending what became quite a memorable service a couple years ago. It was not your typical church or church service, existing without the traditional rows of pews, stained glass windows and organist playing "Amazing Grace". Black lights and neon signs dimly lit the room. A lingering smell of leftover euphoria from the previous night hung about the room and yet, also a hint of loneliness which is a constant here. As I found my seat I observed a few others scattered throughout who were also quietly digesting the atmosphere. There wasn’t a Bible to be found among the "congregation", although many sat intently studying the head of foam in their pint of beer just as religiously.
What I interpret as being powerfully "spiritual” was, in reality an evening in which brave souls tamed their insecurities and fears in order to participate in an "open mic" at a local bar.
The first few performers courageous enough to step onto the lonely stage with nothing more than a microphone for refuge and an acoustic guitar as their sole companion were a few singer songwriters. I recognized a few cover tunes like The Black Crowes “She Talks to Angels” and Pearl Jam’s “Betterman”, in addition to a few originals they had written.
Although the songs were not "traditional" praise and worship songs as one might recognize them, they were songs performed and written from a place of total honesty and a sincere heart. The songs revealed personal hurt, loneliness and brokenness; however, the lyrics still contained a hope that one-day things might be better. Songs hinting towards a certain searching or longing whether that meant a quest for romantic love or for answers to the questions that keep us awake at night. The performers were very vulnerable, seeming as though, in a doubting, defeated, Job or King David sort of way, that they were worshiping God despite the circumstances. In the very least they were gasping a few last ditch, doubt-filled and faithless prayers to a God they didn't know.
The last person to take their place in front of the attentive crowd was a friend of mine named Scott, who brought to the microphone a handful of poems he had written. I admire Scott because he has never been afraid to be honest with me about his life, struggles and faith. He grew up believing in God but like many of us, he is struggling to find peace with Him. Probably most Christians would call Scott a "backslidden sinner", but I think he is just more honest than the rest of us.
His sincerity and blunt delivery pertaining to struggles with faith, relationships and life made it apparent that Scott wasn’t simply reading some poems he had written. The scene was reminiscent of someone making confession of his sins in front of the congregation. He was sharing his agony and disappointment with a God that seems so distant and who speaks only in "whispers", if at all. Although the poems might have sounded doubt-filled, disconcerting and lost, I was moved by the boldness it took to share them with a crowd of strangers in a bar. The crowd appreciated such honesty and I think everyone could relate to the difficult, and at times heart wrenching questions he was wrestling with concerning a relationship with God.
Yes, perhaps Scott didn't preach a typical sermon from the Bible and his intentions were not to "save souls" but I think it was the most relevant preaching the bar and its patrons had ever heard.
As I walked out of the bar gripping my jacket tight against the chilly Flagstaff evening, I was thankful that I had attended, like I said earlier it had been awhile since I'd been to church. I realize that this analogy will make some uncomfortable, but honestly, church isn't a building, a religion, or denomination.
Church is made up of those who believe in God and Church happens wherever people gather. I've been to some of the best church services lately in bars, at concerts, in coffee houses, on camping trips, at poker games and on the phone. God is everywhere…right?
My wife, Sarah and I used to attend what some might call a Bible study, but in all honesty we were just a group of friends hanging out, eating dinner together and discussing life and faith with one another. I still consider it the best "church" I have ever been a part of. We began every evening with each person answering the question "where have you seen God this week?" It was simply a time to reflect on our lives over the last week and find God somewhere in it. It wasn't Christians getting together and saying that they saw God in the rainbows, sunshine and everywhere else in their perfect little world. It was real people being honest about seeing God not only in life’s victories, but in their struggles and pain as well. Sometimes it meant being honest enough to say we weren't sure if we witnessed God at all.
That evening at the open mic would be my answer to the question "where have you seen God this week?" In a dimly lit, sour smelling bar is where I witnessed the evidence of God in my life. We can encounter God in the most unexpected places and He can use the most unforeseen things to speak to us if we are willing. We expect God to be found only in the sacred and holy, but we shouldn’t limit his presents solely to churches, temples and the Bible.
In this world, news quickly turns from bad to worse in a moment. Daily we may awaken in the morning forced to face a failing marriage, another disheartening negative on a pregnancy test, a job we may loath or another prescribed pill to swallow. We desperately need to see God somewhere amongst the adversity, failures and hurt we face in our lives. We need a reminder that we are not alone and that God does indeed hear our prayers, comforting us even if it is simply seeing him in the kindness of a stranger or in the innocent words of a child.
So be aware as you go about your life, perhaps take in an open mic and you might just see God where you least expect!
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