I’m tired of the church hustle y’all!

I live in a metropolis, but on the west side of this valley of 5 million people, it is nearly impossible to find a church that isn’t running a full-court press version of build your brand.

I am weary folks. Just weary. So many sandwich-board church plants run by one or two young men.

There’s an anemia here. I’m not criticizing, I’m weary. I love these people.

These are the churches I have served in, and am part of, but I ache for a depth that doesn’t spend itself coming up with each season’s logo, motto, Tshirt, series, IG promotional reels, and QR codes to give, or join a service team, or show interest in the next event.

I am hungry for the things that haven’t changed and won’t change. The word. The sacraments. Teaching (discipling) one another. Serving the poor, the vulnerable. Singing together. Times of prayer and fasting. Hospitality. Like real, inviting others over for lunch and watching each others’ babies. Not inviting to the next kick-off, or women’s tea, or men’s log rolling event.

I don’t want the distraction of knowing my pastor, and church staff are always trying to be on brand, to create an IG worthy church.

I want psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, holy hugs, prayers, tears, laughter and the word of God. I want bread and the wine and the gospel. I don’t want to have to worry that my pastor is trying to keep up with the pastoral Jones’s by consulting AI.

Sigh. I’m tired.