Substance?

There's something that's thrown around for why a business finds success or not: "location, location, location". If your store is in a good location, you've got a chance; if your church builds in the right location, you'll attract the right people. But is the internet and technology in general making "location" less of an issue? And if so, will we change the mantra to "content, content, content"? Just a sparked thought from Shawn's blog and podcast this morning.

For some reason, it's difficult for Christians collectively to "think", so I'm not sure that "content, content, content" will be the next big thing. Asking questions, looking at difficult answers and contradictions - these are seen as disruptive and unnecessary in too many circles today. I know, that's really general, and all generalizations are false - but here's the deal: if you have a doubt or a question, who do you go to? Who do you ask? Will you be snubbed, or have someone question your own faith? Or will you be given tools to learn, to grow, to overcome doubt and ask even better questions moving forward? I know a few people who would join in the conversation with me and not be offended or feel like they'd have to "fix me" - but the majority of folks would be put off by most of what I've found to be true and honest and radically different about Jesus, God, the scriptures.

Being able to post my thoughts on the internet, being able to take "location" out of the equation, doesn't change the presumption I have that very few people would still be comfortable going deeper, growing in Christ. I don't have a monopoly on any of this, but I do have thoughts and dreams and ideas that don't fit into the proper mold that makes up most church doctrine. And that scares people - scares me, too, but I don't run away. Well, anyway, "ramble, ramble, ramble" might be the new thing instead of content. But at least let our Christianity have some content, some deep substance to it - that's not afraid of the doubt, that in fact grows in the midst of the journey and struggle, you know?

Of course, my own pride and self-centeredness comes out when I talk about "others" like that. It's not an us vs. them thing, just a thing.