Some of you discovered the preacher you’ve followed was corrupt. Other found polygamy and asked a question that got you shunned. Still others saw the money sermons, and the plate, and realized they weren’t in a church, but a theater that operated on donations. Still others asked about alcohol, or a drug. And yes, some come to this site because they were lied to about sexual issues and when they asked the right questions, they were shut down. All of us are Scattered Flock for a reason.
Now, you have walked away. You’ve seen the seams, and the man behind the curtain and it’s not Jesus.
Whatever the reason and situation, one thing is true. You need to be with others who believe.
The truth is, you’re looking for answers, and this site is dedicated to you.
It doesn’t matter what area of life you come from, or what controversy brought you here, all that matters is you are here, and we can be more together than we can apart.
Family cares for family. This is not a “Church,” as you know it. It’s just people who know they should not stay apart, but have no where to go to find companionship and fellow believers. A church will not open it’s doors in the middle of the night, but family will. A church will not spend hours on the phone with you because you lost someone. Family will. A church will not sit by you when you’re tired, or weak, or alone. Family will. The church has it’s preachers. Family… has family.
Here you don’t look to a pastor in times of need. Here, you look to your family. Here, the pastor is not going to do the job for you, you have to do it yourself, and be the family someone else needs, when they need it.
We are losing what Family we have. The state thinks our kids belong to them, and our church has devolved into nothing but a lecture where you learn nothing, gain nothing, and walk away feeling dejected because it seems the only reason the preacher is preaching, is to get drops in the plate.
Also, the churches are dying. Each Sunday there are fewer and fewer cars in the parking lot, and the elderly are leaving while the young seek something more… beneficial, intimate and personal. The younger generation want to participate, to join in, to feel needed and wanted. They want the real Christianity promised in the Bible.
The churches were never what Christianity was about, anyway. It’s about Family, it always was. But replacing church with church, is not going to do anything more than make more churches.
I can go into this more, but it’s the reason I am here. You’ll notice the menu items are a little out of the ordinary and are all rooms in a house. There’s a reason for that. A household should revolve around the parents, and the kids, and the recipes and the bedroom talks and the problems we face, not around a television, or a preacher, or a politician. A preacher is available from 9 to 11 on Sunday, but family will sit in your room all night, comforting you after a tragic event, holding your hand when you’re scared, and jumping for joy with you when everything is going right.
So the website is made for a family. The Family of Christ. And it’s more than just what you see on the website. This is just the beginning! I am going to help organize local Family Groups, get them started, and in the Goin’ Out section, help you connect with others who share the same desire to be Family.
The next menu item is the Gentleman’s Study. This is the room in the house for men to rest, relax, greet visitors, and study. Men must have their personal space to unwind and allow themselves to grow and become better men. In this context, the Gentleman’s Study will also have it’s own personal library on setting goals, leadership, and manage himself and this family.
The Ladies Snuggery is a very old term that means a warm quiet place for women to be alone, learn on her own, and a place for her to grow herself and her hobbies. It will also have a library of books to help.
The Living Room is about Family Meetings, and Family Time. In it you’ll find the Radio where you can listen to podcasts, it’s where the Bible is discussed, and where more important and personal encounters happen.
The next room is the Family Room. This is the game room (board games, card games, and family-centric entertainment), conservatory for music and general education, and the general library. It’s a place for the whole family to relax. I did almost call it the Rumpus Room, because it’s a place to play, but it’s more than just that. A note on the Library. The Library is all about information, recommendations on books, reviews on movies, and general knowledge.
The Kitchen is the heart of the family. It has the Kitchen Table that will be a chat feature later. We die in isolation, and this website is designed to let us talk, learn, and grow as a group… as a family.
Yes, there is a Bedroom and I call the room Intimate Matters. There is far too much nonsense about sex and Christianity out there, and here’s where you find out if what you’ve been taught was right, or wrong.
The last main room is Goin’ Out. This is where you’ll register and become a member of the Family. This is where you register for the home churches, bet the Question of the Week (more on that later) and can ask for assistance in how to set up your local group. There is a small fee but understand that it helps me verify that the person joining is real, and interested. To join you also have to make a statement of faith.
There is no chapel. There never will be. The church is people, and people are the church. For too long church has meant a cold dead building, and now it will mean a solid, loving and happy family sharing hopes, dreams, trials, and pain. No more preachers telling us how bad we are for a collection plate donation once a week, but a vibrant, daily, loving family that is there in the middle of the night when you need them the most.
Welcome to the Scattered Flock. It’s about family, it always was.
