Third Place
"Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name... and they're always glad you came." This line from the theme song of "Cheers," fittingly defines the idea of The Third Place. This very moment, I sit in the place most closely associated with the "real life" equivalent of Cheers - I'm at Starbucks. We go to work and we have our homes, but what is The Third Place that we would call our own?
Since I'm in the midst of a church plant, we talk about this idea a lot. The church wants to be that Third Place for people. But will it ever? I recognize that I'm not the one to measure things like this against, but I don't want church to fill that spot in my life. Put a "cafe" in it if you want to; I'm still going to want to get the heck out of there as soon as my "business" is done for the day. Maybe that's strange coming from a "professional churchman," I'm not sure. So, basically I'm saying that I am not sure if I believe church can be The Third Place and I'm still sorting out whether I think it should be.
If church was going to be your Third Place, what would it need to do differently? What do you think about this idea of church as a Third Place anyway? Is that a reasonable goal for churches to pursue? Is it a biblical one? I'm still searching and would love to get your thoughts.
Scott Bane
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Oh, man! I have a lot to say about this one, but seeing as how I just left "that place" and have to be back there again in the morning, I think I'll wait until tomorrow night. Trust me, it will be a much kinder, gentler comment than the one I would type now!
This is something I've been wrestling with as well.
If church could ever be my 3rd place, it would be so different. always!! Sometimes I need a menu with real food, sometimes I need a cup of go-go juice and sometimes I need a quiet place to read and sometimes I need a booming place to work out! See my 3rd place needs to change with me! This is a place where we aren't taught it is where we learn and ponder on the lessons that have been taught, what we can do again and what we really don't want to do again without someone else telling us! Third place is a place where I learn and rest in God and me and not what someone else and God has for me, how can you produce that?
Scripturally, I don't see where the Church ever should be this place. We're called to meet together (as believers) to be equipped, encouraged, and built up for ministry. The real MINISTRY is supposed to occur in our everyday lives. We're ALL called to it.
Jesus sent the believers OUT - He never told them to "bring everyone back to a building or location". That's where the Church is missing it. I'm with you, P.S., I think if that's what we're trying to turn the Church into, we're missing it.
I also don't think the Church could ever BE that "3rd place" because everyone is on their best behavior (for the most part) in church. We're not being ourselves, we're not as loose as we would be at home, we're too busy acting religious. We're also too busy dressing our best "for Jesus" - because we need to "give God our best" (like He really gives a rip) and at the same time saying "we want to be a place where prostitutes and destitute people come". PLEASE. They would take one look in most churches at the way folks DRESS, and feel like they don't belong before they ever hear a word out of someone's mouth. That's not making an attempt to make folks feel welcome, in my opinion. If the Church could ever be a place where we could just "unwind", that would be different, but again, I don't think that is the purpose of the Church.
Church = People. Mission = Church being salt and light. Church gathering = Can be anywhere two or three are gathered in the name of Jesus (See 1 Cor. 14)
I like the idea of the Church gathering in a third place. So if the Congregation owned a third place (Starbucks, Art Gallery, Gymnasium or Skatepark for Youth Outreach) I don't think it would be a bad idea for the Church to gather their on a regular basis to do the 1COR14 stuff. Could be after hours or whatever.
I am not a big believer in the "traditional" facilities model of Sanctuary, Classrooms and Fellowship Hall is the "Church." Would rather have the Church gather in the food court at the mall.
Btw, the weakness in the House Church, Revolutionary Church, Simple Church, Organic Church movement is that somebody's home can never be the third place...
Ok, I have hesitated to comment on this because I don't want to sound stupid, and last time I even brought this up publicly I got jumped on.
For months now, I have been going to church because I know I'm supposed to. Out of obedience maybe, but not always with a good attitude. My problem: if the most important thing is my personal relationship with Jesus, this should be a constant in my life. I praise and worship Him with my life- all through the week. Church should be where I go to be with my family. My brothers and sisters. Where we, as a group in agreement, can go before our Father- together. Yet, so many of the songs, the messages are singular. "I love you, Lord" "Breathe on ME" How hard is it to change the words to include everyone. Speak things that be not as though they are, right? Unity. I understand that individual needs need to be adressed. I can't tell you how much I miss LBTC with you and our group. That was "church" to me. I felt like we were equipped as a group, and on the same page. Don't get me wrong, I know you get people from all walks of life, all stages in their relationship with the Lord. But, if everything is taught or sung from a standpoint of "us" "we" "our", don't you think it will make people feel more connected, more unified? I think individual needs could be better served in small groups or classes, and leave the "service" for the coming together and unifying of believers to worship our God as one Body.
I've started doing this during worship. I sing to God about us, and we, and our, and it helps me keep focus. I think about the people around me, and not just me, me, me. This time is not about me. It's about His children coming together. My time with Him is just that- mine, all alone, during all the other hours I have in my week.
Ok, that's it. Please don't yell at me.