Jim and Casper go to church

In the margin of life and to the sacrifice of sleep, I've just finished reading a relatively short book, "Jim and Casper go to church." It's a great book about a Christian and an atheist who spend one summer visiting a bunch of churches and comparing their reactions. Casper the atheist is frank and refreshingly honest while Jim, the "professional Christian" is mostly objective, but able to throw in the back story of each place.

Having been out of the American church scene for so long, I found myself identifying with Casper, who at one point asks, "Is this what Jesus told you guys to do?" His perspective is amazing. The craziness of lyrics ("if you heard Muslims talk this much about blood you'd be very worried"), the lack of anyone other than ushers greeting them or paying any attention to their visit, the expense of technology and the size of parking lots. Two of the churches they visited were now housed in old basketball arenas, one had a gigantic waterfall, and another a mock, life size tomb!

But despite their size, denominational bent, or demographic and location, each church shared the same basic order of worship. They all sang, collected money, had a sermon of sorts, etc. It didn't matter if it was black inner city, white suburbia, emergent, mega or house...each church had these elements in the fabric of their meeting.

Casper and I wondered why?

What defines a church? Does it have to have those elements? I wonder if a culture were left alone with a Bible what they would come up with as their version of "do not forsake meeting together" or "do this in remembrance of me."

Thoughts?

Anyways, I highly recommend it. Chris and I were able to do some of our own church spying this summer. I would have liked to have visited more styles were it not for 3 kids and their needs to consider. Jim suggests everyone taking a friend who believes in some other faith or none at all to their church as well as others and getting their perspective. If they are anything like Casper, you're bound to get some interesting feedback!