One of my favorite moments when I go camping is the time after dinner when people pull up a folding chair and circle around the fire. The flickering flames draw people together for conversation and hang out time. We shuffle around as the winds shift and joke about how “smoke follows beauty.”
For many of coming to church is like gathering around a campfire. We enjoy the warmth and the company of other folks. As pleasant as this image is, I’m convinced this is not the purpose of the church is. We are not to be in a circle of our own, but to be bringing the light of Christ to our dark world. Current thinkers are using the terminology of “Missional Church” to describe this outward focus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arxfLK_sd68
