In light of Monday's post about enchantment and disenchantment I wanted to return to a topic I've written about before and have described to many audiences in sharing about Hunting Magic Eels. Specifically, the enchanted versus disenchanted divide is one of the biggest, yet least talked about, divisions in our churches.
Enchantment will color life in a way that makes life sometime more exciting, more magical, and yet for many of us, the "let's get real" has saved us from poverty or making poor decisions. We have to be practical and guide the ship to safe waters. Some of us have had tragedies and found that prayer was unanswered, being abandoned to figure things out. Maybe abandoned is the wrong word.. its just the way this world was created and we are seeing things for what they are. I often find, in my life, that many of the more magical thinking folks that I know have had others in their life that take care of the practical matters.. so they are then able to create the magical world without going down. Of course, one can do both... and many do. My fundamentalist mother is one of those. They pray and believe God guides them every minute of the day while being careful to pay the bills and be responsible. For me, its not easy to embrace magical thinking when my experience shows me otherwise... but thank you for pointing out this divide. It helps explain and can help me be more tolerant.
This resonates with me. Led me to ironically face God in petitionary prayer (thus I must still having a glimmer of enchantment within my being) but I found myself telling him I USED to have faith, I USED to feel enchantment. I USED to think he cared. I USED to think he was the Deliverer. But, years of answered prayers, broken dreams and life getting even more horrible, crueler, bewildering over the last few months has led to a faded hope that I will see the goodness of the lord in the land of the living.
This is my truth.
This article has helped clarify things for me. Maybe facing this reality is the first step to Jesus actively stepping in to lift me up and carry me back safely to the other side of the fence. But, I question whether God actually intervenes now. I question whether he actually can. I don’t question his existence, but I do question his direct involvement in our lives. I think perhaps he just leaves us to it…
Their prayers whispered, with hesitation in the air,
Questioning the spiritual, in the land of despair.
Within these walls, a divide so clear,
Two congregations, both hold dear.
Yet seldom do they meet eye to eye,
Their differences vast, reaching the sky.
In the realm of finances, the divide is stark,
One side relying on faith's spark.
The enchanted seek divine intervention,
While the disenchanted turn to calculation.
Prayers whispered for the ill in dire need,
Some ask for miracles, hearts pleading to heed.
While others trust in the doctors' skill,
The enchanted hope, the disenchanted chill.
A tale of two churches, living side by side,
In faith's dance, they forever abide.
Enchanted whispers meet disenchanted sighs,
Yet in diversity, their unity lies.
*************^******************
Explanation:
In this reflective poem, the division between the enchanted and disenchanted churches within one building is explored. The enchanted church is portrayed as believers in miracles, petitionary prayer, the Holy Spirit, and spiritual warfare. Conversely, the disenchanted church doubts these elements and approaches faith with skepticism. The poem emphasizes how these contrasting perspectives coexist within a shared space but rarely engage in meaningful dialogue due to their differences.
Through the examples of budgetary discussions and prayers for healing, the poem illustrates how the enchanted and disenchanted churches approach challenges differently. The enchanted rely on faith and spiritual intervention, while the disenchanted lean towards practical solutions and logic. Despite these opposing views, the poem highlights the necessity of accepting diverse beliefs within a community, showing that unity can be found in embracing the varying perspectives present in the enchanted and disenchanted congregations.
Perhaps I will try to read the book Hunting Magic Eels … but I have spent years talking great delight in searching, researching, exploring, reading, gleaning but it is concrete action I need not thoughts, hope & ideas …
I was an elder in a church during the pandemic. Your article shows me that I fell firmly on the disenchanted side of the divide, a lens through which I've not previously looked. There were heated arguments among the elders about whether to close, and after we closed, how soon to reopen. Some elders wanted to "trust God" to keep our members safe. I said "nonsense, it is unwise and imprudent to open" for a very long time. The lead pastor and I actually fell out over this.
Enchantment will color life in a way that makes life sometime more exciting, more magical, and yet for many of us, the "let's get real" has saved us from poverty or making poor decisions. We have to be practical and guide the ship to safe waters. Some of us have had tragedies and found that prayer was unanswered, being abandoned to figure things out. Maybe abandoned is the wrong word.. its just the way this world was created and we are seeing things for what they are. I often find, in my life, that many of the more magical thinking folks that I know have had others in their life that take care of the practical matters.. so they are then able to create the magical world without going down. Of course, one can do both... and many do. My fundamentalist mother is one of those. They pray and believe God guides them every minute of the day while being careful to pay the bills and be responsible. For me, its not easy to embrace magical thinking when my experience shows me otherwise... but thank you for pointing out this divide. It helps explain and can help me be more tolerant.
This resonates with me. Led me to ironically face God in petitionary prayer (thus I must still having a glimmer of enchantment within my being) but I found myself telling him I USED to have faith, I USED to feel enchantment. I USED to think he cared. I USED to think he was the Deliverer. But, years of answered prayers, broken dreams and life getting even more horrible, crueler, bewildering over the last few months has led to a faded hope that I will see the goodness of the lord in the land of the living.
This is my truth.
This article has helped clarify things for me. Maybe facing this reality is the first step to Jesus actively stepping in to lift me up and carry me back safely to the other side of the fence. But, I question whether God actually intervenes now. I question whether he actually can. I don’t question his existence, but I do question his direct involvement in our lives. I think perhaps he just leaves us to it…
Title: The Enchanted and Disenchanted Churches
Yvon Roustan ©
In a world where faith and doubt entwine,
Two churches in one building shine.
Enchanted souls with miracles they envision,
While disenchanted minds question with precision.
The enchanted church, where wonders unfold,
Believes in miracles, stories untold.
Petitionary prayers echo in the space,
Embracing the Holy Spirit's loving grace.
But in the shadows, the disenchanted dwell,
Doubting miracles, a skeptic's spell.
Their prayers whispered, with hesitation in the air,
Questioning the spiritual, in the land of despair.
Within these walls, a divide so clear,
Two congregations, both hold dear.
Yet seldom do they meet eye to eye,
Their differences vast, reaching the sky.
In the realm of finances, the divide is stark,
One side relying on faith's spark.
The enchanted seek divine intervention,
While the disenchanted turn to calculation.
Prayers whispered for the ill in dire need,
Some ask for miracles, hearts pleading to heed.
While others trust in the doctors' skill,
The enchanted hope, the disenchanted chill.
A tale of two churches, living side by side,
In faith's dance, they forever abide.
Enchanted whispers meet disenchanted sighs,
Yet in diversity, their unity lies.
*************^******************
Explanation:
In this reflective poem, the division between the enchanted and disenchanted churches within one building is explored. The enchanted church is portrayed as believers in miracles, petitionary prayer, the Holy Spirit, and spiritual warfare. Conversely, the disenchanted church doubts these elements and approaches faith with skepticism. The poem emphasizes how these contrasting perspectives coexist within a shared space but rarely engage in meaningful dialogue due to their differences.
Through the examples of budgetary discussions and prayers for healing, the poem illustrates how the enchanted and disenchanted churches approach challenges differently. The enchanted rely on faith and spiritual intervention, while the disenchanted lean towards practical solutions and logic. Despite these opposing views, the poem highlights the necessity of accepting diverse beliefs within a community, showing that unity can be found in embracing the varying perspectives present in the enchanted and disenchanted congregations.
Ha! The book is in my audio library! For got I had purchased it a few months back … will have a listen…
Perhaps I will try to read the book Hunting Magic Eels … but I have spent years talking great delight in searching, researching, exploring, reading, gleaning but it is concrete action I need not thoughts, hope & ideas …
I was an elder in a church during the pandemic. Your article shows me that I fell firmly on the disenchanted side of the divide, a lens through which I've not previously looked. There were heated arguments among the elders about whether to close, and after we closed, how soon to reopen. Some elders wanted to "trust God" to keep our members safe. I said "nonsense, it is unwise and imprudent to open" for a very long time. The lead pastor and I actually fell out over this.
I felt that was the saddest. That all the churches closed down. That says it all!
Simul justus et peccator