Is it time for the church to evolve? For many believers (and even those who’ve walked away) this question hits deeply. The truth is, we’ve been doing the same spiritual “song and dance” for generations. But is that still serving us today?

Let’s talk about it.

Why the Church Was Created

To understand whether or not the church should change, it helps to revisit its original purpose, without getting too lost in the weeds of history.

The early Christian church was born out of political unrest. Christians were under Roman rule, and following Jesus openly was dangerous. The church wasn’t just a place to worship; it was a safe haven. It provided:

• Support for those suffering persecution
• Community for believers navigating an oppressive culture
• A way to grow the mission of Jesus

At its core, the church was designed to represent God’s love. Jesus said that the world would know His followers by the way they love others, not by judgment, criticism, or control.

Somewhere along the line, that got lost.

What the Church Should Be

If we take the teachings of Jesus seriously, the church should look more “like a hospital than a country club. “(Rachel Held Evans) A hospital welcomes the sick. It meets people in their brokenness. If you’re someone who’s been through trauma, abuse, or hardship, the church should feel like a refuge, not a battlefield. A shelter, not a stage.

It should be the social support system we wish the government had:

• Providing food, safety, and emotional healing
• Defending the vulnerable
• Lifting up the oppressed
• Creating space for questions, grief, and transformation

So… why doesn’t it?

The Modern Church: Cozy, Comfortable, and Consumer-Driven

Today, the church often looks like a comfortable living room. Coffee bars. Light shows. Encouraging sermons that sound more like self-help TED Talks than radical invitations to live like Jesus.

There’s nothing wrong with comfort, but when church becomes just another place to feel good and not be challenged, it loses its edge. It stops being the counter-cultural movement it was meant to be and starts looking more like a spiritual vending machine: tap the button when you need something, but don’t ask too much of me.

It’s time we asked:

Is It Time for the Church to Change?

We’ve been following the same rhythms for centuries. But maybe the church is called to evolve, not in message, but in method.

So now I ask you:

• What would you want to see change?
• What would make church more meaningful?
• What would make it safer? Braver? More like Jesus?

Comment below with your thoughts, and let’s start imagining what the church could be, together.