The “Abby Normal” Church

There is scene from the movie “Young Frankenstein” where Igor is asked whose brain they had put into the creature and he replied, “Somebody named Abby Normal.” This has always reminded me of a saying that I am unable to attribute to anyone but would if I knew. It goes: “The Church is so subnormal that of it ever became normal it would appear abnormal.” In today’s church culture, especially here in the USA, subnormal seems adequate. Believers, and I use the term loosely, are content with mediocrity. But is God? Wouldn’t it be great to belong to an abnormal church?

After the 9-11 tragedy, church attendance increased tremendously. But by Christmas time, the numbers were back to “normal,” meaning back to pre-9-11 averages. Why the sudden increase and decrease? The answer seems obvious. The church did not meet the needs of the people who were suddenly shocked into seeking something different out of life and for their life. But the church was unable to respond because it either didn’t know how or didn’t want to. “To whom much is given, much is expected.” (Mark 4:25) Ed Stetzer, writing about the motives of churches that are making an impact for the kingdom of God, stated: “the pain of staying the same was greater than the pain of change.” (Transformational Church) Yet for many churches after 9-11, the pain of changing was greater than the pain of staying the same. This happens for many reasons and much of the blame needs to rest with the leadership, those ordained to lead and equip God’s people to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ. Many years ago I had invited a well-known speaker to do a teaching weekend at our church. I even went to the churches in the area, including all the congregations from our denomination, to advertise the event and try to generate interest. When I asked my priest why so many of the other clergy were not interested in sending people, he gave me a startling answer. He claimed, which I found hard to believe at the time, that the clergy were “afraid” to have their parishioners gain spiritual knowledge and insight because it would expose their lack in that area. Knowing that you cannot lead people where you yourself have not been, these limited clergy were not ready to have any such teaching infiltrate their quiet, calm, subnormal congregations. What a pity!

Recently, I attended an addiction support meeting where they were discussing the church. The person who invited me must have let it slip that their pastor would be attending the meeting. (I hope to write more on this later.) It must have been pick on the church day. It was a gut wrenching hour but very enlightening. Most of those present were discouraged by the treatment they received in “their” churches while they were battling their addictions. One person even claimed that their church “kicked them out” when they made their problem known. Another said that this meeting was church for them. It is very convicting to see and hear about the church failing to minister to those who needed it the most. Very sad. Typically subnormal.

As a believer in Jesus Christ, I want to be part of a congregation that is abnormal. I want to be part of a congregation where Jesus is honored, loved and worshiped, where the Holy Spirit is present and the Kingdom of God is making an impact in their people, their community, the nation and the world. I want to see lives transformed, people redeemed and the power of God present. I want to show up each Sunday expecting a demonstration of the Spirit’s power (1 Corinthians 2:4) and extraordinary faith that moves mountains. (Matthew 17:20) I think being abnormal is what Jesus referred to when He said we would do greater things than we saw Him do. (John 14:12) He meant greater things in quantity not quality. I mean how do you do something greater than raising someone from the dead? Life is too short and too serious to waste time in the pew accepting subnormal as normal and being very afraid of ever becoming anything more than that. Eternal life even more so. Abnormal should not be exceptional, it should be normal, the new normal. Arise Church and fulfill your destiny. The time is now and God knows the world needs what the church of Abby Normal has to offer.