richard passmore is running a series of posts over at sundaypapers. parts 1 | 2| 3 are up so far. here’s a quote from part 2…

Often interpreted as a place of shelter and support for birds, the
mustard seed of Jesus has indeed grown into a huge tree, but the birds
are scavengers that have taken the seed of the word from the world, and
are now a great evil harbouring in the branches of the church, that
over time has corrupted it. The seed of the word has been genetically
modified and what has been re-sown into the world is only a shadow of
it’s former self.

A sweeping statement, and I know there are
good and bad, but I wanted to start with this alternative
interpretation of the Mustard seed, as I seek to re frame church in
order to highlight and recognise the need for change.

Over time
the corruption has led to a multi-faceted dualism, that splits worship
between lifestyle or an activity, sees church as activity rather than a
community, changed the inclusive kingdom of Jesus to an exclusive club,
and reduced prayer to a time rather than a constant…