What is Relevant Church?

I've seen churches named Relevant; books trying to outline what a relevant presence might be; even one of my favorite magazines is named Relevant. But what does it mean to "do" relevant church.

How do we move "church" from being only just a noun into the more action-oriented verb it should also be. How do we as followers of Christ make gathering in His name a relevant "happening" instead of the boring event some experience?

Perhaps part of these answers could be an environment where our %&#@ can be cleaned. I have this vision of church being a place where I feel comfortable bringing my %&#@ openly; sharing those issues and coming out refreshed and clean (or at least cleaner). Not through guilt manipulation but through honest interaction with others I can trust. Some have said that this is the purpose of small groups in the church, but it is rarely the case (in my experience).

Instead, church is often a place where you have to hide your %&#@ from others. That is why it is so difficult for people to deal with their "dark places" (as Ted Haggard described them).

I just think it is time to set a context, an environment to minister to those folks within our circles (and be ministered to as well). We know enough about the needs of our friends. And what do they mostly need? The same thing we do -- friendship, support and prayer. we are all dependent on the things that only Jesus can bring. We want the things that, in the words of my pastor,"have been stolen from us." Joy, peace, love, empathy, etc..

Most of us are disillusioned, yet that is rooted in the illusions we have had -- about life, about love, about leaders, about church. In many ways, disillusionment is a good thing. Can we challenge each other to address things in a relevant way? By the way, the relevant way is usually, if not always, the authentic way.

"We decide which is right and which is an illusion."
-- Nights in White Satin, The Moody Blues.