Modern-day Western Christianity is a bit of a mess.

The formula established by most American churches pigeonholes worship and Bible study into a one- to two-hour timeslot on Sunday mornings, where much of the focus is on singing a few nice worship songs or hymns followed by listening to someone give a half-hour(ish) message on a short passage of scripture.

For the longest time, I thrived in this environment, especially during the period of my life when I was reinvesting myself in my faith and relationship with God. Looking back on this, much of what felt nourishing about Sunday mornings was the social aspect of church gatherings. There came a point where I felt like everything that I heard in a sermon felt recycled. I wasn’t discussing my own perspectives or asking question about what I was listening to; I realized that I was just taking notes on a message rather than engaging with Scriptural content myself.

I think we all need a place where we can socialize and “do life” (ick) with other Christians. However, when church gatherings become more of a social event than a place where we can ask deep questions, struggle through complicated feelings on our faith and its teachings, or *gasp* disagree with a pastor’s perspective on a Biblical text, then we risk settling into a rhythm of numb spirituality where, instead of growing in our faith, we unnoticeably plateau into an area of predictable and stagnant comfortability.

Now, I’m not dogging church. We need church. I think that there are a lot of benefits to this established format of church, but I think that the whole thing needs a bit of an update–it needs to be reimagined.

So, that brings me to answering the question of “What is DanK Thoughts”? Well, it’s just a space where I can process some of my own perspectives on the Christian faith as well as, hopefully, prompt anyone reading them to do some introspection and engage in some dialogue. And the somewhat corny, druggy sounding name comes from my nickname, DanK (a combination of my first name and the first initial of my surname).

Don’t worry, I’m a drug-free person, even if my ramblings make it seem as if I’m not.