Thanks to everyone who made it to johnny's last night. It was so good to be together. For those of you who couldn't make it, here is a brief recap of the night:
Moving Beyond the Vision
We talked last night about the vision of our church: connecting the disconnected to an authentic community of faith. the question i raised was do we need to move beyond this vision? The two reason i gave for this question were 1. This vision is basically the vision of the seeker church movement. We basically took that basic vision and reworded it. We wrestled through whether or not 'ripping off' the seeker church vision fit us as a church 2. We asked if this vision is too narrow. While i NEVER WANT TO BE A PART OF A CHURCH THAT DOESN'T HAVE A PASSION FOR REACHING FOLKS WHO ARE FAR FROM GOD, (like the CAPS for emphasis?) we wrestled through whether or not we have focused on evangelism too exclusively and not be as focused on other really important issues (social justice, discipleship).
AS a way to push the discussion of our vision forward, we brought in the book 'simply christian' by NT Wright. IN this book, he talks about the idea that God is actively working in the world, putting the world to rights. Here are a few quotes from the book:
p. 9: there is someone speaking to us, whispering in our inner ear, somone who cares very much about this present world and our present selves, and who has made us and the world for a purpose which will indeed involve justice, things being put to rights, ourselves being put to rights, the world being resuced at last.
p. 12: the Christian faith endorses the pasion for justice, which every human being knows, the longing to see things put to rights. And it claims that in Jesus, God himself has shared this passion and put it into effect, so that in the end all tears may be dried and the world may be filled with justice and joy.
p. 105: Jesus had gone about announcing that now, at last, God's kingdom was arriving. God himself was on the move once more and was about to rescue his people and put the world to rights.
p. 204: The church exists, in other words, for what we sometimes call 'mission': to announce to the world that Jesus is its Lord. This is the 'Good News' and when it's announced it transforms people and societies. Mission, in its widest as well as its more focused senses, it what the church is there for. God intends to put the world to rights; he has dramatically launched this project through Jesus. Thos who belong to Jesus are called, here and now, in the power of the Spirit, to be agents of that putting-to-rights purpose. The word 'mission' comes from the Latin for 'send': "as the Father sent me," Said Jesus after his resurrections, "So i am sending you."
So...thoughts about this idea of putting the world to rights and how that impacts our vision as a church?
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4 comments:
Monday night's discussion was thoroughly healthy! It is amazing to be a part of a body that values an open conversation focused on seeking (and discerning) the will of God! I do agree with Elaine though that going to Him must be the first thing we do at these meetings.
I was reading the final chapter in the book "Ruthless Trust" when I got home Monday night. Author Brennan Manning was relating the story of the time he met Dorthy Day, the founder of the Catholic Worker Movement. In the story he refers to her as, "This wizen old woman who cried the gospel with her life..." WOW! It struck me that is exactly how I would desire [S]omeone to label me someday. But I also remembered our discussion earlier in the evening, and thought how cool would it be as a part of the body of Christ to be recognized as, "that wizen old church that cried the gospel with its life."
Journey forward!
Vision??? Bring glory to God.
Simple. All encompassing. Easy to measure success.
I love the picture that the "wizen old woman" conjures up...I also love the simple to the point vision. Beth - you have a way with words. Kevin constantly talks about books he has read... so I will share that I just finished "Making More of Life With Less - Seeking Humility, Simplicity, and Silence" by Rick Mathis. (LOVED IT!) I don't know if it is an age-thing or a God-thing (probably both) - but I am embracing the simplicity idea these days. I hear the words simplicity and humility and I can't help but think of Jesus. I would love for K10 to also grab ahold of that idea. Keep things simple and keep things for Jesus!
One of the constant messages that I heard at Johnny's that everyone seems to be in agreement with - is the idea of "compassion ministries" - which I also am in agreement. My one qualm, fear, concern (none of those are the right word...) is that it is going to be the same people getting involved all the time. How do we teach compassion? How can we get this written on more hearts? I don't see the "wording" of our mission being a difficult task - I see the "living" it as the challenge. Trust me, I am by NO means pointing any fingers - I am just as guilty as anyone!! I also would like to learn how to incorporate more compassion into my day to day life!
I am not sure as these thoughts follow what others have posted - but these have been on my heart so I am sharing.
cMellisa and Breth, I agree. Our vision has to include how to get people to make compassion a part of their daily lives. I went looking for the book "Simply Christian" and found they have it as a small group study with Leaders Guide and a DVD. (An idea for fall?) That might be one way to begin to draw in those who are on the fringe about puting compassion into practise. I guess I am very concrete oriented today. All that has been done for Maggi is deffinately compassion. People have actually become frustrated because they cannot get on the internet fast enough to sign up to fix a meal. Don't get me wrong I think it is great, but I wonder how many people leave the hospital each day wondering if they will have anything to eat that night much less the whole week? I wonder how many people in our area are suffering like she has and yet we have missed them. It is getting people to recognize situatioms when they happen rather than having to have them pointed out to us.
I know that people who have been active in our church, had a crisis, and had compassion shown to them often become more compassion minded. Compassion really is catching. I think "making it right" is also catching. When you "make it right" for someone, fight for them, then often they are more willing to do the same for someone else.
We exist for the person who thinks church is a joke, but has a hunch that God is not...
...for the woman who prefers the Sunday paper over a sermon any day ...for the man who doesn't have a clue what the "John" or "3" or "16" of John 3:16 means...for the kid who thinks that God is happy when you color inside the lines...for the teenager who just thinks church is lame because they think everything you suggest is lame...for the college student who thinks just going should somehow count as penance ...for the single parent who is just too exhausted to care...for the addict who expects to be shamed...for the married couple who think you have to turn off your brain before entering...for the family that's going in a million directions, but to nowhere.
We are a church for you. (Above quote from another church website)
I really liked these thoughts and think that to go along with the fact that no matter what direction God sends us on....we must never forget to be a church for connection to Christ. I know that the "seeker" or "lost" or even the "unchurched" lingo we may be getting away from, but these are folks that also do not know God. Ultimately, we must connect people to God. I am excited to see the route that we take, but like Melissa voiced, I am somewhat concerned that a few will take on the burden....so making sure that all can grasp whatever expanded vision we become a part of is important. We have been studying "Wisdom" in the elementary room and the underlying theme has been,"Virtue: Wisdom—knowing what God wants you to do and choosing to do it.
“If you really want to become wise, you must begin by having respect for the Lord.” Proverbs 9:10
Bottom Line: Ask God for wisdom, and He will show you what to do and where to go.
All this to say, I agree we should start by opening all discussion and prayer times ASKING FOR WISDOM from the Lord.
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