Page 98, “As opposed to counting confessions of faith or tracking church attendance to know if we’re making an impact, in the incarnational process, we celebrate every moment of transformation.”
I read this and I would say that every church leader or Christ follower that I know would all celebrate the incarnational process. I have no doubt in that. If there is error though- it would be that it is too easy for us to sit back in a pew and wait for someone to come into the church by seeing our sign and hope that the pastor will close the salvation deal with his sermon and prayer- as if the mission of God lies on the professional clergy and not on the rest of us.
I think we need to take serious how we love people- the way Jesus did. To intentionally invite people into our lives- even more than our church. Just maybe the mission of God is on each of us- and that church happens not in a building with the alter- but in our own homes- or Starbucks- or in the park. Now that’s church multiplication- instead of having one church in the city- we have hundreds that move throughout the city- hanging out in the schools and in the work place. No longer is it ideal that we have to just invite people to the church but rather the church goes to the people. When Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” He probably didn’t have in mind the building but each and every one of us.
The question for me/you: Who are we inviting in our lives? Who are we loving like Jesus? That is a tall order. We cannot live with our door closed any longer. For some of us that might be a literal deal. In a way- I like not having air conditioning (ok I don’t want my husband to read this because it doesn’t bode well in my argument for it)- but with all my doors and windows open all summer- I hear and see every neighbor hanging out in my cul-de-sac- and all their kids. When I see people- I usually grab my cup of coffee and run out there to hang out. When I was a stay-at-home mom that was my favorite thing to do. I miss that a lot. Speaking of coffee- maybe it is time for me to put a pot on and invite a neighbor over.
Amy
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It's kind of like the missionary's approach. We say that good missionaries don't go into another culture and just start preaching. They take a long time just being with the people; feeding them, clothing them, helping them get water and build houses, just loving them. And then when they are cared for and there is a relationship, it's easy to share Jesus with them. We forget that here people still need care and love and a relationship before they can accept Jesus. But it's like I posted last time and then he wrote it in this chapter. "I can trust God to do the 'converting' thing."
And a lot of times God just puts that in front of you. James and I were just getting to know a couple once and knew that they were living together and weren’t sure how to talk about it with them. Then they asked us out to dinner and we were worried how to bring it up. Then as soon as we sit down to dinner, they say "So do you think we should not be living together, should we get married?" We were stunned, God had it all planned in his timing. We were just available. I'm sure everyone has a story like this. I just like to remember it, and remember that God is working in their hearts; we just need to be available for the relationship in caring and loving.
I think that has been an issue of me and traditional church lately, is it all sounds good, but where's the love?
"Where's the Love" I love that from my amazing wife!!!
Well this may be the first time I actually bring something up that I really want to disagree on but it come with the table on page 95. I just don't like how books like this one even though they say other things are not bad they seem to group everything else out there as bad or not doing it right. The table show (the right and wrong way) but I didn't like the focus of the attractional approach is counting confessions where as the focus of the incarnational approach is transformation. I get the point but I just don't want to group all church in saying all they do is count the people who stood up last month and feel good about themselves.
But I really liked how this chapter points to the fact that the gospel isn't just something we share but it is something we are and that when we are living life with people the gospel should present it self to people as we grow in relationship with them. But I didn't notice that he actually gives them a bible when they start asking him questions, but does he say read this part and then tell me tomorrow if you accepted Christ so I can mark that in my little book ahh ha just kidding.
I know I need to get more involved in some peoples lives and to a point be more intentional about giving myself and my family to being willing to be a part of the lives of those around us and not get too caught up in "the things we have to do and a lot of time "church" is that thing we have to do".
Does anybody want some beefstew?
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