This chapter reminded me of a value we will be talking a lot about in the upcoming weeks and months. Hugh describbed the early church as "lean," that is, they didn't carry a lot of baggage with them (such as buildings, programs, paid staff, etc). None of these are inherently bad, and may even prove helpful, IF they drive you towards mission. However, the church in America has ben way too focused on all this stuff in the name of "church growth." This has resulted in the consumer-mentality that we war against today.
Consequently, one of the ways we will stay on MISSION in Vancouver is to be as lean, mobile, and agile as possible (along with any other cool words that end with "ile" you can think of. Hostile? Fragile?). This means that the vast majority of our resources (financial, time, etc) will be spent on TANGIBLE, Kingdom ministry at both local and global levels. Stuff that connects people to Jesus, and not to church programs or attendance.
As Hugh says: "To move forward, we can't keep everything we've always had...What used to provide us comfort may now only take up space or be a hindrance to getting where we need to go" (pg. 24).
WE ARE AT "ZERO." Zero assumptions, zero pre-conceived notions. Everyone gets a clean slate for Jesus to work something new in us individually and corporately.
What are some things you/we need to "leave behind" from your previous experiences?
Jason
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4 comments:
I'm trying to decide if I fall under the "Milo" or the "Mitten" category...hmmm...I know in the past, I liked the idea of change, but not the actuality of it. I liked the line on page 28. You can't necessarily plan for the future because the future is changing. I want to be open to the changes that God wants to make and maybe it's just moving back to Vancouver and the fact that EVERYTHING in life is changing for us right now, but I feel so much more open to changes than in the past. I think the biggest thing is that I really want to be used by God. I know that it won't be easy, but change never is!
Paulette
Ok, did anyone see that little video by JIBJAB "Time for some campainin'" where they make fun of Barak Obama for saying the word change so many times? Ya, we hear you saying change, but what kind of change are you talking about?
That's how I feel about church right now. Yes it's time for change, but what does it really look like? And will it really be a change?
I'm ready for change, but you will all have to help me when I'm the stinky cat throwing a hissy fit because I don't know what's up ahead.
~ Monica
Ok I have to say that the cat poop flying all over the uhaul was a hilarious picture in my head.
I will just say one thing real quick on this chapter. I feel like the israelites a lot in my life where I just return to the same garbage and take advantage of the blessings God has given me. But I also don't want to be the Israelites (especially after seeing the red sea part), that just want to go back to eygpt and be slaves again. I want to see our world saved and to me right now our world is vancouver, our missions field is the couve and it needs Christ and I don't want to turn away ever from what God has called me to and that is love Him and love His people.
And also can anyone else not stand these word verifications, I get them wrong half the time cause the letters are totally freaked out.
"Our hope is that you'll get back in the truck and keep driving, but drive wisely." (page 28)
Hugh is hilarious as he describes his cat's "mess" in the truck. My first thought was how glad I was to not be there!
But really- what he's getting at is that being the church during this seismic change in our culture will get down right messy at times. We will constantly have the choice to keep moving forward or give up. At times is just might stinky. Simply put- get back in the truck- just do it wisely.
Amy
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