I have always been uncomfortable with the term "doing church." Although I guess we kind of get what it means, I can't get my mind around how you can "DO" something that is already supposed to be a LIVING ORGANISM. Shouldn't the living, breathing, led-by-the-Holy Spirit organism be the one doing the doing??? I would like to focus on BEING the church that Jesus has called us to be, both in the midst of our daily context, and whenever we are together corporately.
Once again, a great quote from p. 30 sums this tension up for me nicely:
As I once heard, "Doing church differently is like rearranging chairs on the Titanic." We must realize that slight tweaks, new music, creative lighting, wearing hola shirts, shorts, and flip-flops won't make doing church more attractive. Church must not be the goal of the gospel anymore. Church should not be the focus of our efforts or the banner we hold up to explain what we're about. Church should be what ends up happening as a natural response to people wanting to follow us, be with us, and be like us as we are following the way of Christ (emphases and gratuitous color changes mine).
I was going to stop there, but allow me one more little bit. It still blows me away that people still try to play the "Are you tired of doing church the same old way? Well try something NEW! Come to us!" This approach, is...well..TIRED! In fact, go to any pastor's conference or seminar, and I guar-an-freaking-tee you that you will hardly see a suit and tie on ANYBODY (Especially anywhere on the west coast). The new pastoral garb is jeans, and a long-sleeved tucked-out shirt with the sleeves rolled up (still lot's of bad haircuts, however!). You look like a tool dressed in anything other than "casual" anymore.
My point is "doing church differently" ISN'T "doing church differently" anymore. There is nothing new under the sun. So let's get over ourselves (I'm talking to myself now) and concentrate on being the Bride of Christ who has called us to live among and be ambassadors to the ones Jesus died and rose for. Let's make how we "do church" fit the way God made us, creating an environment for people to be connected to Jesus and they get connected to His people.
Jason
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4 comments:
ooooh I am first on this one, guess I better not screw it up. One good quote as on page 30 "church should be what ends up happening as a natural response to people wanting to follow us...". I want to be a Christian, I want to be LIKE CHRIST, I want people to look at me and see CHRIST and I want people to know they are loved and accepted as who they are and where they are.
I do know the part where he says some of us want to keep the saints safe by keeping the enemy out. With kids it is always hard cause you want them to be somewhere that is safe, but you also want them to be somewhere they can minister as well.
I know the writter in the book isn't directly saying this but sometimes it is what is implied, but on page 32 where the pastor that became his mentor began to think that what he had done at the other church really made that much of a difference. I want to scream YES IT DID, it made huge difference, you where at a huge church where people accepting christ, being discipled and being loved. I just don't want to discredit what we have done, what others have done or what they are doing. We are all hopefully stiving for the same goal and that is to go AND make disiples.
Well that is it for me for now, hope to see you all soon!!
It takes all types to reach all types. I was thinking the same thing that James wrote (and we hadn't even talked about it!) That whatever form of ministry people are in or were in God is still moving through them. If that's paid or volunteer. Nothing is going to work reaching the lost if we are all exactly the same way. That is why we are all different to reach different people and that is why there are different churches.
Some one recently advised me when I was talking about this church to not do something just to do it "better" than someone else. I stopped and checked my heart (and I admit I was offended when they said it- but I got over it) But I thought I'm really not trying to do something better, I'm trying to do something different to reach the people who are not living for Christ. Who are not at church right now, I have no goal to teach the people that are happy at church right now to change.
That makes me think of something else. I passionately want to work WITH people in church. Not to have people come to a meeting "get fed" and go home. And also not to have people volunteer so many hours a month or year and feel they did their part. But that everyone is active in caring for everyone else. That's part of pastoral burn out isn't it, when you come as a pastor and give 100% of yourself and get very little back. I want to see us being a family where we are all working with and for each other. I want to learn from others as much as I teach. I like the quote from his friend “The longer I go, the less I know.” That’s how I feel!
I want to just say yes to what Monica said about working together. I don't want to do all the work or one family do all the work I want us all to share each others burdens, but I know this is not easy cause the biggest thing that needs is communication and I know I do and it seems like most really suck at communication.
All in all I just want to work well as a church, not just a team but just as Monica said I want to work, grow, dig in the mud, love each other... as a church. I was talking to a friend of mine this morning that a service could be everyone showing up looking at a scripture and discussing it and going home. What the "" did I just say no worship, no pastor standing at a pulpit, no announcement, no games... it is just crazy the when I (you) think CHURCH it is 1/2 hour worship, announcements, sermon, closing prayer and maybe a little fellowship and off you go. A church service could also be going out and serving the homeless, giving out water on a hot day for a walk for life or something, cleaning up someones yard. A CHURCH service doesn't always have to be what has been inbred into us. Just another little post from me. Later!
"Church should be what ends up happening as a natural response to people wanting to follow us, be with us, and be like us as we are following the way of Christ." (page30)
Jesus was an infectious person. He could hardly find time to be by himself without people following him.
I have friends that have those kind of personalities. They are the ones that are the life of the party. They are in the center of the crowd telling stories and jokes while everyone is laughing.
Humor is great- but I don't think we have to be the life of the party just to get people to come to our church (although if you are that fun you're invited to my next party).
What is infectious? My guess would be found in being like Christ. It is loving people without any strings attached. It is love - acceptance - and forgiveness that will make the church less a chore and the people will not just be tolerated but have a valuable message to be heard. The real gritty kind of love Jesus has for human-kind is what is infectious to each of us.
Amy
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