imagining how the church can reorient around mission

‎"If your presence will not go with us, do not send us up from here." Ex 33:15

    Relationship. This is the word I keep coming back to the
more I learn about the true calling of the Church and the people of God.
Everything centers on the idea that to be a “city on a hill” we have to have
relationships with the people around us that will allow them to see what the
family of God looks like and what being a dedicated disciple of Christ really
means. And, yes, I love the idea of “doing life” with fellow Christians and
living in a way that shows what the gospel is about.

    BUT, I am terrified
at the idea of relational. I’m not kidding; I am not good at first impressions, holding coherent conversations, making
small talk, meeting new people, etc. Don’t get me wrong, God has given me a
heart for people and I love being around those whom I already know, but for
some reason God also made me a person that would rather stay in a corner than
engage others. So when I think about starting conversations with strangers and
putting myself out there with other Christians, it scares me. read more

Jessica

    Why do we have different church denominations? I mean, I understand how they came into existence and the reasons behind it, but why?

    I think that having different church styles is extremely important because it can be hard to meet the vast variety of needs amongst us as individuals. We are strengthened when we come together with our differences. However, saying that, I think the church has been splintered rather than strengthened by its denominations. Instead of drawing closer together under one banner, Christ Jesus, we've separated off into factions, each claiming its own ways and rights. If we follow Christ, and are His, why do we claim alegiance to any other spiritual background? Why do we place our identity in anything other than Him? read more

   Today in class we talked a bit
about social justice for the starving and extorted and powerless, talking
through Nehemiah 5 and the situation there. Quick summary: the Israelites are
extorting their own countrymen, and these countrymen complain to Nehemiah that
they no longer have money for food and so are forced into mortgage and slavery.
Nehemiah rebukes the nobles and officials, asks them to throw out their usurious
ways, and then sets the example by feeding his fellow men and not taking the
taxes and food he is due as the governor.

    There’s
the example the bible sets—feed the hungry, redeem the enslaved, set a good
example for everyone. This picture I pulled off a friend’s facebook page
(someone I would consider a deep and sincere lover of the Lord) says something
entirely different. If we feed the hungry, they’ll become dependent on us. I
know this picture is only meant to be sort of funny, but it sends a powerful
message that the Christians liking and reblogging can’t really mean, and yet we
espouse all the time. I hear it from my parents, my home church, peers at
Whitworth. We believe that everyone is offered the same opportunities and those
who are poor simply didn’t take advantage of those—so it’s their fault they’re
starving, suffering, powerless. It’s a completely American attitude, and yet
we’ve pulled it in and started expressing it as part of our political views
despite the way it contradicts everything our Bible teaches us. read more

    “The coffee was bad, the chairs uncomfortable, and the music
wasn’t really my taste. Plus it didn’t really have a cool vibe. I don’t think
I’ll go back.” Initially, one would have thought that my friend was talking
about the new coffee shop that had just opened down the street. Unfortunately
she wasn’t though, this was her response to me when I asked if she liked the
new church she had attended the previous Sunday. “I mean the message was good,
it just wasn’t my thing.”

    I think few of us would like to actually admit it, but it often feels
that looking for a church frighteningly correlates with the way we would look
for a new favorite coffee shop. I think this is especially true for the arising
younger generation of today. The marks of a “true church” seem to resemble a coffee
bar, worship pastor in skinny jeans and toms shoes, abstract art on the wall,
cool typography in the bulletin, and a well-dressed congregation. Where is the
power of the gospel in that? The importance of doctrine, community, ministries,
and service can come second to that of the “vibe” of the church. This focus on
being relevant, cool, and hip is not inherently bad or evil, I think, but unfortunately
it can dangerously skew the priorities of a church, it’s members, and those
seeking to find a place in it. It can turn the church into a chill environment
where Christians go to hang out, meet cool people, and sit for a few hours.
This selfish, consumerist institution has little resemblance to the Church
Christ spoke of. The church he recounted was one of hope, kingdom priorities,
selfless love, power, and incarnational living. “Church is God’s people
intentionally committing to die together so that other’s can find the kingdom”
(Halter, Smay). The church is not a Coffee Shop. 

    Karl Barth’s theological address, God
In Action, speaks of the church, “…the constitution and preservation of the
Church rests in this, that man hears God. This is what makes it truly great and
truly little.” Is this news to you? Perhaps not at first, however it is
bizarre when we really think about it. Essentially, Barth is saying that two
random people on the other side of the globe could be the church! Two un-ordained people congregated with
listening ears and obedient hearts living out God’s mission.

    As I grew up, countless times I failed
to listen to my parents, just like everyone else. I found myself joining a
selfish mission. This struggle may be the same for the Church today—sheep
following voices other than their Good Shepherd’s. After all, there are many
voices to hear. Where do we begin? read more

    I’m not sure how to handle
forgiveness. The culture tells me I’m entitled to my grudges, my animosity, my
lifelong hate against someone who wronged me. My friends tell me that I
shouldn’t allow that one person back into my life—much less forgive them. That
it’s idiotic for us to be close friends after the devastating breakup. That the
walls I build are justified.  

    Christ and his kingdom step in and call me quite clearly,
against the expectations of the world, to tell an alternate story. To forgive
seventy times seven, yes, but also to be perfect as my Father is perfect. And
yes, that’s great, and yes, I tell myself that I have forgiven and so fulfilled
the letter of the law but I still hold a seed of hatred in my heart. I beg off
forgiving completely, because they hurt me, they used me, whatever the
situation may be, I’m completely and undeniably justified. read more

 
    I venture to say, based on observations as far as I am able
to see, more people are calling themselves Christians while more Christians are
denying the title for all its negative connotations. Have you heard anyone
claim their faith as “believer” or “follower of Christ” or “Jesus lover”?
That’s dandy, and true. But the term “Christian” has been taken away from us,
much as the symbol of the rainbow has. As a young person learning that I am in
the midst of much needed revelation and change for “the church,” I fear the
negativity toward the church. I fear for non-believers because it will keep
them away, and for believers because of unforgiveness and bitterness toward
those who have been getting it wrong. I fear the anger I’ve seen. I fear more
splitting, more division dangerously close at hand within the whole Christian
body. I pray it doesn’t happen that leaders who are making right changes due to
convictions about how the church has been failing begin to find new titles. I
don’t want to see a new movement rise up again only to lose itself in its
mission once more. I want to see the church be taken back; for the term
Christian to be taken back.  To bring
them back to mean the body of Christ and Christ-like. The only way to know
those meanings is through Christ himself and we find him in the Word, our
Bibles, and in prayer. I think this means we must look at the broken church
with a heart of forgiveness. Jesus saw the broken and flawed and he forgave
them, then said, “now sin no more.” Forgiveness and correction. Jesus was, is, for the church, his bride, so I want
to be, too. Jesus’ heart probably breaks for her, I want mine to, too. Let us
lift the church back up to what it should be, not break it down.

   “And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything
they had… they worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the
Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity- all while
praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord
added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” Acts 2.44, 46-47

You may have noticed that the last two blogs were
by guests. I teach a course at Whitworth University entitled, "The
Missional Church," actually for about 5 years now. Throughout January this site will be a landing
place for the thoughts of my students to share their idea about:

• The Church
• Mission
• Culture
• And probably a variety of other thoughtful yet,
  angsty ideas.

I hope you enjoy reading their fresh and undoubtedly
provocative thoughts.