I haven’t been very consistent this year have I.  Oh well, what can you do?

I never thought that just working things out could be so difficult.  I also think I have hurt some people, and of course, that was never my intent.  But, it does leave me in a dilemma.  Where do I go from here?  Do I plunge into the mission of bringing Christ to the ordinary world?  Or, do I try to help those institutionalized by their typical church experience get sight of the promised land?  I guess you would have had to spend some time with me to understand that perspective.

I don’t really like the idea of leaving people behind.  I think I would prefer the arguments and the misunderstanding.  So where to begin?

These are the things that I think are truly important to the Ekklesia (the church).  Jesus Christ, I know it seems obvious but I am completely convinced that He is absent from the vast majority of our lives.  A Messianic worldview, no more of this spiritual/secular garbage.  An Ordinary Christian living, no more manipulative evangelism but true loving service and concern for people. Discipleship, truly following after Christ versus simple conversions.  (My humble opinion is that Conversion is of God and cannot be forced by anyone, however anyone can become Christ’s disciple.) Prayer versus Planning.  A Missional purpose versus hiding and hoping they will come. A heart for contribution versus consumption.  And, flat leadership (APEPT, for those who know what I am talking about) based on influence versus Hierarchy, boards, and CEO’s. This is the messy version of my thoughts by the way, I will alliterate later.

So here is my question, and maybe if someone were to read this they could help.  Is it necessary to use an attractional approach to expose other believers to these practices?  What I am asking is this, is the only way to help other believers come to terms with these practices to start some kind of meeting or gathering?  I ask because most that I talk to just cannot see church as anything aside from gathering in a large passive way and listening to someone else talk or watching someone else serve God. 

I suppose I should write more, but maybe this is enough for now.  If you read this please comment and pray, will you.

Colossians 3:10-11 NLT Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

The Wilderness (Part 2)

What is the Problem?  Of course, I can only offer my opinions, so here are a few of them.

Problem #1 “Ya’ll Come.”

 “If people would just come to church…”  How many times have we heard or stated this lament?  What is our Biblical premise for such a statement – the parable of the great feast? Was “church” the point of the parable?  Why do we see our “worship services” as the primary tool by which the grace of God is dispensed?  Are we assuming that we are at the center of the world’s spiritual need?  Are we also assuming that when it comes to Jesus Christ that we hold some kind of monopoly?  If “normal” people (sometimes we call them lost) want to learn about Jesus Christ, are we the first place they turn.  “The Passion of Christ” was the eleventh largest grossing film in the history of film.  How much did your church grow because of it?  Chances are none at all.  Why? Let’s face it normal people are curious about Jesus. However, they are not interested in the established church’s opinion of Him.  Now you can blame that on the state of the world.  (God forbid that a lost world should act lost.)  Or, you can accept that as an indictment against us and respond appropriately.  (Maybe, if we acted a little more like Him.) We are not the center of spiritual thought anymore.  We are now, as we always should have been, missionaries attempting to invade a hostile culture.  Jesus issued the invitation to come. That invitation was to Him.  His orders to us were to go, teach, and baptize.  I also believe the actual work of building the church, He claimed as His own. What implications does that idea have upon us who have tried so hard to build His church for Him?As missionaries, it is time we got about our missional business.  It is time we started infecting the world with the message of Christ.  It is time we began to challenge common thought with the person of Christ.  And, it is time we began to sacrifice all for the Kingdom of Christ.  Read the rest of this entry »