This morning I did a 5.5km run in the city with a friend instead of going to church. Does it matter that I didn't go to God's house? I think not!! I don't think God would crae! More than that I think God would be proud of me for getting fit- for looking after his 'temple'. And for me, God's awesomeness was very pressent this morning. His beauty was reflected in the amazing morning, the river and the scenery. He was present in the people, who, may not have known him but are still His creations. He was present in me and I needed him this morning!!!!! I'm not going to give up every Sunday morning to go running- I don't really feel like I worshipped Him for all he is worth but all I am saying is that perhaps it really is OK to see Sunday as something other than 'go to church' day!
(and as an extra- 5.5km in 38 ish minutes- yeah for me!!!)
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Missed breakfast
I think too much! I really do...
(Someone really should have told me about daylight saving kicking in...I missed breakfast)
(Someone really should have told me about daylight saving kicking in...I missed breakfast)
What to do?
'...people discovering life together as the renewed people of God.'
That seems like a good place to start with what a church is supposed to look like. But what does that look like? Really it could look just like any church, as long as the relationships and the community come first, (before the programs, the politics and the buildings). The problem is, when you join a new church, how do you become part of the community, especially if you already have your own community away from the church. I suppose, if you really wanted, over time you could form relationships and integrate yourself into the community. Sometimes that works, other times it feels, the whole time, as if you have forced yourself on to people and that whilst they 'love you in Christ' there are no real relationships being built.
And anyway, do we really have to join a new church? In my case, I already have an amazing Christian community around me and we are definitely, 'discovering life together as the renewed people of God'. In fact, I am part of two of these groups, with whom we meet to pray, talk and eat once a week or so. Isn't that 'doing church'?
The problem for me comes when I start being future looking. The great command was:
'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you'
So theoretically, if I am doing my job right I should be bringing people to Christ. Once I have done that, they should become part of my community, (assuming I was in relationship with them before they came to know Christ), and therefore the small community I am in now will grow.
When anything grows, it begins to need structure, leadership and more space. At that point it begins to look like a tradition church again. Now, as I explained before, I don't mind being part of a traditional church if it is done the right way, but, somehow, for me, it is loosing its integrity and the whole reason that I choose not to go to church in the first place. Maybe I will be happy and in community, but what about these new people that come along, couldn't they feel exactly as I stated at the beginning of this post, ('...as if you have forced yourself on to people and that whilst they 'love you in Christ' there are no real relationships being built.')?
And just as a final paragraph, wouldn't it also be fair to assume that my friends and I, who were in the original group, would become the leaders/ elders/ pastors of a church like this, (because we were the ones with the vision)? I'm not sure I want that. I'm not sure my friends want that either. It's one thing to meet up as a small group of friends, quite another to run a church.
So I am back at the beginning, go along to a church full of people I don't know and force my way in?....mmm...
That seems like a good place to start with what a church is supposed to look like. But what does that look like? Really it could look just like any church, as long as the relationships and the community come first, (before the programs, the politics and the buildings). The problem is, when you join a new church, how do you become part of the community, especially if you already have your own community away from the church. I suppose, if you really wanted, over time you could form relationships and integrate yourself into the community. Sometimes that works, other times it feels, the whole time, as if you have forced yourself on to people and that whilst they 'love you in Christ' there are no real relationships being built.
And anyway, do we really have to join a new church? In my case, I already have an amazing Christian community around me and we are definitely, 'discovering life together as the renewed people of God'. In fact, I am part of two of these groups, with whom we meet to pray, talk and eat once a week or so. Isn't that 'doing church'?
The problem for me comes when I start being future looking. The great command was:
'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you'
So theoretically, if I am doing my job right I should be bringing people to Christ. Once I have done that, they should become part of my community, (assuming I was in relationship with them before they came to know Christ), and therefore the small community I am in now will grow.
When anything grows, it begins to need structure, leadership and more space. At that point it begins to look like a tradition church again. Now, as I explained before, I don't mind being part of a traditional church if it is done the right way, but, somehow, for me, it is loosing its integrity and the whole reason that I choose not to go to church in the first place. Maybe I will be happy and in community, but what about these new people that come along, couldn't they feel exactly as I stated at the beginning of this post, ('...as if you have forced yourself on to people and that whilst they 'love you in Christ' there are no real relationships being built.')?
And just as a final paragraph, wouldn't it also be fair to assume that my friends and I, who were in the original group, would become the leaders/ elders/ pastors of a church like this, (because we were the ones with the vision)? I'm not sure I want that. I'm not sure my friends want that either. It's one thing to meet up as a small group of friends, quite another to run a church.
So I am back at the beginning, go along to a church full of people I don't know and force my way in?....mmm...
Friday, October 3, 2008
And then I read this...
'This passage should be very familiar to anyone who's ever been a part of redefining church. Often it has been used a blueprint for the ‘ideal church’. The argument goes something like this: “Acts 2 is virgin church, unblemished by 2000 years of schism. It is church at its most zealous, most Spirit-filled, most connected and unified. If only church could be like it was during those times…” and so on. For the last 20 centuries the church has struggled to recapture the simplicity and synergy of this genesis.
But what if Luke never intended to set a standard for ideal church? He probably would shudder at the attempts made to reproduce this short account. So why do we continue to try? Why are we convinced that if only our churches could grasp the ‘principles’ outlined in Acts 2 all of our problems would be solved and we’d uncover some sort of ecclesial-utopia?...
But what if Luke never intended to set a standard for ideal church? He probably would shudder at the attempts made to reproduce this short account. So why do we continue to try? Why are we convinced that if only our churches could grasp the ‘principles’ outlined in Acts 2 all of our problems would be solved and we’d uncover some sort of ecclesial-utopia?...
Into this Ephesian and Gospel context (“take on an entirely new way of life - a God-fashioned life,”) the words of Acts 2 emerge in a completely different light. I want to suggest, to make an argument perhaps, that what was described in those few verses had nothing to do with a model for ideal church or much to do with church as we know it at all. Instead, I think Luke was reporting to his friend Theophilus how the Holy Spirit was teaching the first community of disciples a new way of life. He was not describing once-for-all activities for the institution of church, but speaking of people discovering life together as the renewed people of God.'
...and it makes me look at Acts again in a whole new light!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
The Early Church
the idea of church and what it is is blowing my mind! There just seems to be so many conflicting views out there about what church is supposed to look like, supposed to be for, supposed to achieve. So I have gone back to the bible, in particular, back to Acts. Not that it is helping that much at the moment though! THere just seems to be so little information there.
But what I have learnt so far:
1. The members of the Early Church were filled with the spirit
2. They were 'devoted' to one another and to learning more about God
3. They shared everything
4. They met everyday in the temple courts
5. They ate together in each others homes
6. They praised God
7. They enjoyed the favour of all the people (not sure what this one means!)
8. Their numbers grew daily
9. The apostle's performed signs and wonders
well that will do for now- something to chew on!
But what I have learnt so far:
1. The members of the Early Church were filled with the spirit
2. They were 'devoted' to one another and to learning more about God
3. They shared everything
4. They met everyday in the temple courts
5. They ate together in each others homes
6. They praised God
7. They enjoyed the favour of all the people (not sure what this one means!)
8. Their numbers grew daily
9. The apostle's performed signs and wonders
well that will do for now- something to chew on!
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