What a long, strange day it's been.
Today was a very interesting day. It began with a conflict with a brother in Christ. He had concerns about what I’m doing with exploring ekklesia and questioned my motives and intentions towards the church we came out of. That hit me like a punch in the gut and sent me to prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to search my heart. The cool part is that this brother and I dialoged through the issues and were able to resolve them together. I came to understand why he had the concerns he did and he came to understand that my motives and intentions are not destructive and that I share the same concerns. After we had worked through the conflict, as I was praying, the Holy Spirit led me to the following scripture:
“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.”
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit whose who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” - Eph 4:25-32
What then followed was that throughout the day I received a series of very encouraging and confirming emails and phone calls. I’m convinced that we’re on the right track and are, in fact, joining into something that God is doing right now all over the earth.
The icing on the cake was when I went to the Christian bookstore to pick up a book I’d ordered and on a whim grabbed a copy of “Worship Leader” magazine (the Sept/Oct issue). I was happily surprised when I got it home and opened it up to an article entitled, “Worship Comes Home – The Power of Local Theology” by Larry Gerando. I would’ve provided a link to the article, but it’s not posted on Worship Leader’s website. Instead, here’s a few excerpts:
“The emergence of small, decentralized and fiercely independent bodies of believers (many of which will not even agree to call themselves “churches”) is, rather, the leading edge of a new Christian network, closely resembling the Internet, where a thriving hive of local cells, with distinct cultural, social and economic identities, create a connectivity that is as fluid as it is far reaching.”
“The message is clear: Small is better. Less is more. Affinity trumps assimilation.”
“The individuals at the forefront of this movement are suspicious of celebrity spirituality. They are searching for rootedness and connection. They don’t learn to worship by watching someone on a stage. They gather around a meal table and everyone participates in all aspects…”
“On several occasions, history has provided the needed critical mass to thrust the church out of its box and become the force in culture and society that God intended it to be. The winds of change demand we look hard at our forms and face the reality that a different church must provide a different response to a post-modern age. It is time for a reformation of how we actually ‘do’ church.”
“One of the most important aspects of these small churches is that they are created as reproducible units. They organize and develop spontaneously because they respond directly to local conditions. They have an aversion to central control and champion empowerment…”
“The day of the McDonald franchise church is drawing to a close.”
The back page of the same magazine has a commentary by Brian McLaren entitled “C”hurch versus “c”hurch. Here are a few quotes from it:
“Many of the youngest and most innovative church planters I meet are turning from the dominant models of mega-churches, and are seeking something more down-to-earth, organic, communal, missional.”
“’Community’ can easily become a slogan for people who want it commodified and delivered as a product. But more and more church planters are seeking to pay the price (a high price) for authentic community – living together in group homes or clustering in neighborhoods for frequent and ‘real’ contact between Sundays, designing their worship spaces like cafés or giant living rooms to enhance conversation, or foregoing public spaces altogether by meeting in homes.”
This is not what I expected to read in “Worship Leader” magazine!
I’m astounded by the sovereignty of God and by His patience and care. I began the day feeling isolated and misunderstood and ended the day feeling like I’m in the palm of His hand and convinced that we’re moving right into the heart of what God is doing in the church and world today. I'm excited!
“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.”
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit whose who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” - Eph 4:25-32
What then followed was that throughout the day I received a series of very encouraging and confirming emails and phone calls. I’m convinced that we’re on the right track and are, in fact, joining into something that God is doing right now all over the earth.
The icing on the cake was when I went to the Christian bookstore to pick up a book I’d ordered and on a whim grabbed a copy of “Worship Leader” magazine (the Sept/Oct issue). I was happily surprised when I got it home and opened it up to an article entitled, “Worship Comes Home – The Power of Local Theology” by Larry Gerando. I would’ve provided a link to the article, but it’s not posted on Worship Leader’s website. Instead, here’s a few excerpts:
“The emergence of small, decentralized and fiercely independent bodies of believers (many of which will not even agree to call themselves “churches”) is, rather, the leading edge of a new Christian network, closely resembling the Internet, where a thriving hive of local cells, with distinct cultural, social and economic identities, create a connectivity that is as fluid as it is far reaching.”
“The message is clear: Small is better. Less is more. Affinity trumps assimilation.”
“The individuals at the forefront of this movement are suspicious of celebrity spirituality. They are searching for rootedness and connection. They don’t learn to worship by watching someone on a stage. They gather around a meal table and everyone participates in all aspects…”
“On several occasions, history has provided the needed critical mass to thrust the church out of its box and become the force in culture and society that God intended it to be. The winds of change demand we look hard at our forms and face the reality that a different church must provide a different response to a post-modern age. It is time for a reformation of how we actually ‘do’ church.”
“One of the most important aspects of these small churches is that they are created as reproducible units. They organize and develop spontaneously because they respond directly to local conditions. They have an aversion to central control and champion empowerment…”
“The day of the McDonald franchise church is drawing to a close.”
The back page of the same magazine has a commentary by Brian McLaren entitled “C”hurch versus “c”hurch. Here are a few quotes from it:
“Many of the youngest and most innovative church planters I meet are turning from the dominant models of mega-churches, and are seeking something more down-to-earth, organic, communal, missional.”
“’Community’ can easily become a slogan for people who want it commodified and delivered as a product. But more and more church planters are seeking to pay the price (a high price) for authentic community – living together in group homes or clustering in neighborhoods for frequent and ‘real’ contact between Sundays, designing their worship spaces like cafés or giant living rooms to enhance conversation, or foregoing public spaces altogether by meeting in homes.”
This is not what I expected to read in “Worship Leader” magazine!
I’m astounded by the sovereignty of God and by His patience and care. I began the day feeling isolated and misunderstood and ended the day feeling like I’m in the palm of His hand and convinced that we’re moving right into the heart of what God is doing in the church and world today. I'm excited!
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