Check out this Blog entry: here

It is by my professor, David Fitch, who is also a church-planter/pastor.  He wrestles with some of the tensions and challenges of leading a missional church community.   I think David has some very honest and profound thoughts that we ought to be wrestling with.

Let me know what you think.

“autonomy” comes from 2 words: “auto” which means “self” and “nomous” with means “law”.

Therefore, to be autonomous literally means to be “self governing”. No matter one’s background of beliefs, I don’t think many would argue that we (in the Western world) live in an “autonomous culture”. I am sitting in a coffee shop right now that offers me literally thousands of choices. I live in a country that ensures my individual rights and freedoms. I can choose where I live, how I live, what I do, what I don’t do, where to worship, what to worship, if I worship. This list of choices can easily get very long. With the exceptions of a few social rules and limitations, I am completely autonomous. Since birth (in America) I have been raised, shaped, and trained in the ways of autonomy. Even my parents, with their passionate love and desire to be very involved in my life (which I also desire), tame their desire due to me becoming an adult with a “life of my own”.

Quite frankly, autonomy scares me because of the ways in which it threatens, or maybe kills, or at least hurts, community. And community, as far as I can discern, is at the heart of God’s desire for His creation, His new-creation, the church.

This begs the question, does the church take community seriously enough? Think about. What is the CULTURE of our churches? Is it a culture of deep community- rich in fellowship, meal sharing, submission, service, friendship, love, shared time, common mission, and joy-filled relationships? Or is (your) church a culture tamed by the narrative of autonomy? – do we keep a safe distance, focus on events and services, hesitate to make claims on others’ (notice the possesive nature of “others’ “) time, choices, lifestyle, etc.

Personally, I raise these questions because I am learning more and more that I NEED community (how’s that for an autonomous statement). Let’s put it this way: if I am (if we are) going to live into our part in God’s Story, we don’t stand much of a chance without community. If we are going to love, sacrifice, serve, live missionally, partake in the life of God, etc… we are going to need each other. Frankly, a bunch of autonomous individuals that gather on Sunday mornings is not sufficient for creating and sustaining such a life. I need to be deeply imbedded in a COMMUNITY of people who share in this way of life (missional, communal, etc.). Otherwise, we will be lost to the larger “community”- a community of autonomous individuals who dabble in needs and desires of sprituality, just as much as they do materialism.

Merry Christmas!!!

Discontent with being disconnected.   God incarnated our world.

Discontent with being disconnected.  God incarnates our world.

It has been a question of mine for many years: Can a person “sign-up” for personal salvation without also committing to the salvation of the world?

This week I finished up McLaren’s “Everything Must Change” and this question has resurfaced in my mind. In the face of a world at war, poverty, billions without knowing God’s love, injustice, materialism, pollution, and general “hell”- the salvation of Jesus could not be more urgent or relevant (not that it ever wan not). Where most of my wrestling and frustration abide, is in the millions of individuals who have accepted, or “signed-up, for personal salvation, yet have not commmtied themselves to God’s saving work in the world. How is this possible?

What is conversion? Is conversion limited to belief? What about the conversion of trust? commitments? work? worldview? ways of living? spending? consuming? socializing?

Jesus proclaims that he is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life”. We are good at understanding and proclaiming Jesus as the Truth, but what about Jesus as “the Way”. Is there not salvation in the Way of Jesus?

Seed of love, seed of light

Seed of hope that makes things right

Small but real, salvation’s seed

Of redemption and peace for a world in need

Believe, believe, repent and believe

Hellish world, it’s yours to receive

This child, this God, planted in your night

Maybe small and dim, but in the darkness bright

See that salvation’s seed is small

But can be planted in us all

Seed of love and seed of light

Grow in us til there is no night.