Phil Wyman has a post on church, and why some people hate it, John Smulo has listed why he loves it, another friend is struggling with decisions made by her church about opening and outreach over the Christmas period....
The word church has become synonymous with either an organisational structure of a physical location... people talk about what their Church does, how it is structured or about raising funds for the church roof/ carpet/ project.
Most of us know that this is not what church is about, and yet we cannot pull ourselves away from the terminology we have become so comfortable with....
... but the church is the people, gathered and dispersed we are interconnected by a common faith, the church is active in the community as we each go about our daily business, we do not cease to become a part of the church when we leave the building or meeting...
... I hear people within the church talk in them and us language, by doing this we create divisions and build walls between members, and leaders, between denominations... I too am guilty of having used them and us language...
As we seek a way forward through initiatives like Fresh Expressions and Emerging Church, there is a general consensus that we must re-imagine a new church for a new age.... but do we mean we need to re-invent the structures, are we talking about a wallpaper job of covering over the cracks?- Are we going to be braver than that- are we going to stop criticising and back-biting to rediscover the relational called out community that church should be?
If we do find ourselves in such a community will we fight to remain inclusive and open, a people who offer space for where questions to be heard and where answers are not easily rolled off the tongue?
Can we find our way back to Jesus command to love one another?
What is important here , traditions? love? buildings ? people?
Yes we need structure and organisation, we may even need buildings, but they should serve us not we them!
Now I know this post is not saying anything new or interesting but it comes from a heart cry to see the people of God return to being a mission minded passionate people whose passion for God, love for one another and desire to share the good news through action and proclamation tears down barriers of selfish arguments and agendas...
Yes it is a simplistic desire, and yes the way ahead is like a mine-field- and yes there is plenty to grapple with and discuss...
... but when we allow ourselves to be compelled by the love of Christ we might just be amazed what falls away, which of our precious doctrines are simply sacred cows...
... and I can only pray Lord start with me, anyone else want to pray that?
