About Concerns
I feel the need to be crystal clear about some of my thoughts/feelings/concerns I have made public in the context of this "blogworld". Again, the purpose behind "blogging" was and still is to invite dialogue about real issues that are going on in our lives , other people's lives, our church, the universal church, our society, and the world around us. I truly do realize that I am no great authority on any of these subjects. I would submit to you that truly I know very little. Even when it comes to God I am convinced I know more of what he's not than what he actually is.
Apostle Paul said,
"What I want to do, I don't do, but what I don't want to do, this I keep on doing".
These words are painfully true in my life, and in more than one arena. This blog is a supreme example of this, and I have found that I am communicating some thoughts and ideas that was not my intention at all to communicate. The very things I do want to communicate, it seems that I am not. I cannot express how much this frustrates me.
I know that many of you are confused/frustrated with some comments I have made regarding a great many things. For the record, this is truly good news, because I need to be reminded constantly that I don't know much of anything. The Lord is teaching me to truly listen and value what others have to say, especially people who disagree or are coming from a different point of view. That said, lets cut to the chase.
In evaluating my own statements about church they do appear to be critical and unkind on the surface. I know my my words don't resonate with everyone. Some probably violently disagree with me. I also noticed that I only mentioned the things I applaud about the catholic church. This is all for several reasons.
First off, its really hard to talk bad about a denomination when you have friends and family who are devout Catholics like I do. Secondly, I agree completely with Zinzendorf when he said to call one another anything but "Brother" or "Sister" causes nothing but division. I'm tired of the titles and all the negativity towards brothers and sisters of different denominations. Do I agree with everything in their theology....No, but is that the most important thing? I have zero conviction that my theology should take priority over love. If you know how to love others, and if we learn how to love each other, than I would submit that we know more about the heart of God than most theologians. Why not encourage our brothers and sisters in what they have going for them? We have a great deal to learn from our brothers and sisters in the catholic faith. They respect and honor Mary, they pracitice discipline, they sacrifice, submit, practice reverance, practice solitude, pilgrimage,etc. Anyone every heard of Mother Theresa? She's a sister we all could learn a great deal from. Why not seek to bring unity with them? Why not try to learn from them? I think we all need to rethink what unity in the body truly means.
About Christianity in America...there is something terribly off, even in the bible belt's buckle Lyncburg,VA. Luckily, I'm not alone with these thoughts; Praise the Lord. I heard just last night a great sermon that said a great many things, but what stuck out to me most was...
" We (the American church) need to repent of the faith we haved created."
The preacher made this comment after seeing two articles in a paper. One said that a church had spent 23 million dollars on their new building. The other which was right next to it said that the church had raised $5,000 dollars to send to the Sudan. Truly,
"We need to repent of the faith we have created!"
I was in Towson, Maryland with many people this past week attending the Eiffel Fellowship Prayer Gathering. Eiffel by the way is a town in Germany. I met many believers from all walks of life and different countries....but the man I want to point out is George Miley. George with his wife Hannah started Antioch Network. For more info check out the website at www.antiochnetwork.orgetwork.org/about.htm.
He wrote a book called "Loving the Church...Blessing the Nations", and lets just say its quality. I do not know George well personally, but what I do know I really like. From what I observed of him, and from the people I asked, George is a very humble man. Watching, listening, and conversing with him made me think this is what talking to Jesus must have been like. You just feel compelled to be around him. The man has done a lot for the kingdom of God and its advancement, and after we had a time of worship and prayer we transitioned into a time of teaching when George with sadness and tears in his eyes said...
"The church in America is suffering from a crippling superficiality..."
Followed with an immediate , "... and I am a part of that".
My heart resonates with this statement, and filled my heart with conviction and strangely... peace. I have often felt alone with this observation, and I'm dumbfounded that others don't notice, or could care less it seems. I admit that I am filled with anger and have not tried at all to hide my disappointment with the church of America. My anger remains. It simply has started a fire within me that I believe will only be quenched once there is redemption in the Body.
The church is in crisis!
I think all would agree with me that the "twenty-somethings" (and a lot more) are not in the church on Sunday morning, nor do they feel the need to be. They are the generation that is falling through the cracks, and being wounded by our superficiality. A generation I might add that will be having kids soon. Do you think they will be raised in the church? Anyone think they will be the ones to flood our church buildings? Is there any hope to reach them?
The house-church/celtic model is one idea that seems to be on the minds of many as the most effective way to reach this generation. I have been having "church" in this way myself, and never in my life have I experienced God and community of this quality. Brian Mclaren, in his book "A New Kind of Christian", expounds on this a great deal better than I could.
It was recently said in reference to me that this blog has been like the "blind leading the blind". I thought about this for a long time, and determined that I agree. As long as we admit that we are all blind. It got me thinking that I would rather be a blindman who hears the Spirit and responds with obedience, than to have sight at all.
I truly do see where everyone's concern is coming from. I honestly do. It looks like I left the "church" (absurd to think one could actually do this.) Looks like I"m breaking fellowship. Looks like I'm encouraging others to do the same. It's simply not true.
My love for the Christ's church has increased exponentially in this last year, so much so that I'm not sure I ever loved the church before. I am experiencing true fellowship to a degree many wish they had. I am dismayed to think this has all come into question.
I sorta feel like I'm at a party. I'm the only one not drinking at the party. Everyone is telling me to drink. I say no. By not doing it, however, I'm communicating that I think drinking is wrong. When I really just do not want to drink anything. So the people respond more forcefully to drink, because then if I do it, they will feel better about themselves and drinking in front of me.
I in the last month or so have been meeting, talking, praying with and for pastors from Lynchburg. Specifically, about a new prayer initiative for this year, because of my love for the church, and my desire to see them involved in the mission God has for all of us.
What is truly humorous to me is that God has led me to do this "new thing" right? Part of this new thing for me the Lord made it clear to me that I should join staff with a mission organization called Antioch Network. To be staff you need to raise support,especially if you value things like eating, insurance, etc. No big deal right? Well guess what friends, my house church is small. My team is small. To raise support your best bet is to attend and be a member of a big church, and to raise individually. Some church's will fork out 30-40-50% of your cost. Pretty appealing right. Well, once again, the Lord seems to get a kick out of convicting me about things that are the christian sub-culture norm.
Well, to make a long discussion short, I simply refuse to be a member anywhere for this reason. In fact, it is my prayer and hope to change the way support raising is done (which may be my life's work). I am not saying that the way it is done now is sinful/wrong. What I am saying is that there must be a better way than exists right now, and that its worth pursuing, and that I want to do it that way.
To get back on track, this new thing to which I refer is about missional living in the kingdom of God. This is simply my purpose on this earth. To make disciples who will reign in the kingdom. Praise the Lord that I am surrounded by people with a similar passion. They have an apostolic outlook, and boy do they have potential. They are far more dangerous to the enemy than they even realize.
Sorry so long, I hope that makes clear some things that might have been confusing. My question is this, what are we going to do church? How will we respond? May I encourage you all to spend more time with Jesus. Do what he tells you to do with the full knowledge that He is worthy of all our trust. Amen?
"Here I stand, I can do no other, God help me"-Luther
Apostle Paul said,
"What I want to do, I don't do, but what I don't want to do, this I keep on doing".
These words are painfully true in my life, and in more than one arena. This blog is a supreme example of this, and I have found that I am communicating some thoughts and ideas that was not my intention at all to communicate. The very things I do want to communicate, it seems that I am not. I cannot express how much this frustrates me.
I know that many of you are confused/frustrated with some comments I have made regarding a great many things. For the record, this is truly good news, because I need to be reminded constantly that I don't know much of anything. The Lord is teaching me to truly listen and value what others have to say, especially people who disagree or are coming from a different point of view. That said, lets cut to the chase.
In evaluating my own statements about church they do appear to be critical and unkind on the surface. I know my my words don't resonate with everyone. Some probably violently disagree with me. I also noticed that I only mentioned the things I applaud about the catholic church. This is all for several reasons.
First off, its really hard to talk bad about a denomination when you have friends and family who are devout Catholics like I do. Secondly, I agree completely with Zinzendorf when he said to call one another anything but "Brother" or "Sister" causes nothing but division. I'm tired of the titles and all the negativity towards brothers and sisters of different denominations. Do I agree with everything in their theology....No, but is that the most important thing? I have zero conviction that my theology should take priority over love. If you know how to love others, and if we learn how to love each other, than I would submit that we know more about the heart of God than most theologians. Why not encourage our brothers and sisters in what they have going for them? We have a great deal to learn from our brothers and sisters in the catholic faith. They respect and honor Mary, they pracitice discipline, they sacrifice, submit, practice reverance, practice solitude, pilgrimage,etc. Anyone every heard of Mother Theresa? She's a sister we all could learn a great deal from. Why not seek to bring unity with them? Why not try to learn from them? I think we all need to rethink what unity in the body truly means.
About Christianity in America...there is something terribly off, even in the bible belt's buckle Lyncburg,VA. Luckily, I'm not alone with these thoughts; Praise the Lord. I heard just last night a great sermon that said a great many things, but what stuck out to me most was...
" We (the American church) need to repent of the faith we haved created."
The preacher made this comment after seeing two articles in a paper. One said that a church had spent 23 million dollars on their new building. The other which was right next to it said that the church had raised $5,000 dollars to send to the Sudan. Truly,
"We need to repent of the faith we have created!"
I was in Towson, Maryland with many people this past week attending the Eiffel Fellowship Prayer Gathering. Eiffel by the way is a town in Germany. I met many believers from all walks of life and different countries....but the man I want to point out is George Miley. George with his wife Hannah started Antioch Network. For more info check out the website at www.antiochnetwork.orgetwork.org/about.htm.
He wrote a book called "Loving the Church...Blessing the Nations", and lets just say its quality. I do not know George well personally, but what I do know I really like. From what I observed of him, and from the people I asked, George is a very humble man. Watching, listening, and conversing with him made me think this is what talking to Jesus must have been like. You just feel compelled to be around him. The man has done a lot for the kingdom of God and its advancement, and after we had a time of worship and prayer we transitioned into a time of teaching when George with sadness and tears in his eyes said...
"The church in America is suffering from a crippling superficiality..."
Followed with an immediate , "... and I am a part of that".
My heart resonates with this statement, and filled my heart with conviction and strangely... peace. I have often felt alone with this observation, and I'm dumbfounded that others don't notice, or could care less it seems. I admit that I am filled with anger and have not tried at all to hide my disappointment with the church of America. My anger remains. It simply has started a fire within me that I believe will only be quenched once there is redemption in the Body.
The church is in crisis!
I think all would agree with me that the "twenty-somethings" (and a lot more) are not in the church on Sunday morning, nor do they feel the need to be. They are the generation that is falling through the cracks, and being wounded by our superficiality. A generation I might add that will be having kids soon. Do you think they will be raised in the church? Anyone think they will be the ones to flood our church buildings? Is there any hope to reach them?
The house-church/celtic model is one idea that seems to be on the minds of many as the most effective way to reach this generation. I have been having "church" in this way myself, and never in my life have I experienced God and community of this quality. Brian Mclaren, in his book "A New Kind of Christian", expounds on this a great deal better than I could.
It was recently said in reference to me that this blog has been like the "blind leading the blind". I thought about this for a long time, and determined that I agree. As long as we admit that we are all blind. It got me thinking that I would rather be a blindman who hears the Spirit and responds with obedience, than to have sight at all.
I truly do see where everyone's concern is coming from. I honestly do. It looks like I left the "church" (absurd to think one could actually do this.) Looks like I"m breaking fellowship. Looks like I'm encouraging others to do the same. It's simply not true.
My love for the Christ's church has increased exponentially in this last year, so much so that I'm not sure I ever loved the church before. I am experiencing true fellowship to a degree many wish they had. I am dismayed to think this has all come into question.
I sorta feel like I'm at a party. I'm the only one not drinking at the party. Everyone is telling me to drink. I say no. By not doing it, however, I'm communicating that I think drinking is wrong. When I really just do not want to drink anything. So the people respond more forcefully to drink, because then if I do it, they will feel better about themselves and drinking in front of me.
I in the last month or so have been meeting, talking, praying with and for pastors from Lynchburg. Specifically, about a new prayer initiative for this year, because of my love for the church, and my desire to see them involved in the mission God has for all of us.
What is truly humorous to me is that God has led me to do this "new thing" right? Part of this new thing for me the Lord made it clear to me that I should join staff with a mission organization called Antioch Network. To be staff you need to raise support,especially if you value things like eating, insurance, etc. No big deal right? Well guess what friends, my house church is small. My team is small. To raise support your best bet is to attend and be a member of a big church, and to raise individually. Some church's will fork out 30-40-50% of your cost. Pretty appealing right. Well, once again, the Lord seems to get a kick out of convicting me about things that are the christian sub-culture norm.
Well, to make a long discussion short, I simply refuse to be a member anywhere for this reason. In fact, it is my prayer and hope to change the way support raising is done (which may be my life's work). I am not saying that the way it is done now is sinful/wrong. What I am saying is that there must be a better way than exists right now, and that its worth pursuing, and that I want to do it that way.
To get back on track, this new thing to which I refer is about missional living in the kingdom of God. This is simply my purpose on this earth. To make disciples who will reign in the kingdom. Praise the Lord that I am surrounded by people with a similar passion. They have an apostolic outlook, and boy do they have potential. They are far more dangerous to the enemy than they even realize.
Sorry so long, I hope that makes clear some things that might have been confusing. My question is this, what are we going to do church? How will we respond? May I encourage you all to spend more time with Jesus. Do what he tells you to do with the full knowledge that He is worthy of all our trust. Amen?
"Here I stand, I can do no other, God help me"-Luther
posted by K at 2:00 AM
2 Comments:
Josh,
nice novel
Josh,
well said my friend!
Ryan Thurman
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