I just finished sending an email to my Oasis list. In it I talk a little bit about our gatherings. On top of that, I have been pondering a few things today. Just some random thoughts in areas I haven’t pondered in a long time…
>> There is no “one-size-fits-all” way for doing things in the church. You know, I’m sure every emerging church leader, every postmodern thinker, would agree with that statement. But you know what is ironic to me? Those same people (and I include myself in this, because I have certainly been guilty of doing this) will still point at a certain method, model, or movement and say, “That’s it… that is what is going to work!” I agree that some things work better than other things. But aren’t statements like that just the beginnings of building another box? Who am I to say that God can’t or won’t use a modern approach and style to reach lost people, even in a postmodern context? The kingdom of God is made up of large churches, small churches, home churches, multiracial churches, intercultural churches, inner city, rural, and suburban churches. It refuses to be boxed in.
>> How would an average person in the church define the word “church”? This question deals not with styles or methods. It goes deeper, to the heart of who the church is. I will give two possible definitions people may give, and then elaborate just briefly.
- Definition #1: I come to church to be fed, to have my needs met through quality programs, and to have leaders teach me and my children about God. Church, in this definition is seen as a dispenser of goods and services… this is called “going to church”. In this definition a person will describe to someone else about the church to which they “GO”.
- Definition #2: I see church as a body of people sent on a mission given by Jesus, and who gather in community for worship, encouragement, and teaching from the Word of God, which supplements how I am feeding myself throughout the week. In this definition a person will describe to someone else the church to which they “BELONG”.
>> The issue is the mindset, not the model. When the mindset of every believer is consumed with a missional vision (definition #2) for the church to which they belong rather than a consumer vision (definition #1), then the model will really not make a difference. God will use the large church, the house church, the simple church, the complex church, the urban church, the rural church.
Some of you reading this are thinking… “Wait a minute, I thought you were adamantly for the simple church, and adamantly against the institution of the church? Are you changing your tune?” Perhaps. But I really don’t think I am changing my tune. I still have personal preferences and convictions. Maybe I’m not changing the tune, just turning the volume down a bit. I hope there is always room in my heart for God to “change my tune,” or perhaps to open my eyes to see things as He sees them. Sometimes leaders and critical thinkers get so bent out of shape over the stuff that really doesn’t matter. If the people of Oasis have a heart for the mission of God and an understanding of their membership in His family, then why would I need to create apologetics for where and how we gather together? If the heart is where it belongs, then it won’t matter if the church is gathered in homes, or in large settings, or in bars, or in legion halls, or in parking lots, or wherever!!!
Dear postmodern, changing culture observers, critical thinking friends: lets get over it!!! Get over your disdain for the modern forms and structures that didn’t teach you anything. Get over your cynicism of the institutions (or should I say, the “IC”) and the models that “don’t get it” the way you do. Set aside the discussion and the philosophy for a few minutes. Ask yourself, “Am I helping the mission of the church in the world by spending much of my time talking about what is wrong with it?” It’s okay if you meet in a simple, home church setting. And it’s okay if the pastor down the street leads his congregation in a large, formal setting. You are brothers. It’s okay if you use candles, and it’s okay if the youth pastor across town uses a disco ball. You are brothers.
Man… now I remember why I haven’t stirred these thoughts up inside of me for a long time. I’ve been so busy doing things with the wonderful brothers and sisters God has given me called “Oasis” that I forgot all about those important, philosophical problems that we must confront in this emerging church (that was sarcasm). It’s “living” versus talking about living. I’m having so much more fun living… being the church, than I ever had just talking about being the church. So many “postmodern” church thinkers are the most unhappy, unresolved, uncommitted, confused people I know.
Well, enough of this. I just had an itch and needed to scratch it. Discuss if you so wish.
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