For nearly five years now I have been speaking a certain language, using certain phrases and metaphors. And I found that to a great number of people I sounded like I was speaking a foreign language, and uttering non-sensible phrases, and using unrealistic metaphors. While it has been an exhilarating journey, it has sometimes been a frustrating one, and sometimes a lonely one.
Yet still, a few of you have understood. In fact, you speak the language also. You live the metaphors. I am thankful to have found a fellowship of believers in Jesus who understand. You GET it! When I say "you GET IT", it's not that we are better, or more enlightened than others. That's one of the most difficult things to try to convey. We're not separatists. We're not anti-institution. We're not a lot of things that people assume we are. One of our greatest characteristics over the last few years has probably been "misunderstood". We are a "misunderstood" bunch.
What am I talking about? I am talking about anyone who has embraced the notion that it's time to STOP GOING TO CHURCH, and to START BEING THE CHURCH. If all of our opportunities to GO to church were removed from us, we would not cease to BE the Church. In 2002 when God began to strip away everything I understood about Church, and Church life, I began emphatically saying things like, "Church is not a building. Church is not a program. Church is not a place you go. Church is not a meeting. Church is YOU. And wherever you, the people who are called 'children of God' and lovers of Jesus, happen to be at any given moment... THERE you are the Church!"
In fact, I said these things so much that some people got sick of me. Some of my very dear friends walked away from me. They thought I was going nutty. And perhaps thought I was going to plant a church that would never have a Sunday meeting, or a building, or any kind of normal organizational structure like we're used to having in the church. How could such a thing even exist?! Function?!
Well, four years later I am still at it. Yes, we have some recognizable organizational structures. Yes, we have meetings. But I submit that who we are is STILL not about any of those things. And I would be willing and ready to have any of them taken away in an instant. Yes, I am serious.
I am dead serious. Because to me, church still is not about any of those things. It's about LIFE. LIVING as Jesus LIVED, and LOVING as Jesus LOVED. And to be quite honest, we can all do that without any of the luxuries we enjoy that make up our church structures. If we can't, then we are not real disciples. Yep, I said it. Should I "nice" it up a little? Okay, we may be disciples. But we are weak and immature if our Christian life is defined by things such as a church attendance, programs, buildings, or meetings. How's that?
This past week a friend of mine sent me a link to the book you see above, "Revolution" by George Barna. Besides the link, his email had only one short paragraph. It said something like this: DING! DING! DING! DING! Finally folks, we have a winner!!! Someone who is recognized and even well-known by the mainstream organized Church is saying what you've been trying to proclaim for over four years now.
And he's going to make all the money off of it. : ) Just kidding.
The fact is, I am not the only one who has been saying it. That's the reason for Barna's book. Barna is a research analyst. He watches trends for months, even years, then reports what he predicts is happening (and will happen) in the world and the church. If you've ever read any of his other books, he is quite accurate in his assessments.
This new book is describing my faith. My Church. My hunger. To LIVE, and to BE. And to leave behind all the tired structures that hinder BEING the Church. Here's a brief excerpt from chapter two:
As we journey together, I want to show you what our research has uncovered regarding a growing sub-nation of people, already well over 20 million strong, who are what we call Revolutionaries.
What "established systems" are they seeking to "overthrow or repudiate" and "thoroughly replace," in Webster's words (defining the word "revolutionary")?
They have no use for churches that play religious games, whether those games are worship services that drone on without the presence of God or ministry programs that bear no spiritual fruit. Revolutionaries eschew ministries that compromise or soft sell our sinful nature to expand organizational turf. They refuse to follow people in ministry leadership positions who cast a personal vision rather than God's, who seek popularity rather than the proclamation of truth in their public statements, or who are more concerned about their own legacy than that of Jesus Christ. They refuse to donate one more dollar to man-made monuments that mark their own achievements and guarantee their place in history. They are unimpressed by accredited degrees and endowed chairs in Christian colleges and seminaries that produce young people incapable of defending the Bible or unwilling to devote their lives to serving others. And Revolutionaries are embarrassed by language that promises Christian love and holiness but turns out to be all sizzle and no substance.
Barna explains in chapter five about how the spiritual landscape of our country is drastically changing as we speak. Even as we entered the twenty-first century, the "local church" was the focus of most people's spiritual lives. But even in five years that number is radically changing, and Barna predicts that by year 2025 we will see a much, much different spiritual landscape. Our spiritual landscape refers to the way people are most likely to experience and express their faith. Just five years later, in 2005, we have already seen a significant transformation taking place.
I suppose the reason I write this article is to relate my elation at the coming of this book. I believe it will do wonders to help explain what so many people are doing these days. It will help people better understand Oasis Christian Fellowship of southeastern Ohio. We are different. You have a very different kind of pastor than most churches have. This book will help them to see why. You have a much different mindset when it comes to "church attendance" and living your life structured around the church and it's many programs, versus living your life structured around Jesus and out in the community. This book will help them see why.
This book will help. Where traditional church leaders think I am off my rocker, George Barna might be able to get them to scratch their head and consider otherwise. You see what I mean? They respect Barna. They trust Barna. They might even BELIEVE Barna.
Because what Barna is saying is, "Watch out!" These Revolutionaries are everywhere. And they are leaving your churches. And sadly, so many church leaders are chalking them all up to "backsliding" or "sheep stealing" or simply walking out on Jesus. But nothing could be further from the truth. They have simply chosen to BE THE CHURCH because they are sick and tired of merely GOING to church.
This book is quite possibly the best description of this web site to date. I wish I could say that I had written it. But congrats to Barna. He beat me to the punch. Thanks George, for helping me explain who I am.
AWESOME! I know when I came to Oasis I was THRILLED that there were others who spoke my language. Emilie and I have been discussing seriously planting a church in New England in the mold of Oasis - I struggled at first to get the words to describe what I was looking for, but now my vocabulary is growing and I'm excited to read this book. WE ARE THE CHURCH!
Posted by: Travis Jones | October 27, 2005 at 12:13 AM
The notion of existing as the church was a concept that was really foreign to me until I began to actively seek God. In this process of searching and studying it became increasingly apparent that our identity as believers should not be centered around anything superficial but rather something undeniably real. I came to realize that it seemed like my entire spiritual life had consisted of something like sitting at the dinner table waiting for the meal to be served. What I finally came to realize was that somehow I was missing out. I didn't realize how much until I got out of my metaphorical chair, walked into that metaphorical kitchen, opened my metaphoirical cookbook, and looked at that metaphorical recipe with my own eyes. Our spiritual lives do not, or at least should not, consist of waiting to be fed. There is nothing besides our own boundaries that inhibit us from seeing God with a clearer perspective. When we seek God we will find that God is seeking us and when those two things, His divinity and our depravity, meet in the middle a beautiful collision takes place (can't stop listening to that new Crowder album). I believe it is in this very place of spiritual realization that our lives then become a revolution of being. Thanks George. Thanks Chris. And thanks to all those others who have stood their ground in reflecting the truth of Jesus that we find so unmistakably in the scripture and in our lives. Not all revolution is bad and this one will, I believe, help release people into real life at last.
Posted by: chad | October 27, 2005 at 09:42 AM
I have been encouraged by the number of emails I have received since posting this from people who are writing to confirm their belonging among the Revolutionaries. I believe, like Barna, that the Church is full of people who are HUNGRY to exist in this type of LIFE. Some have made a clean break for it and are now living in the exhilarating adventure of BEING the church. Others are still reluctant. Perhaps because of fear of what people might think of them, or maybe because they are not quite sure it's "okay", still some are linked so firmly to traditional strongholds that have a tendency to cause an unnecessary and ungodly guilt if they don't continue doing things a certain way.
But I believe the number of people who are longing for this Revolution is much greater than we can imagine.
We'll soon find out, little by little, I suspect.
Posted by: chris | October 27, 2005 at 10:38 AM
Hi B the C, Barna's "Revolution" will be discussed this Friday night (2-3-06) on the nationwide Moody Broadcasting Network. "Open Line" is a call-in show which is aired at 8-8:55 pm CT. The phone number to participate is 312-329-4460.
What Barna is setting forth in this book has obviously been subject to a wide variety of opinion and speculation. He was personally invited to clarify the issues. It should be an informative exchange.
For station and time of broadcast information see http://openlineradio.org. The programs are archived for download/podcast if you're unable to tune in.
Posted by: zane anderson | February 02, 2006 at 10:43 PM
I live in a small community with approx. ten churches within 10 miles of my home and the congregations seem more like little social clubs--even those that are of the same denomination. Their focus seems to be on o building more buildings and sports facilities. If a pray-meeting or a Bible Study is held very few are interested.
You are right the Church is not a place that you go a couple of times a week--it is supposed to be those who have surrendered to Christ our Lord and live in a moment by moment relationship to Him in obedience to His Word.
Posted by: Marianne Long | February 09, 2006 at 11:01 PM
i find the work that Jesus has hired u to do very refreshing because ur message is the message i too have been speaking. Ur right the world thinks we r crazy. It is not that we r crazy but reproofed. For whom the LORD loves He reproves.
Posted by: michael harris | September 24, 2008 at 09:06 AM
From Michael Harris: The field of christian education is by no means a recent phenomenon. Its origin is found throughout the text of scripture. Its goal is to bring people to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ (Justification), to see that they grow in their newfound faith (Sanctification), and to ultimately present them spiritually mature at the throne of GOD (glorification). Our goal should be to challenge those who have grown dull in their personal walk with Christ.
Posted by: michael harris | September 24, 2008 at 09:49 AM