Part of our church's DNA is to find ways to partner with other groups of Christ-followers in our community. That may or may not include church "congregations". In fact, a recent discussion group we hosted included a few people who have no ties to a local church. I think one of the best thing we can do as a church is to experience the Kingdom of God with all of God's people - regardless of their church (or non-church) affiliation. Weird - we "hosted" a discussion group that was designed to be "non-churchy" and it became just another small church with chairs, prayer, and a leader.
We are considering a new partnership with a local group of believers. It's a very organic bunch. Although they meet on Sundays and follow a Sunday morning format (prayer, music, teaching), they are deeply committed to finding new ways to experience community. They meet in homes and are constantly looking for ways to engage their community. They have a leader who teaches on a regular basis but others in their fellowship are encouraged to share their gifts in a variety of ways. Like us, they have a desire to replicate what happened in Acts 2. We are committed to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, sharing commonalities, and celebrating diversity (Acts 2:32-42). Maybe they just look different because they are young, intellectual, and humble.
One contemporary European theologian says this about the church:
While recognising that local churches need leaders, the New Testament does not prescribe one specific way in which leaders (such as elders, overseers or deacons) and the churches they lead should relate to each other. As a result, it is not surprising that a variety of church structures or denominations have been formed over the centuries. Denominations and networks can be useful for pastoral accountability, sharing of learning, resources and gifts, and useful for enabling local churches to be heard at national level.
Christian leaders have argued over whether different structures are right or wrong, but history shows us that God can bless people through any Christian structure and that the godliness of the leader is far more important than the position they hold. History also witnesses to the fact that church structures can sometimes come to exist for their own ends. When this happens there is need to refocus the structure on its true purpose of building up local congregations of Christians.
The church is called to demonstrate the kingdom of God as a visible sign of his kingdom in the world. The church is called to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16). The church should influence situations for the better, preserve good things and bring healing.
I think we have a great opportunity to celebrate the Kingdom of God when we find ways to work together outside of the typical church paradigm. Our (Crossroads) kind of church can be dangerous. If we aren't careful, big churches fall into a pattern of "how many and how much". We are now a church of 1,200 people and I am really conflicted about where we are going. Sometimes, I just want to shut everything down and find new ways to take the Message to people in new ways. I want to scale down and become more like our friends who worship "unplugged", share everything, and engage the culture without a big stage, rock music, and cool clothes. But I think my ego would, eventually, lead me into another "church" leadership role.
I'm not sure if any of that makes sense.
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Just make sure you're riding with Jesus gal.5:13 is all I know.Whether in a church building,at home watching the Stanley Cup playoffs or at work go to Jesus.
What is a “typical church paradigm” anyhow? Is it opening prayer, three songs, a sermon and an invitation? It seems to me that anytime a group of believers meet, a liturgy eventually emerges. This may be more an organizational characteristic than it is the attribute of any church. And, of course, churches are organizations by default. So which came first the chicken or the egg? Besides, I thought you can’t see a paradigm because you see with it. It’s sort of like pulling your eyes out so you can look at them. If Crossroads is allowed to develop it will do what any church in history has done. It will either grow and become a denomination, or it will fade away.
Like you FindServeLove I don’t know if any that makes sense.
Two people over the last two days have sent me today’s reading from Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest. I used to read that every day for years, but haven’t it a while. I love how relationally he thought about God. This reading expresses well what I see God want to set us free in. Our flesh wants to live in the false certainty of our plans and schemes. God invites us on an adventure where he is our certainty, not our schedules.
Our natural inclination is to be so precise— trying always to forecast accurately what will happen next— that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We think that we must reach some predetermined goal, but that is not the nature of the spiritual life. The nature of the spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty. Consequently, we do not put down roots. Our common sense says, “Well, what if I were in that circumstance?” We cannot presume to see ourselves in any circumstance in which we have never been.
Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life— gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises. When we become simply a promoter or a defender of a particular belief, something within us dies. That is not believing God — it is only believing our belief about Him. Jesus said, “. . . unless you . . . become as little children . . .” (Matthew 18:3 ). The spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, just uncertain of what He is going to do next. If our certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self-righteousness, become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are complete and settled. But when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy. Jesus said, “. . . believe also in Me” (John 14:1 ), not, “Believe certain things about Me”. Leave everything to Him and it will be gloriously and graciously uncertain how He will come in— but you can be certain that He will come. Remain faithful to Him.
A college student asked me Sunday night how someone could know what their calling is. I had answered that the best way to know our calling is to simply wake up every day in the love of the Father, and then let that love spill out of us through the day as we respond to the opportunities that cross our paths. Eventually we’ll find ourselves smack in the middle of what gives him and us so much pleasure. We mostly know our calling by looking back and seeing how God has fulfilled himself in us, rather than figuring it out in advance and setting a strategy to get there.
At least that has been true for me. I’ve taken to telling people now the surest way for me not to be where God wants me six months from now is for him to tell me. If he does, I’ll try to get there by my own strength and reasoning, and what results is way too man-made. But if I just follow him today, and wake up tomorrow and follow him again, six months from now I’ll be exactly where he wants me to be on this journey. I love that!
I read a book recently about how God Changes Your Brain. The God I know really had nothing to do with it, but rather the idea that everyone has their own idea of who God is. The authors, one a brilliant neurologist, the other holds his doctoral degree in all things psychology and sociology. Although completely not Jesus faith based, it was a surprisingly good read about how spirituality and positive connection with a church does impact our lives in a healthy way. Most specifically, our brain.
Crossroads is a big church. Impossible to know everyone there. The important thing to focus on is each time a "brain" walks in to that room and hears the music, sees the worship, and is reminded of the message of Jesus, they are fullfilled-and sometimes THEY don't even know it, but their brain is getting it!! And the true hope is they will go out and "fill" others. If partnership with another church allows for more of that, Crossroads will only continue to grow.
I guess maybe God is in that book, after all...He made us.
Do you think the ancient Israelites thought of themselves as wandering in the desert, or do you think they put their forty-year experience of walking in circles into terms of “God is leading us”? In other words, how do you think they thought of themselves: being led or wandering aimlessly? The reason I ask this question is that from the responses in this blog it would seem that Crossroads has a belief that it is the journey that matters, and not necessarily the destination. In that view, we could never go in circles because whatever we do, we are under the leadership of the Holy Spirit for the reason that its part of the journey. Do you think that the Bible really teaches that there is no such concept as “getting lost” or “getting it wrong”?
I like the Old Testament stories and I contribute them to my ability of grasping an almighty God. Not sure what the Israelites thought of themselves. I do believe the Bible talks about "getting lost" and ways to avoid that.
If you were going to Hawaii for a summer vacation, How long would you stay? How would you get there? Do you already know a lot about Hawaii, or a little? Would you look up Hawaii on the internet first or just go. Would you go alone, or with someone. What would you wear? How much money would you take?
I have never been to Hawaii. If I plan on going, I will ask someone very qualified about the place: A travel agent. Now, notice the destination is Hawaii, but the agent might give me multiple itenerary's to chose from.
God is my travel agent. Jesus is the passport and the Holy Spirit is the vessel that moves me through this thing we call life. Just as I rely on the expert to get me to Hawaii the best way possible, I rely on God as I navigate my life. Everybody has the same destination, each itenerary will differ.
I think you just said "there are many paths to God."
Nope, not what I was trying for.
Let me rephrase. Jesus IS the passport. Have you ever tried to enter a foreign country without a passport? It isn't easy.
Got it!
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