It seems the first line I write is, "It as been a long time...." 2009 continues to be a challenge. Lately I am struggling with how The OD is shaping up. It just seems that people enjoy what they get from community and think very little about what they contribute.
We have had several people "vote with their feet" in the past 6 months, without giving any indication as to what they are unhappy with. If people are invested in community, then you slug through issues together. You are family. It is confusing and hurtful when people who have been at the core of the group, just leave, without saying anything.
It seems that few people are willing to struggle. However, without the struggle, we are just another club.
If I were to be honest, I would have to admit that in many ways, we are becoming that which we left.
Peace,
K
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Hey Kim,
This in conjunction with your latest entry about Why Church ... a couple of thoughts:
1. Even Jesus had people leave his discipling because of what he taught: "What? Eat flesh and drink blood? This guy is not only scandolous, he's crazy." (my loose translation).
2. Maybe we-the-church need to be aware that there are often valid reasons for folks to walk on. Their own journey must include some "wilderness" time; There are social cliques and human-interaction "stuff" happening in the church that is impeding their spiritual life - some churches are downright toxic, at least for a time, until Jesus housecleans.
3. I've heard some folks pray: "Lord help our church to become more (fill in the blank), and then they end up leaving and THEN that prayer is answered. Because they were inadvertantly? the problem. I laugh when that happens - so ironic.
4. We-the-church often need to re-evaluate our own concepts and precepts of what it means to be Church. Why do we often place so much emphasis on an hour and a bit each week of singing or sermonizing, and so little effort on being church to our family, friends and communities the rest of the week? Why does "church" always have to de-volve into a set of jargon and prescribed practices. Stand, sing, kneel, pray, stand, sing, kneel, pray... Maybe Church has to recognize that God's definition of His Church is surprisingly large and beyond our little circles in the sand? We like to draw lines to separate ourselves from "the World," whereas Jesus was about being in the world, loving, caring for and influencing others. We often cling to the "come out of her!" mentality that just ain't Jesus-like.
5. Maybe we hold to unrealistic expectations of what church is "supposed" to be. Maybe we can accept a larger definition of church that approximates God's?
Maybe we need to adapt Red Green's Man's Prayer? "I'm a Christian, but I can change, if I have to, I guess." (change for the better that is).
Anyway, just some thoughts. Thanks for sharing your journey. All the best, Grant
Post a Comment