Church Culture

Many in the "emergent" or "postmodern" church genre have a problem. It is this, that they are constantly looking back for approval and affirmation from those they left. You can read it in the many blogs and message boards that populate the canvas of postmodernity. I have grown tired of people posting links about what the modernist church is up to and being angry or unsettled because they do what they do. The other dead horse that gets flogged is the "anti-emergent" blogs, etc. Who cares. The reason we left that genre is that they didn't connect with us. Why would you expect them to change? Who even says they should? They are still reaching people I am not reaching. How does it change what I do?

I think people who genuinely seek to do church differently should just focus on what God has called them to do. Live optimistically, in the call that God has given you. Stop looking, to see who's watching or what they think.

The disciples once approached Jesus about some people who were preaching about Him, but doing it differently than the disciples were doing it,.... Jesus told them to let it go. He said that even if they were doing it with false motives, at least His name was being preached. An interesting response don't you agree?

If we are to make an impact in the world it will be through loving others and God with all that we are, not by pointing out the flaws of others.

The only approval you need in the end, is that of the Father. Worry about what He thinks.

peace,

K

Reaching the World

"We need to reach the world". Yes this is true. But, so often this statement comes from people or groups that are doing nothing but talking about the need. I think many of us enjoy the discussion more than the "reaching". If we keep talking is such broad terms, we will sound passionate and,... almost like we are doing something.

I think we need to dial down the rhetoric and really take a look at how "we" reach the world with the love of Christ. Let's not talk about "the world", or even "the community". What about your life? Who are you loving in your little circle of people you touch every day? Who are you sharing your life with? Who are you praying for, doing coffee with, playing with, eating with, etc.?

You see, that is the real question. That is the problem or issue we need to be talking about. It is so much easier to talk about "world" problems than to get dirty in the muck of relationship. If we all did a little bit, the world would be reached.... You tell two friends, and they'll tell two friends, and...... Vidal understood.

Peace,

K

A New Thing

So, we have started a new program to serve our community. It is simple and can be done anywhere there are hungry people. We have hooked up with a local elementary school and will be providing lunches for 25 kids that come to school without a lunch because their family can't afford it.

Don and I went and met with the principal to find out if this was a need and if he would like our help. He was thrilled that we would care and be willing to help.

Every Monday, we will make 50 lunches for Monday & Tuesday. On Wednesday we will make 75, for the rest of the week. This is a simple project with immediate impact on the poor in our community. Several people have already started donating food and cash toward the project. As I said earlier, this can be done anywhere.

Some of these families may become a part of our regular food distribution on Mondays. This is a simple way of being incarnational in our community.

Peace,

K

Coke vs Pepsi....

For years Coke has been putting commemorative bottles and cans out. In the last few years, Pepsi, the ever so original company that it is, has joined the fray. However, they seem to suck at choosing who to support. Take for example, this past Olympics. If you take a look in your local grocery store you will notice that Pepsi cans are adorned with images of players from the Canadian men's hockey team. This actually proves a point I have been making all along,... Pepsi is for losers.

Peace,

K

Other Than Christian

What do you do when you run into Christians who just don't get it? Christians who just want to get together and be "ministered to". Christians who have very little if any contact with the real world. Jesus told us to go into the world and make disciples. The only real way to do this is to go into the world and BE a disciple. To enter your community/culture with the same grace, compassion and mercy that Jesus did.

I find it disheartening that so many Christians think the only contact they should have with "the world" is to preach at them. An interesting idea since Jesus didn't make it a rule to do that. There is no record that He said anything to Zaccheus that even remotely could be construed as "preaching". Jesus ate with him and loved him. Interesting that we feel the need to add to Jesus example.

God has asked us to feed the poor far more than he has asked us to preach, and yet we prefer to preach, and even use this as a reason not to feed the poor,... unless we can preach at them. Much of the church is over-fed and lazy and make excuses for not serving the unlovely.

I met with a group of pastors this morning. One asked, "Is it our job to tell church people they don't get Jesus' message?" My answer to this was, "if Christians are not doing the things that Jesus told us to, regarding the people he died for(that is everyone), ie. feeding the poor and taking care of those less fortunate, then they are "other than" christian. It is time they knew it."

Christians who sit back, demand to be fed and don't do anything to love the world need to consider their "christian-ness". Who does God say "I never knew you" to? They are people who thought their actions spoke loudly of God,..... but in the end, only spoke of religiosity.

Micheal Frost has suggested that Jesus would never be allowed membership in most of our churches,... interesting.

Peace,

K