Yesterday we attended a brick and mortar church. A few weeks ago I hinted this was coming. We chose a church where we already knew some people. We have also heard good things about this church. Of course, every coin has two sides, so we've heard some other things about it as well. Not bad things per se, just some things that others were dissatisfied with. Having been a pastor, I don't let those things bother me. Besides, we have to experience it for ourselves. We even previewed a couple of the pastor's sermons online.
It was a great Sunday. First, the boys didn't give us any fuss. They don't like to have their routines messed with and moving church back outside the house and inside the traditional church model falls into that category. But, they had plenty of warning, plus they knew some kids there already AND I believe that deep down in their hearts they feel it is the best thing also.
Second, it was wonderful to be part of corporate worship again. There is nothing like singing songs of praises with other Christians. This part is especially important for my wife. The toughest part as a former pastor came during the sermon. Of all the duties I performed as a pastor, delivering the sermon was my favorite. It is a special privilege to bring forth and break the Word for God's people. Despite those initial pangs of bygone experiences, the pastor did an excellent job of guiding us through the Word so that we might receive the message God had for us.
We've not decided on this as our new church home - it was only our first Sunday. We'll check it out several more times and get involved with other aspects of community life there. In the meantime, we'll praying and following wherever God leads.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
The Closing of a Door?
After finishing the below post I went back to update this page some. I changed a couple of lines in the "Why do this?" paragraph to your left. I reviewed my early posting during that first month back in May. I reread the only post in November. A significant shift has taken place in the time between those two sets. My early posts all came from the perspective of someone who was a pastor not serving in a church, but would probably return to such a role. Over time, the perspective slowly shifted to someone who might continue to be called "pastor" but not going back to the pulpit anytime soon. The shift has reached its final stage with the removal of the title "pastor" for good.
I truly believe that I will never serve a church as a pastor again. Coming to that realization and accepting it has been a liberating experience in my quest to live faithfully to him. The interesting thing is what remains. I have lost the desire to be pastor/leader of a local church. I have lost the sense of the call to be a pastor of a local church. What I have NOT lost is the heart of a pastor that cares about people, their lives, their joys, and their troubles. I think that's because it's really the heart of a Christian, the heart of Christ himself.
This week I closed the door on those possibilities and even removed the word "pastor" from title. I formally turned in my credentials as an ordained minister in The Wesleyan Church. I am no longer "Reverend" or "Pastor" Matt Guthrie. I'm just Matt Guthrie, follower of Christ. Even though I have spent two years praying and contemplating this move, even though I made this decision two months ago, it felt very strange to finally write the letter, seal the envelope, and put it in the mail on Monday morning.
I think I also opened a door this week. One that leads to even more dependence on Him and his leading. One that leads to an even greater searching of what it means to live faithfully. At least I hope so.
I truly believe that I will never serve a church as a pastor again. Coming to that realization and accepting it has been a liberating experience in my quest to live faithfully to him. The interesting thing is what remains. I have lost the desire to be pastor/leader of a local church. I have lost the sense of the call to be a pastor of a local church. What I have NOT lost is the heart of a pastor that cares about people, their lives, their joys, and their troubles. I think that's because it's really the heart of a Christian, the heart of Christ himself.
This week I closed the door on those possibilities and even removed the word "pastor" from title. I formally turned in my credentials as an ordained minister in The Wesleyan Church. I am no longer "Reverend" or "Pastor" Matt Guthrie. I'm just Matt Guthrie, follower of Christ. Even though I have spent two years praying and contemplating this move, even though I made this decision two months ago, it felt very strange to finally write the letter, seal the envelope, and put it in the mail on Monday morning.
I think I also opened a door this week. One that leads to even more dependence on Him and his leading. One that leads to an even greater searching of what it means to live faithfully. At least I hope so.
The Nature of (a faith) Community
On my other blog, I've posted some thoughts on what it takes to make a community. As of late that has been a very serious question for me in the context of this time being spent outside the brick and mortar church. During our family worship time this morning, I was very honest with my family about my struggle. I'm fairly confident we are not doing what we are supposed to be doing. That could be attributed to at least two possibilities. One, God may desire, command even, that we be part of a local church, i.e. the brick and mortar manifestation of the body of Christ. Two, our "failure" may be due to the fact that our fellowship consists only of our four immediate family members. My only desire is to do what is best for my family. At this point, I'm believing that rejoining a local body of believers in the traditional church is the correct course.
Two weeks ago I was very excited about the possibility of staying our current course. I was pumped up by the promise of other families joining us for the study of God's word and real life application of it as we lived that which we learned, as we became incarnational entities of God's love, resembling and having the effects of the early body of believers in the book of Acts. Two weeks later, it's still just us four. If I'm not going to do any better at inviting others in, I need to go somewhere that is.
Everyone likes to look back at the "good ol' days" of the Church when this kind of thing happened. People who are strongly opposed to the idea of the brick and mortar church use various passages from Acts and partial understandings of early Church history to justify their viewpoint. However, when you look at the passage hyperlinked above, it is hard to ignore this key phrase -"Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts."
Two weeks ago I was encouraged by what I perceived to be a revelation of the Holy Spirit. On Sunday mornings, our family is doing a very indepth study of the Gospel of John. I'm doing my best to keep it at level my sons can understand but then challenging enough for my wife and I. One of the themes that keeps coming up in this study is the removal of barriers between us and God - physical, spiritual, religious, social, economic, etc. Now, I could have been reading my own ideas into these, but I don't think that's the case. As these ideas kept popping up in our study, I said to myself, "God wants me to stay this course for the people for whom the brick and mortar church is a barrier." But I am missing the fellowship and the community of that type of church.
Tonight I came across a quote on another blog about the nature of reading the Bible (see point #2 there). I agree with that statement. I think it is dangerous to read the Word alone and draw your own conclusions without any outside conversation. I have said before that a committee of one is easy to convince.
So why am I arguing both sides of this issue, and more from the side that is completely opposite from what I'm currently doing? Because I am being bluntly honest. Because I want to be truly faithful. Where will I end up? I don't know for sure, but if I were a betting man, I'd say my family will begin church shopping real soon.
What's this got to do with the nature of community? Everything. We've got to find some people with a shared world view and a shared faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior to do life with. That's what community is all about.
Two weeks ago I was very excited about the possibility of staying our current course. I was pumped up by the promise of other families joining us for the study of God's word and real life application of it as we lived that which we learned, as we became incarnational entities of God's love, resembling and having the effects of the early body of believers in the book of Acts. Two weeks later, it's still just us four. If I'm not going to do any better at inviting others in, I need to go somewhere that is.
Everyone likes to look back at the "good ol' days" of the Church when this kind of thing happened. People who are strongly opposed to the idea of the brick and mortar church use various passages from Acts and partial understandings of early Church history to justify their viewpoint. However, when you look at the passage hyperlinked above, it is hard to ignore this key phrase -"Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts."
Two weeks ago I was encouraged by what I perceived to be a revelation of the Holy Spirit. On Sunday mornings, our family is doing a very indepth study of the Gospel of John. I'm doing my best to keep it at level my sons can understand but then challenging enough for my wife and I. One of the themes that keeps coming up in this study is the removal of barriers between us and God - physical, spiritual, religious, social, economic, etc. Now, I could have been reading my own ideas into these, but I don't think that's the case. As these ideas kept popping up in our study, I said to myself, "God wants me to stay this course for the people for whom the brick and mortar church is a barrier." But I am missing the fellowship and the community of that type of church.
Tonight I came across a quote on another blog about the nature of reading the Bible (see point #2 there). I agree with that statement. I think it is dangerous to read the Word alone and draw your own conclusions without any outside conversation. I have said before that a committee of one is easy to convince.
So why am I arguing both sides of this issue, and more from the side that is completely opposite from what I'm currently doing? Because I am being bluntly honest. Because I want to be truly faithful. Where will I end up? I don't know for sure, but if I were a betting man, I'd say my family will begin church shopping real soon.
What's this got to do with the nature of community? Everything. We've got to find some people with a shared world view and a shared faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior to do life with. That's what community is all about.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
The Greatest People in the World
I'd like to reaffirm something I have believed for a really long time. Pastors are the greatest people in the world. The men and women (and their spouses) who serve their Savior by serving people in the local church are the most giving, loving, self-sacrificing people I know. I'm not saying this because I am a pastor. I'm saying this because I'm no longer a pastor and I am not returning to that vocation.
Long before I began this new journey of living faithfully outside the brick and mortar church, I began to question my ability to serve as a pastor. I questioned my desire to serve as a pastor. I questioned God's call on my life. Some of what I'm about to say will serve as vindication to some of the strongest critics from my past. That's okay because they are still wrong in many of the things they said and did. I must also post the disclaimer that these thoughts have very little to do with the events that resulted in my decision to resign from our last church. These thoughts are the result are the honest outcome of almost two years of seeking God's guidance and direction on my life. If I am to live faithfully this year, or any other year, I must take these steps.
To those people who say "Yes" to a call of pastoral ministry, they take on the greatest challenges, the greatest sacrifices, the greatest struggles, and reap the greatest rewards because of it. They experience grace in ways that no one can understand unless they have said yes to the same call. I can boldly make such a statement because I have been there. God graciously enables pastors to take all kinds of hits from forces in the material and spiritual world and still come out as loving people in the end. October was "Pastor Appreciation Month." I hope your pastor felt appreciated.
To the guys who are my best friends in the world, thank you for all you do. Thank you for saying yes everyday to whatever and wherever God leads you. Thank you for understanding and believing me when I say that I too am saying yes to God by stepping out of this select group of wonderful people.
My ten years of pastoral ministry were wonderful. I saw and experienced many great things. I was able to grow closer to God in a way that I personally would not have been able to if I had been a lay person in the church. Those ten years were not mistakes nor do I believe this year and those to come will be. They are all part of the journey.
Despite the amount of space devoted to my own feelings and experience, this post really isn't about me It's about you. When things get discouraging, don't let it get to you. You are doing God's work. Remember that faithfulness matters, nothing else. It was Abraham's faith that caused him to be considered righteous. Pastors, you really are the greatest people in the world.
Long before I began this new journey of living faithfully outside the brick and mortar church, I began to question my ability to serve as a pastor. I questioned my desire to serve as a pastor. I questioned God's call on my life. Some of what I'm about to say will serve as vindication to some of the strongest critics from my past. That's okay because they are still wrong in many of the things they said and did. I must also post the disclaimer that these thoughts have very little to do with the events that resulted in my decision to resign from our last church. These thoughts are the result are the honest outcome of almost two years of seeking God's guidance and direction on my life. If I am to live faithfully this year, or any other year, I must take these steps.
To those people who say "Yes" to a call of pastoral ministry, they take on the greatest challenges, the greatest sacrifices, the greatest struggles, and reap the greatest rewards because of it. They experience grace in ways that no one can understand unless they have said yes to the same call. I can boldly make such a statement because I have been there. God graciously enables pastors to take all kinds of hits from forces in the material and spiritual world and still come out as loving people in the end. October was "Pastor Appreciation Month." I hope your pastor felt appreciated.
To the guys who are my best friends in the world, thank you for all you do. Thank you for saying yes everyday to whatever and wherever God leads you. Thank you for understanding and believing me when I say that I too am saying yes to God by stepping out of this select group of wonderful people.
My ten years of pastoral ministry were wonderful. I saw and experienced many great things. I was able to grow closer to God in a way that I personally would not have been able to if I had been a lay person in the church. Those ten years were not mistakes nor do I believe this year and those to come will be. They are all part of the journey.
Despite the amount of space devoted to my own feelings and experience, this post really isn't about me It's about you. When things get discouraging, don't let it get to you. You are doing God's work. Remember that faithfulness matters, nothing else. It was Abraham's faith that caused him to be considered righteous. Pastors, you really are the greatest people in the world.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Virtual Faith?
On my other blog I've posted some thoughts about virtual faith but I won't repeat those here. In this year of living faithfully, I cannot help but wonder at times how real my own faith is. There are times when I feel like a "virtual Christian"; times like last Sunday morning where I wonder if I'm really doing the right thing. Especially when I think about my family. What views on Christian faith are my boys developing? How about my wife? She's "stuck" at home all week homeschooling our children. When we were part of a brick and mortar church she had some social outlets. For a while we met with another family but that arrangement did not work out. Perhaps we gave up on it too easily, but our visions and doctrinal views were too divergent. Maybe being part of the Body of Christ and living authentic faith means making those differences work, even in the most impossible seeming circumstances. (NOTE: I am not saying that there was a huge schism in our brief fellowship, just that we felt led to go in separate and different directions.)
On that same Sunday, I found myself in conversations with several other parents and their children discussing the matter of faith. I encountered people from all across the spectrum. Strong, secure Christians who were faithful church members. People who occassionally attend church. And people who have no part of church for a variety of reasons, usually relating to a lack of belief. When conversations would turn to my current situation (they all know that I used to pastor a church), I felt awkward, ineffective, and doubtful in what I had to say. Did I have a real faith?
This past week that view began to turn around. Initially the week reinforced my doubts. I know that some of my colleagues look at me dubiously because their perspective on ministry and a life of faith is relegated soley to the brick and mortar church. As opportunities to live and act faithfully presented itself (as it does every week), my doubts faded. The real need for a real faith demonstrated to real people with real problems is ever present.
As I was catching up on my blogreading, I came across the following quote on Brian Russell's blog. It is by Leslie Newbigin, a missionary from the UK to Asia. He has written some very challenging pieces on how we do church in the western world. He said,
Newbigin refers to a congregation as the intended believing community. I believe he meant a congregation that was the flesh and bones of a brick and mortar church, although he speaks against the program driven nature of most churches. I think the believing community might exist more effectively outside of those boundaries. That's why I'm on this particular journey. However, as long as my journey only includes my family, it will remain a virtual faith journey.
On that same Sunday, I found myself in conversations with several other parents and their children discussing the matter of faith. I encountered people from all across the spectrum. Strong, secure Christians who were faithful church members. People who occassionally attend church. And people who have no part of church for a variety of reasons, usually relating to a lack of belief. When conversations would turn to my current situation (they all know that I used to pastor a church), I felt awkward, ineffective, and doubtful in what I had to say. Did I have a real faith?
This past week that view began to turn around. Initially the week reinforced my doubts. I know that some of my colleagues look at me dubiously because their perspective on ministry and a life of faith is relegated soley to the brick and mortar church. As opportunities to live and act faithfully presented itself (as it does every week), my doubts faded. The real need for a real faith demonstrated to real people with real problems is ever present.
As I was catching up on my blogreading, I came across the following quote on Brian Russell's blog. It is by Leslie Newbigin, a missionary from the UK to Asia. He has written some very challenging pieces on how we do church in the western world. He said,
"How is it possible that the gospel should be credible, that people should come
to believe that the power, which has the last word in human affairs is
represented by a man hanging on a cross? I am suggesting that the only answer,
the only hermeneutic of the gospel, is a congregation of men and women who
believe it and live by it. I am, of course, not denying the importance of many
activities by which we seek to challenge public life with the gospel's
evangelistic campaigns, distribution of Bibles and Christian literature,
conferences, and even books such as this one. But I am saying that these are all
secondary, and that they have power to accomplish their purposes only as they
are rooted in and lead back to a believing community"
Newbigin refers to a congregation as the intended believing community. I believe he meant a congregation that was the flesh and bones of a brick and mortar church, although he speaks against the program driven nature of most churches. I think the believing community might exist more effectively outside of those boundaries. That's why I'm on this particular journey. However, as long as my journey only includes my family, it will remain a virtual faith journey.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The "new self" (part 3)
In this journey of trying to live faithfully to God, His will, Word, and everything else, it has also become a journey of self discovery. For many reasons I have been forced to examine what I believe and why to levels heretofore unvisited. I have been searching for the Core of what it means to be a Christan, a subject I will hopefully revisit here again soon. During this time of discovery, I have reaffirmed much of what I already knew about myself. And I have acknowledged some additional truths as well.
One of those truths is I am selfish. All of us are to an extent. I don't think I am any more selfish than the next guy. Sounds like a good cop out or defensive rebuttal doesn't it? Yet I'm serious. I'm selfish, pretty selfish. I like doing things for me. I like being in control of my life. I like to do things in a way that they are most convenient for me.
That's a problem. When I read the Bible, I'm told that I'm supposed to put myself last. We are supposed to look to the needs of others before ourselves, counting our selves nothing (Philippians 2). Jesus said whoever saves his life will lose it. He also said we are to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him (Luke 9) What do you do when you are a selfish person who is trying to live faithfully? Aren't those polar opposites?
Honestly,I think I'm ok. And not just because I'm selfish. I think I'm okay because I feel like I meet those above requirements to deny self. Part 4 will address this more. Come back and see what some of the other implications are.
One of those truths is I am selfish. All of us are to an extent. I don't think I am any more selfish than the next guy. Sounds like a good cop out or defensive rebuttal doesn't it? Yet I'm serious. I'm selfish, pretty selfish. I like doing things for me. I like being in control of my life. I like to do things in a way that they are most convenient for me.
That's a problem. When I read the Bible, I'm told that I'm supposed to put myself last. We are supposed to look to the needs of others before ourselves, counting our selves nothing (Philippians 2). Jesus said whoever saves his life will lose it. He also said we are to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him (Luke 9) What do you do when you are a selfish person who is trying to live faithfully? Aren't those polar opposites?
Honestly,I think I'm ok. And not just because I'm selfish. I think I'm okay because I feel like I meet those above requirements to deny self. Part 4 will address this more. Come back and see what some of the other implications are.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The "new self" (con't)
As I said in my previous post, I'm having the time of my life as a middle school teacher right now. A friend emailed me the other day to see if I had been eaten alive yet. I replied with a much shorter version of that post.
This process of discovering my new self has provided all sorts of interesting questions from others. I have a ton of t-shirts that I got from church camps for kids. I have an equal number of shirts from an annual pastors retreat I used to attend every fall, which by the way, is meeting right now without me. Since I coach the school's volleyball team, I always change for practice and usually wear a shirt from one of these two collections.
Today, I was wearing one of my "Carolina Pastor's Gathering" shirts. One of the girls on the team noticed and asked, "Are you a pastor?" I honestly did not know how to answer. I was chided a few weeks ago by a co-worker whose husband was in youth ministry for 20 years when I said, "I used to be." She said, "You'll always be a pastor." My wife was gently reminded by another pastor's wife that even though I am not pastoring a church right now, she is still a pastor's wife.
So . . . how did I answer that question? I certainly don't feel like a pastor, at least not in the traditional understanding of the word. I definitely feel like my job as a teacher is a ministry to the kids and fellow staff. I have countless ministry opportunities available to me everyday. I take advantage of each one as they come my way. I can't remember if I've said it here before, but one of my fellow teachers calls me Pastor Matt. A mock up of my seminary degree is even posted outside my classroom door
My reply to the student was, "I used to be." That may have been the wrong answer. One of the things I will be very honest about in this journey of self re-discovery is that very issue. What am I? I do not see a return to the brick and mortar church in my future any time soon. But might I become the "chaplain" of Clayton Middle School?
That's my story for today about trying to live faithfully. My new self is having a great time, but still questioning how others might view me, the least of which is not God himself. Soon I'll come back and share some of the other things I've learned at middle school, about myself and others.
This process of discovering my new self has provided all sorts of interesting questions from others. I have a ton of t-shirts that I got from church camps for kids. I have an equal number of shirts from an annual pastors retreat I used to attend every fall, which by the way, is meeting right now without me. Since I coach the school's volleyball team, I always change for practice and usually wear a shirt from one of these two collections.
Today, I was wearing one of my "Carolina Pastor's Gathering" shirts. One of the girls on the team noticed and asked, "Are you a pastor?" I honestly did not know how to answer. I was chided a few weeks ago by a co-worker whose husband was in youth ministry for 20 years when I said, "I used to be." She said, "You'll always be a pastor." My wife was gently reminded by another pastor's wife that even though I am not pastoring a church right now, she is still a pastor's wife.
So . . . how did I answer that question? I certainly don't feel like a pastor, at least not in the traditional understanding of the word. I definitely feel like my job as a teacher is a ministry to the kids and fellow staff. I have countless ministry opportunities available to me everyday. I take advantage of each one as they come my way. I can't remember if I've said it here before, but one of my fellow teachers calls me Pastor Matt. A mock up of my seminary degree is even posted outside my classroom door
My reply to the student was, "I used to be." That may have been the wrong answer. One of the things I will be very honest about in this journey of self re-discovery is that very issue. What am I? I do not see a return to the brick and mortar church in my future any time soon. But might I become the "chaplain" of Clayton Middle School?
That's my story for today about trying to live faithfully. My new self is having a great time, but still questioning how others might view me, the least of which is not God himself. Soon I'll come back and share some of the other things I've learned at middle school, about myself and others.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Good times and my new "self"
I am having the time of my life right now. If I were living in a Broadway musical, I would be singing Everything's coming up roses. There are several possible responses to my new found euphoria. Some have said, "Let's talk in February. The honeymoon will be over by then." Others have celebrated with me, expressing their own happiness with my current state of joy. What is this joy I speak of? In part it's my new job, but it's more the total package of what God is doing in my entire life right now. And through it all, I'm discovering a new sense of self.
Since you're reading a blog about my life, I'm going to assume you don't mind being bored with the details. Let me begin with my new job. I teach seventh grade math at Clayton Middle School. As a whole, it's a great school - great student body, great community, and a great staff. However, from little bit I have observed, I am so glad I am part of the seventh grade team. Not that the other departments aren't as good. It's just that the seventh grade department has more of a team mentality than the others. Everything we do, we do as a team. It's truly wonderful.
The team thing is only part of my good fortune. I'm finding that I really like seventh graders. This is vastly different from everything I have said the last twenty years. In college when the time came to choose an age group for my certification, I chose high school. Middle schoolers have no control of their minds and bodies and they can't help it. When I taught high school, I loved it. I've actually taught middle school at three other schools. Each experience confirmed my initial thoughts - give me high schoolers or give me death.
That's all changed. I know it's only been two weeks, but I can see myself doing this for a long time. Part of the change in mindset is accepting that middle schoolers have no control over their minds and bodies and can't help it. Once you accept the reality of a situation, you don't have to stress over it. You can instead begin to work with it. That's another aspect of my new self - how I'm dealing with events around me.
There are several spiritual applications to all the above. I've got even more to say about my good times. But I need to leave in thirty minutes to bring God's Word to the people of Bethel Wesleyan Church and I still need to shave and iron a shirt. Come back soon for more updates.
Since you're reading a blog about my life, I'm going to assume you don't mind being bored with the details. Let me begin with my new job. I teach seventh grade math at Clayton Middle School. As a whole, it's a great school - great student body, great community, and a great staff. However, from little bit I have observed, I am so glad I am part of the seventh grade team. Not that the other departments aren't as good. It's just that the seventh grade department has more of a team mentality than the others. Everything we do, we do as a team. It's truly wonderful.
The team thing is only part of my good fortune. I'm finding that I really like seventh graders. This is vastly different from everything I have said the last twenty years. In college when the time came to choose an age group for my certification, I chose high school. Middle schoolers have no control of their minds and bodies and they can't help it. When I taught high school, I loved it. I've actually taught middle school at three other schools. Each experience confirmed my initial thoughts - give me high schoolers or give me death.
That's all changed. I know it's only been two weeks, but I can see myself doing this for a long time. Part of the change in mindset is accepting that middle schoolers have no control over their minds and bodies and can't help it. Once you accept the reality of a situation, you don't have to stress over it. You can instead begin to work with it. That's another aspect of my new self - how I'm dealing with events around me.
There are several spiritual applications to all the above. I've got even more to say about my good times. But I need to leave in thirty minutes to bring God's Word to the people of Bethel Wesleyan Church and I still need to shave and iron a shirt. Come back soon for more updates.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Thoughts from Michael Phelps
I don't know about you, but I'm glad the Olympics are over. It was fun and exciting to watch. But after a while you get tired of them. Luckily they only come around every two years.
In reflecting back on those two weeks, it appears that Andy Warhol's statement about fame has been proven. Michael Phelps was the big story with is eight gold medal performances. It's still a great accomplishment and will probably stand for quite a while, maybe forever. The media has moved on however and so has the water cooler conversation.
Despite being out of the limelight, Phelps' performance has much to teach us about living faithfully to God. Three of his eight gold medals were in team events. If not for the incredible swim of his teammate Jason Lezak in the 4X100M relay, Phelps' total would have been only seven.
I'm learning a lot about teamwork. As a middle school teacher, teaming among teachers is the norm. All the math teachers in our grade level plan together, schedule together, etc. We even have integration teams that link several disciplines as we work together to teach our non-academic core classes together. Ideas, suggestions, support and help freely flow from one person to another. I consider myself one of the most fortunate people in the world to be part of the school team known as Clayton Middle School.
The idea of teamwork is beginning to permeate most of my life. I have organized all my students into teams. I told them it was because in real life, you never work alone. They were to also use the teams for peer support. Some of the responsibility for each student's individual success will depend on the help of his or her team.
I coach the school's volleyball the team. Final cuts were Thursday. At the first practice on Friday I told them they were only a squad right now. Their goal was to learn to play as a team. We began making strides toward that goal by the end of practice yesterday.
In the religious world, we call teams "community". On this faith journey outside the walls of the brick and mortar church, the need for a team is ever apparent. Living faithfully cannot be done alone. Life has normalized for us after a difficult six months. I'm amazed at the people God has placed in my path. I haven't built a team yet, but I know one is coming. More than gold medals await as result.
In reflecting back on those two weeks, it appears that Andy Warhol's statement about fame has been proven. Michael Phelps was the big story with is eight gold medal performances. It's still a great accomplishment and will probably stand for quite a while, maybe forever. The media has moved on however and so has the water cooler conversation.
Despite being out of the limelight, Phelps' performance has much to teach us about living faithfully to God. Three of his eight gold medals were in team events. If not for the incredible swim of his teammate Jason Lezak in the 4X100M relay, Phelps' total would have been only seven.
I'm learning a lot about teamwork. As a middle school teacher, teaming among teachers is the norm. All the math teachers in our grade level plan together, schedule together, etc. We even have integration teams that link several disciplines as we work together to teach our non-academic core classes together. Ideas, suggestions, support and help freely flow from one person to another. I consider myself one of the most fortunate people in the world to be part of the school team known as Clayton Middle School.
The idea of teamwork is beginning to permeate most of my life. I have organized all my students into teams. I told them it was because in real life, you never work alone. They were to also use the teams for peer support. Some of the responsibility for each student's individual success will depend on the help of his or her team.
I coach the school's volleyball the team. Final cuts were Thursday. At the first practice on Friday I told them they were only a squad right now. Their goal was to learn to play as a team. We began making strides toward that goal by the end of practice yesterday.
In the religious world, we call teams "community". On this faith journey outside the walls of the brick and mortar church, the need for a team is ever apparent. Living faithfully cannot be done alone. Life has normalized for us after a difficult six months. I'm amazed at the people God has placed in my path. I haven't built a team yet, but I know one is coming. More than gold medals await as result.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
What do you do when . . .
An old seminary bud has posted some interesting thoughts on pursuing your passions, regardless of the results. Be sure to read my comment and follow-up question to his thoughts.
I'll repeat my question here with some elaboration. I believe God has given us all talents, gifts, and passions. The three are not the same,though overlap may exist. Talents are those things we do naturally well. Gifts are those things God gives us and enables us to do "divinely well" (as Zola Levitt described them) for the purposes of building up the body of Christ and the Church. Passions are those things we relentlessly pursue because of the fulfillment they bring.
Here's the question. What do you do when your talents, gifts, and passions lead you in three different directions? Do you devote more energy to one at the neglect of the other? I pose this question because of the personal dilemma I am currently experiencing. I believe that I have certain gifts that will not be used unless I am in a brick and mortar church. I have discovered and re-discovered some passions that I am now pursuing. I am finding great fulfillment in them, though, perhaps selfishly. My new job as 7th grade math teacher certainly utilizes what I consider some of my natural talents.
Granted, there is some considerable overlap among the three areas. However, in the case of the gifts not being utilized, what do you think? Personally, I believe that I am being led to find another medium whereby they can be employed, not restricting them to the rigid paradigm of the brick and mortar church as the only church. (Forgive my lapse into intellectual speak) Besides losing yourself in your own introspection about your personal situation, I'd like your thoughts. How do you divy up your energy between talents, passions, and gift when there are all different?
I'll repeat my question here with some elaboration. I believe God has given us all talents, gifts, and passions. The three are not the same,though overlap may exist. Talents are those things we do naturally well. Gifts are those things God gives us and enables us to do "divinely well" (as Zola Levitt described them) for the purposes of building up the body of Christ and the Church. Passions are those things we relentlessly pursue because of the fulfillment they bring.
Here's the question. What do you do when your talents, gifts, and passions lead you in three different directions? Do you devote more energy to one at the neglect of the other? I pose this question because of the personal dilemma I am currently experiencing. I believe that I have certain gifts that will not be used unless I am in a brick and mortar church. I have discovered and re-discovered some passions that I am now pursuing. I am finding great fulfillment in them, though, perhaps selfishly. My new job as 7th grade math teacher certainly utilizes what I consider some of my natural talents.
Granted, there is some considerable overlap among the three areas. However, in the case of the gifts not being utilized, what do you think? Personally, I believe that I am being led to find another medium whereby they can be employed, not restricting them to the rigid paradigm of the brick and mortar church as the only church. (Forgive my lapse into intellectual speak) Besides losing yourself in your own introspection about your personal situation, I'd like your thoughts. How do you divy up your energy between talents, passions, and gift when there are all different?
Friday, August 8, 2008
Yes, I'm still doing this
I haven't posted here in over a month. That's not at all what I had intended back in the spring when I created this blog. My intent had been to post the raw emotion and unedited thoughts that surged through my mind as I experienced life following God outside the brick and mortar church. But a couple of things happened along the way. I started filling in at a church that's in between pastors right now. Whenever I got some blistering thought or essay that I wanted to post, I did not have access to a computer. By the time I had the opportunity to post, the emotion had died down and I had decided that maybe my words were too strong or too easily misunderstood. So I decided against publishing them.
The thing that has hampered my posting the most has been my thoughts on being a revolutionary. Early in this journey, I will admit to dreams of being some type of revolutionary leader. This "home church" thing is not new, so I'm not talking revolutionary in that sense. I must admit however that I was looking at making a statement and bringing a change in the small part of the church universe of which I am part.
The glory of the revolution is really cool. The benefits AFTER the revolution certainly are tremondous. The reality of the revolution is not. Those of us in the Protestant universe look to Martin Luther and the revolution he began, breaking away from the Roman Catholic church. We Americans look to our Founding Fathers as heroes of our country. In modern history, we look to Ghandi as a great leader in the freeing of India. Closer to home, we honor the man who was greatly influenced by Ghandi and changed the face of race relations in our own country, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Not to be sexist, we have great revolutionaries like Susan B. Anthony who fought for a woman's right to vote.
Being a revolutionary sounds cool. You get to wear olive or black cargo pants, dark colored turtlenecks, and berets. You are surrounded by people who believe in your cause. You experience a continual adrenaline rush as you subvert the authority around you. And the reality of all the above heroes is that their lives were often in great peril. The larger part of society, or at least it's power structures, were not in favor of their revolution. I'm betting that many of them lost close and precious friends as they parted ways because of the revolution.
I like the costume part of the revolution, but I'm not real excited about potentially losing friends because I've been misunderstood. As our family navigates this new part of our journey, we're still struggling with making sure that everyone is adequately ministered to AND has an adequate opportunity to minister using his or her gifts. We are in a continual state of reflection, wondering if this really is the right thing for our family.
But, we trudge on. Being transparent, honest, and a little bit raw in my emotion, we have finally moved out of our survival stage. Since resigning from my last pastorate, we have been floundering. We have dealt with the pain and hurt we experienced that led to my resignation. We have struggled with trying to determine where God was leading us next. We held onto this vision of a church without the brick and mortar, but we have been disappointed because we have not been able to really go anywhere with it.
And certainly not least of all has been the ever constant question of how will I support my family now that I am out of job. In fact, it's probably been the greatest issue of all, despite our trust in God that he would take care of our needs. And boy did he ever. Sometime I'll have to tell you all the wonderful ways he provided for us during that time. Thankfully, that part has finally been answered. Now we feel like we can get out of survival mode and really begin pursuing this vision.
Yes, I'm still doing this. My family honestly believes we are on the course God has set before us. While it may not be revolutionary in a universal sense, it certainly is revolutionary for our family. It's not easy in a variety of ways. Even though revolutions are often dangerous, we faithfully trudge on, trusting that the benefits will far outweigh any perceived casualties along the way. The Beatles asked if we really wanted a revolution. I say yes.
The thing that has hampered my posting the most has been my thoughts on being a revolutionary. Early in this journey, I will admit to dreams of being some type of revolutionary leader. This "home church" thing is not new, so I'm not talking revolutionary in that sense. I must admit however that I was looking at making a statement and bringing a change in the small part of the church universe of which I am part.
The glory of the revolution is really cool. The benefits AFTER the revolution certainly are tremondous. The reality of the revolution is not. Those of us in the Protestant universe look to Martin Luther and the revolution he began, breaking away from the Roman Catholic church. We Americans look to our Founding Fathers as heroes of our country. In modern history, we look to Ghandi as a great leader in the freeing of India. Closer to home, we honor the man who was greatly influenced by Ghandi and changed the face of race relations in our own country, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Not to be sexist, we have great revolutionaries like Susan B. Anthony who fought for a woman's right to vote.
Being a revolutionary sounds cool. You get to wear olive or black cargo pants, dark colored turtlenecks, and berets. You are surrounded by people who believe in your cause. You experience a continual adrenaline rush as you subvert the authority around you. And the reality of all the above heroes is that their lives were often in great peril. The larger part of society, or at least it's power structures, were not in favor of their revolution. I'm betting that many of them lost close and precious friends as they parted ways because of the revolution.
I like the costume part of the revolution, but I'm not real excited about potentially losing friends because I've been misunderstood. As our family navigates this new part of our journey, we're still struggling with making sure that everyone is adequately ministered to AND has an adequate opportunity to minister using his or her gifts. We are in a continual state of reflection, wondering if this really is the right thing for our family.
But, we trudge on. Being transparent, honest, and a little bit raw in my emotion, we have finally moved out of our survival stage. Since resigning from my last pastorate, we have been floundering. We have dealt with the pain and hurt we experienced that led to my resignation. We have struggled with trying to determine where God was leading us next. We held onto this vision of a church without the brick and mortar, but we have been disappointed because we have not been able to really go anywhere with it.
And certainly not least of all has been the ever constant question of how will I support my family now that I am out of job. In fact, it's probably been the greatest issue of all, despite our trust in God that he would take care of our needs. And boy did he ever. Sometime I'll have to tell you all the wonderful ways he provided for us during that time. Thankfully, that part has finally been answered. Now we feel like we can get out of survival mode and really begin pursuing this vision.
Yes, I'm still doing this. My family honestly believes we are on the course God has set before us. While it may not be revolutionary in a universal sense, it certainly is revolutionary for our family. It's not easy in a variety of ways. Even though revolutions are often dangerous, we faithfully trudge on, trusting that the benefits will far outweigh any perceived casualties along the way. The Beatles asked if we really wanted a revolution. I say yes.
Monday, July 7, 2008
back in the saddle
Last week I agreed to help out a brick and mortar church. I said yes to the request to serve as their supply pastor. What this means is that I will fill the pulpit for them for a while until they can secure a permanent pastor. Hopefully this helps illustrate that I do not indeed have any disdain for the brick and mortar church. This church is full of wonderful people who are serving God and living in relationship with him the best they can in the best way they know how. I am more than happy to help for a while.
It certainly throws a small wrench into our current plans, especially as they concern our gathering with another family. It may turn out to be a constructive wrench as we are forced to abandon even the idea of a Sunday morning gathering. I don't know how long this arrangement will last. I'm just happy to help the folks of Bethel Wesleyan Church out and continue to move my own family forward.
It certainly throws a small wrench into our current plans, especially as they concern our gathering with another family. It may turn out to be a constructive wrench as we are forced to abandon even the idea of a Sunday morning gathering. I don't know how long this arrangement will last. I'm just happy to help the folks of Bethel Wesleyan Church out and continue to move my own family forward.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
To Build or Not To Build
Ben Witherington, NT scholar extradornaire, has posted an excellent review on George Barna's and Frank Viola's new book Pagan Christianity. Sorry for the multiple links in that last sentence - they're all worth following. I've not read the book yet myself, but I gather its gist is that the way we do church nowadays is more a result of institutional bureacracy trying to preserve itself more than fulfilling what Christianity is supposed to be about. It sounds like the perfect followup to Barna's previous book Revolution, where he makes a very strong argument against meeting in brick and mortar churches each week when the more effective manner in today's social climate would be house churches. Please note that I said "strong argument" not "effective" or "convincing".
(NOTE: Since my post this morning, BW3 has posted another entry on Ch 2. I have no idea if he will do this for every chapter in the book. My comments from here on only deal with his analysis of Ch 1)
If I had all day to write and you had all day to read, I would quote from Dr. Witherington's post extensively and add my hearty "Amen!" to his critique. I'll trust you will take the time to read his comments. I'll just say that I concur wholeheartedly with Dr. BW3's statements regarding ordained ministry, the necessity of sacred space and time, the mystery of the divine, and his criticisms of shoddy and insufficient scholarship used to bolster convenient claims.
My agreement with Dr. BW3 may seem baffling to friends and family who are closely watching my current endeavors with a worried eye or to those who are watching from a distance because this might turn out to be an interesting sideshow. At times, I can come off very anti-establishment or anti-institutional. I recently had a long discussion with someone about how frustrated I had become with my own denominational home, The Wesleyan Church, and its policies, bureacracy, and institution in general. I even hinted at leaving. I stand by all my criticisms and frustrations, but I ain't going nowhere yet.
So what's going on here? Why is someone who has pledged to leave the brick and mortar church behind, at least for a while, disagreeing with what should be such a welcome work like Pagan Christianity and the philosophy which undergirds much of the house church movement? Dr.BW3's post has created the perfect opportunity for me to clarify exactly what is going on the mind of Matt Guthrie and the path he's taking his family down.
Let me begin by affirming the Church. The Church is the bride of Christ. For all her problems, she is an institution established by God himself. Though she has problems and insufficiencies now, one day Christ will return and present her to his father as the perfect bride. I am not about to go about bashing Christ's bride. I may not like the way she cooks and cleans, but I gotta love her.
Keeping in line with Dr.BW3's comments on church buildings, let me explain why no brick and mortar church for me at this time. A church building is a tool. It is very important tool because it provides a place to gather for worship. This hopefully allows for the building and strengthening of the bonds of community as well as providing a place for other acts of ministry. The problem with buildings is that sometimes instead of becoming a tool, it becomes the controlling factor in a church's life, the church's identity itself. "Community" does not seem to exist outside its four walls. Ministry is not taken into the world - the world must come to it. Maintenance of the building becomes a major budget item, taking away from other ministry funds.
Do not read anything I am not saying. I am by no means implying that ALL churches fall into this trap. What I am saying is that a church building is not the ONLY and best tool. Tapping into my idealistic, purist, and yes, even my anti-establishment tendencies, my desire is to broaden the collection in the church's tool box. I dream of a network of home churches that experience community in the sense of doing life together on a daily basis. I dream of a network that understands the need for sacred space and time, even in the home, and longs for the mystery of a divine encounter in its worship. I dream of a network that because of its unique place in the social fabric of today's society is able to reach people a brick and mortar church could never reach. I dream of a network where the people live out their faith in daily incarnational ministry to the world immediately around it and abroad.
Right now this is all a dream. It's a long way from being fulfilled. But it's worth pursuing. It's something I'm excited about building.
(NOTE: Since my post this morning, BW3 has posted another entry on Ch 2. I have no idea if he will do this for every chapter in the book. My comments from here on only deal with his analysis of Ch 1)
If I had all day to write and you had all day to read, I would quote from Dr. Witherington's post extensively and add my hearty "Amen!" to his critique. I'll trust you will take the time to read his comments. I'll just say that I concur wholeheartedly with Dr. BW3's statements regarding ordained ministry, the necessity of sacred space and time, the mystery of the divine, and his criticisms of shoddy and insufficient scholarship used to bolster convenient claims.
My agreement with Dr. BW3 may seem baffling to friends and family who are closely watching my current endeavors with a worried eye or to those who are watching from a distance because this might turn out to be an interesting sideshow. At times, I can come off very anti-establishment or anti-institutional. I recently had a long discussion with someone about how frustrated I had become with my own denominational home, The Wesleyan Church, and its policies, bureacracy, and institution in general. I even hinted at leaving. I stand by all my criticisms and frustrations, but I ain't going nowhere yet.
So what's going on here? Why is someone who has pledged to leave the brick and mortar church behind, at least for a while, disagreeing with what should be such a welcome work like Pagan Christianity and the philosophy which undergirds much of the house church movement? Dr.BW3's post has created the perfect opportunity for me to clarify exactly what is going on the mind of Matt Guthrie and the path he's taking his family down.
Let me begin by affirming the Church. The Church is the bride of Christ. For all her problems, she is an institution established by God himself. Though she has problems and insufficiencies now, one day Christ will return and present her to his father as the perfect bride. I am not about to go about bashing Christ's bride. I may not like the way she cooks and cleans, but I gotta love her.
Keeping in line with Dr.BW3's comments on church buildings, let me explain why no brick and mortar church for me at this time. A church building is a tool. It is very important tool because it provides a place to gather for worship. This hopefully allows for the building and strengthening of the bonds of community as well as providing a place for other acts of ministry. The problem with buildings is that sometimes instead of becoming a tool, it becomes the controlling factor in a church's life, the church's identity itself. "Community" does not seem to exist outside its four walls. Ministry is not taken into the world - the world must come to it. Maintenance of the building becomes a major budget item, taking away from other ministry funds.
Do not read anything I am not saying. I am by no means implying that ALL churches fall into this trap. What I am saying is that a church building is not the ONLY and best tool. Tapping into my idealistic, purist, and yes, even my anti-establishment tendencies, my desire is to broaden the collection in the church's tool box. I dream of a network of home churches that experience community in the sense of doing life together on a daily basis. I dream of a network that understands the need for sacred space and time, even in the home, and longs for the mystery of a divine encounter in its worship. I dream of a network that because of its unique place in the social fabric of today's society is able to reach people a brick and mortar church could never reach. I dream of a network where the people live out their faith in daily incarnational ministry to the world immediately around it and abroad.
Right now this is all a dream. It's a long way from being fulfilled. But it's worth pursuing. It's something I'm excited about building.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
What do we call this thing anyway?
This is the question posed by a friend last Sunday when we met for our first time of worship together. He was of course meaning our "church service". Friends from all parts of our lives have asked us what we are doing about church. We call it "home church" because it has a familiar enough ring to it to make people feel comfortable that we have not abandoned our faith.
There is actually a large and growing home church movement in our country. Just google "home church" or "house church" and see how many hits you get. Many folks are looking to what is happening in Asia, South America, and parts of Africa as models for how to do it here. Books and articles are written, seminars delivered, workshops conducted, all on the premise that the "house church" model more closely resembles the early church (first and second centuries).
All this may be true, but that's not what we are doing it the way we are doing it. And that's not what I would call it. If pressed for a name, I would probably give something ordinary like "worship" or "real life faith" or perhaps some retro 70's Jesus freak hippy sounding utopian name. For our family, it's a quest to fulfill Romans 12:1-2. Another translation calls it our "spiritual act of worship." It's an attempt to actually make worship part of our daily lives, not something we only do on a particular day at a particular hour once a week. We see our current circumstances as an opportunity to practice what we've been preaching for so many years.
Tomorrow, just like last Sunday, we'll gather with our friends again to worship together. Even though we may be doing it on our own throughout the week, we enjoy the chance to do it with others too, whatever it's called. What I'd like to call it is just "life", plain and simple. Our prayer as we do this year (and many more to follow I hope) of living faithfully is that people will actually see our lives as living sacrifices in everything we do.
There is actually a large and growing home church movement in our country. Just google "home church" or "house church" and see how many hits you get. Many folks are looking to what is happening in Asia, South America, and parts of Africa as models for how to do it here. Books and articles are written, seminars delivered, workshops conducted, all on the premise that the "house church" model more closely resembles the early church (first and second centuries).
All this may be true, but that's not what we are doing it the way we are doing it. And that's not what I would call it. If pressed for a name, I would probably give something ordinary like "worship" or "real life faith" or perhaps some retro 70's Jesus freak hippy sounding utopian name. For our family, it's a quest to fulfill Romans 12:1-2. Another translation calls it our "spiritual act of worship." It's an attempt to actually make worship part of our daily lives, not something we only do on a particular day at a particular hour once a week. We see our current circumstances as an opportunity to practice what we've been preaching for so many years.
Tomorrow, just like last Sunday, we'll gather with our friends again to worship together. Even though we may be doing it on our own throughout the week, we enjoy the chance to do it with others too, whatever it's called. What I'd like to call it is just "life", plain and simple. Our prayer as we do this year (and many more to follow I hope) of living faithfully is that people will actually see our lives as living sacrifices in everything we do.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
I (almost) did it!
Today I did the hardest thing I've ever done since becoming a pencil pushing desk jockey after graduating from college. I took the Physical Agility Test as part of the application process to become a firefighter for the city of Raleigh. I've been kinda training for this test over the last couple of months. I went in today not really believing I would pass. But, I almost did it. The obstacle course did me in. After the second lap, I was spent and had nothing left to give. Insufficient upper body strength left my arms a pair of wet noodles after exiting the tunnel on the second lap.
But I am not ashamed. Despite being disappointed at not passing the test, I know I gave my best and tried my hardest. Even though I was intimidated by all the former football players, younger men and women, and others in much better shape than I, I was greatly encouraged by everyone there. Everyone cheered for everyone else. One guy in particular was going around congratulating everyone. When I came out the tunnel and had to stop, he even offered to go thru the course with me to get me through one last time.
Honestly, I do not think I would have done as well as I did on the rest of the test if not for the feeling of instant community that was present. I met guys who were taking this test for the fifth time! Being a firefighter was a dream they were not ready to give up. And they provided some of the best encouragement. Each one told me to give it another shot in January.
This is what it should be like on a faith journey. It is one of perseverance. It should be one of community. It should be one of a persevering, encouraging community. We need to realize that we succeed AND fail together. So many times the faith community is guilty of shooting the wounded in the name of discipleship. Consequences are necessary but so are restoring functions. After the community has handed down the consequences, it should whatever possible to help that person be restored to whatever level he has fallen from. As I left the training center today, the Chief only spoke words of encouragement.
Despite "failing" I feel good. Despite being unemployed STILL, I feel good. On second thought, maybe I did do it.
But I am not ashamed. Despite being disappointed at not passing the test, I know I gave my best and tried my hardest. Even though I was intimidated by all the former football players, younger men and women, and others in much better shape than I, I was greatly encouraged by everyone there. Everyone cheered for everyone else. One guy in particular was going around congratulating everyone. When I came out the tunnel and had to stop, he even offered to go thru the course with me to get me through one last time.
Honestly, I do not think I would have done as well as I did on the rest of the test if not for the feeling of instant community that was present. I met guys who were taking this test for the fifth time! Being a firefighter was a dream they were not ready to give up. And they provided some of the best encouragement. Each one told me to give it another shot in January.
This is what it should be like on a faith journey. It is one of perseverance. It should be one of community. It should be one of a persevering, encouraging community. We need to realize that we succeed AND fail together. So many times the faith community is guilty of shooting the wounded in the name of discipleship. Consequences are necessary but so are restoring functions. After the community has handed down the consequences, it should whatever possible to help that person be restored to whatever level he has fallen from. As I left the training center today, the Chief only spoke words of encouragement.
Despite "failing" I feel good. Despite being unemployed STILL, I feel good. On second thought, maybe I did do it.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Another Perspective on the Core
Recently, I came across some links relating to The Creeds of Orthodox Christianity (The Apostle's Creed, the Nicene Creed, etc.). In my first post about The Core, I mention the creeds as candidates for the Core, but backed away from that proposition in a later post. Keith Drury makes an interesting case for the creeds being the Core. Here are two links to his thoughts on the issue: Why Study the Creeds and an interview with his publisher. What do you think?
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Growing Community
Our circle of people who are followers of Christ but not part of a brick and mortar church is growing. We connected with and spent some get-to-know-you time yesterday with a family of SEVEN kids! They've been attenders of a brick and mortar church before but have discovered that "home church" (for lack of a better word) has been much more fulfilling for their lives.
When we got home last night, I began to process what was happening in our lives through the community lens. In other words, judging our current situation on the basis of whether we are really doing life together with other folks on a faith journey. I believe we are. Last night was not a formal accountability meeting by any means. But, as I watched the interaction of the parents with six of their seven kids, not to mention the interactions of the six kids, I felt compelled to alter parts of my life. Neither of the parents sat down with me and said, "Here's a change you need to make in your life . . ." Their example did it and it wasn't a planned action on their part.
As our circle grows both in number and in closeness, there will come a time when somebody may actually lovingly confront us about something. We will do the same for them I'm sure. It's all about relationships and that's a natural extension of the Core. What happened last night on a very surface level can happen on a deep level. As relationships grow and deepen, their effects grow and deepen.
As the circle begins to include people who are not on a faith journey, the spiritual effects will begin to show. Someone once said that Christianity is more caught than taught. I agree. That's how it happened for me. It's how it has happened for a lot of people I know. It's all part of growing community.
When we got home last night, I began to process what was happening in our lives through the community lens. In other words, judging our current situation on the basis of whether we are really doing life together with other folks on a faith journey. I believe we are. Last night was not a formal accountability meeting by any means. But, as I watched the interaction of the parents with six of their seven kids, not to mention the interactions of the six kids, I felt compelled to alter parts of my life. Neither of the parents sat down with me and said, "Here's a change you need to make in your life . . ." Their example did it and it wasn't a planned action on their part.
As our circle grows both in number and in closeness, there will come a time when somebody may actually lovingly confront us about something. We will do the same for them I'm sure. It's all about relationships and that's a natural extension of the Core. What happened last night on a very surface level can happen on a deep level. As relationships grow and deepen, their effects grow and deepen.
As the circle begins to include people who are not on a faith journey, the spiritual effects will begin to show. Someone once said that Christianity is more caught than taught. I agree. That's how it happened for me. It's how it has happened for a lot of people I know. It's all part of growing community.
Friday, May 30, 2008
More on the Core
I wanted to continue some thoughts on The Core, specifically why relationship is such a good way to define it. When I first decided (somewhat finally) that being in relationship with God is the Core, I immediately began to draw analogies to marriage. This is not meant to exclude singles, divorced folks, or anyone else not in a marriage relationship for whatever reason, but marriage is the ultimate relationship. It's no wonder that throughout Scripture we see our relationship with God compared to marriage. The Church is the Bride of Christ.
I call marriage the ultimate relationship because of all the stuff that comes with it. There are legal ramifications. If you decide to end the relationship permanently, you have to go through all sorts of rigamarole to divide up property, etc. One of the partners may remain financially obligated to other as a result of the relationship. There are certainly physical and emotional ramifications. Even here the legal system has intervened and person can actually sue someone for "alienation of affection" if the spouse is drawn away due to an affair. If you are the person who has been cheated on, the emotional cost is way more than when your best friend doesn't invite you golfing or to the neighborhood cookout.
I think marriage is the ultimate relationship because of all the work that has to go into it. When I signed my marriage certificate, it did not mean that I never had to do anything to keep the marriage alive. It actually meant that I had to begin to actually work harder. I had to learn to live my wife. I had to learn how to be selfless. I had to learn how to change when I was wrong and apologize for it. We didn't just move in together and share the bills. Do I understand my wife better today than I did fourteen years ago? Yes. Will I understand her even better in fourteen more? Yes. Has it always been easy? No. Was it worth it? Definitely.
This sounds like I'm beginning to formulate a belief system, complete with rules and regulations. If I apply this to the Core, then it seems to move beyond just being in relationship with God. Actually it doesn't. If we focus on maintaining our relationship with God, the how-to's will take care of themselves. Here's a word of warning. It can become real easy to follow an already established set of rules and regulations to do so. You could even make up your own involving ritual sacrifices and feasts on chocolate bars.
I will also admit that this line of reasoning could also very easily lead to a universalist orientation that says all religions are a path that leads to God. That's why the relationship aspect is so important. I had to listen to my wife, not just do what I thought needed to be done. When we are in relationship with God, we have to listen to him. He'll talk to us. He'll guide us. The Holy Spirit will point us in the right direction. It's also important to be around other people who are also in relationship with him. Either become part of a brick and mortar church or get together regularly in some fashion with others so you can encourage one another in your relationships.
So how's your relationship? Is it defined by do's and don'ts? Does your relationship really mean anything? Don't live on either of these extremes. Live in the middle. Live in the Core.
I call marriage the ultimate relationship because of all the stuff that comes with it. There are legal ramifications. If you decide to end the relationship permanently, you have to go through all sorts of rigamarole to divide up property, etc. One of the partners may remain financially obligated to other as a result of the relationship. There are certainly physical and emotional ramifications. Even here the legal system has intervened and person can actually sue someone for "alienation of affection" if the spouse is drawn away due to an affair. If you are the person who has been cheated on, the emotional cost is way more than when your best friend doesn't invite you golfing or to the neighborhood cookout.
I think marriage is the ultimate relationship because of all the work that has to go into it. When I signed my marriage certificate, it did not mean that I never had to do anything to keep the marriage alive. It actually meant that I had to begin to actually work harder. I had to learn to live my wife. I had to learn how to be selfless. I had to learn how to change when I was wrong and apologize for it. We didn't just move in together and share the bills. Do I understand my wife better today than I did fourteen years ago? Yes. Will I understand her even better in fourteen more? Yes. Has it always been easy? No. Was it worth it? Definitely.
This sounds like I'm beginning to formulate a belief system, complete with rules and regulations. If I apply this to the Core, then it seems to move beyond just being in relationship with God. Actually it doesn't. If we focus on maintaining our relationship with God, the how-to's will take care of themselves. Here's a word of warning. It can become real easy to follow an already established set of rules and regulations to do so. You could even make up your own involving ritual sacrifices and feasts on chocolate bars.
I will also admit that this line of reasoning could also very easily lead to a universalist orientation that says all religions are a path that leads to God. That's why the relationship aspect is so important. I had to listen to my wife, not just do what I thought needed to be done. When we are in relationship with God, we have to listen to him. He'll talk to us. He'll guide us. The Holy Spirit will point us in the right direction. It's also important to be around other people who are also in relationship with him. Either become part of a brick and mortar church or get together regularly in some fashion with others so you can encourage one another in your relationships.
So how's your relationship? Is it defined by do's and don'ts? Does your relationship really mean anything? Don't live on either of these extremes. Live in the middle. Live in the Core.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Finding the Core
Continuing last week's thoughts sparked by the Curse of Knowledge, let's talk about the Core of being a Christian. If we were to boil down what it means to be a Christian, what would that look like? I had said maybe we should look for the ending point instead of the starting point. I pondered that idea some more while mowing the lawn. I'm not sure that approach is any better. Someone posted some excellent thoughts in response to this dilemma. Be sure to read them.
Anonymous' comments are heading in the same direction that my own thoughts are. As I contemplated what the ending point would be in the pursuit of the Core, I began to think about it terms of a relationship. Many people would say the ending point is heaven itself, where we hope to spend eternity after death and/or the end of the present world, whichever comes first. Heaven is the end destination, but I don't think it's the ending point of the Core.
God is the beginning and end of all things. Therefore, I think being in relationship with him is the beginning AND end of the Core. That's what he wants from us. Deep down, I believe that's what all of us want - we just don't always realize it. It's as simple as that.
For those of you who are burdened by the Curse of Knowledge, you're probably thinking I'm some kind of liberal theologian who believes everyone will be going to heaven, assuming there is one. You're wondering where does sin, the atonement, and Christian living come in? What about the Holy Spirit? Baptism? Those are all important issues, but I don't think they are part of the Core.
The Core is nothing more than God wants to be in relationship with us. When we understand that, we can begin to do just that - live in relationship with him. When we seek to live in relationship with him, we will begin to discover all those other things. We will learn how hard it is without outside help. We will seek that outside help once we discover what it is. The Holy Spirit will reveal to us things like only the selfless sacrifice of Jesus can restore the relationship. We will begin to experience the power of the Holy Spirit as it changes our lives and empowers us to live in that relationship and become more like him.
Realizing the simplicity of the Core will liberate us to live more fully in that relationship with God. When we shed the burden of all the extraneous rules, regulations, and belief systems, there are less barriers between God and us. We can experience true repentance. Click here to read an excellent post by OT professor Brian Russell from Asbury Theological Seminary on what Jesus meant when he said "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near." I think Brian is describing the Core.
Of course, even though relationship is the "end", it doesn't mean "stopping point". More on that later. I pray you can live in the freedom of the Core.
Anonymous' comments are heading in the same direction that my own thoughts are. As I contemplated what the ending point would be in the pursuit of the Core, I began to think about it terms of a relationship. Many people would say the ending point is heaven itself, where we hope to spend eternity after death and/or the end of the present world, whichever comes first. Heaven is the end destination, but I don't think it's the ending point of the Core.
God is the beginning and end of all things. Therefore, I think being in relationship with him is the beginning AND end of the Core. That's what he wants from us. Deep down, I believe that's what all of us want - we just don't always realize it. It's as simple as that.
For those of you who are burdened by the Curse of Knowledge, you're probably thinking I'm some kind of liberal theologian who believes everyone will be going to heaven, assuming there is one. You're wondering where does sin, the atonement, and Christian living come in? What about the Holy Spirit? Baptism? Those are all important issues, but I don't think they are part of the Core.
The Core is nothing more than God wants to be in relationship with us. When we understand that, we can begin to do just that - live in relationship with him. When we seek to live in relationship with him, we will begin to discover all those other things. We will learn how hard it is without outside help. We will seek that outside help once we discover what it is. The Holy Spirit will reveal to us things like only the selfless sacrifice of Jesus can restore the relationship. We will begin to experience the power of the Holy Spirit as it changes our lives and empowers us to live in that relationship and become more like him.
Realizing the simplicity of the Core will liberate us to live more fully in that relationship with God. When we shed the burden of all the extraneous rules, regulations, and belief systems, there are less barriers between God and us. We can experience true repentance. Click here to read an excellent post by OT professor Brian Russell from Asbury Theological Seminary on what Jesus meant when he said "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near." I think Brian is describing the Core.
Of course, even though relationship is the "end", it doesn't mean "stopping point". More on that later. I pray you can live in the freedom of the Core.
Monday, May 26, 2008
A Kindred Spirit
Tonight we had a cookout with my youngest son's assistant baseball coach. I have been an "unofficial" assistant all season because I've been at every practice & game and I said "Yes" everytime the coaches asked me to help. It's amazing how our families are on parallel paths. Never in any of my conversations with the other coaches (or parents) did I mention I was a pastor. None of the others ever mentioned their vocations either. We were just there for the kids.
Well, there was always something about Coach Sonny that made me feel like this dude was a follower of Christ in the "I want him (Christ) to be part of my life in every possible way" way. One evening before a game he just happened to mention having been a pastor, but looking for another way to do church. When I said, "Me too," and began explaining the current stage of our journey his eyes bugged out. He called his wife on his cell phone just to say, "I'm standing here with Matt Guthrie and guess what he just said? . . . " It turns out our stories are very similar. He too is looking to get away from the brick and mortar church.
Tonight we just got together to share our stories, some food and some good times. When the evening was done, we agreed to do "church" together, whatever that means. We'll study the Bible together, encourage one another, maybe even find a way to serve someone in need around us together. It's just one more example of how we both feel God is leading our families on this path. It will be interesting to see how this goes.
Well, there was always something about Coach Sonny that made me feel like this dude was a follower of Christ in the "I want him (Christ) to be part of my life in every possible way" way. One evening before a game he just happened to mention having been a pastor, but looking for another way to do church. When I said, "Me too," and began explaining the current stage of our journey his eyes bugged out. He called his wife on his cell phone just to say, "I'm standing here with Matt Guthrie and guess what he just said? . . . " It turns out our stories are very similar. He too is looking to get away from the brick and mortar church.
Tonight we just got together to share our stories, some food and some good times. When the evening was done, we agreed to do "church" together, whatever that means. We'll study the Bible together, encourage one another, maybe even find a way to serve someone in need around us together. It's just one more example of how we both feel God is leading our families on this path. It will be interesting to see how this goes.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Just Another weird Sunday
Sorry I haven't followed up on Thursday's post. Be sure to read the comments by a reader. I've got some thoughts started, but need to polish them a bit before posting. I hope to have them up tonight or tomorrow. For now, read about my weird Sunday.
The Bangles hated Manic Monday (I can't believe they're still touring!) They preferred Sunday because that was their "fun day". For me, today (Sunday) was another weird day. For approximately thirty years, I have spent practically every Sunday in a brick and mortar church. For the last ten years, I have spent those Sundays in church as a pastor. Yesterday as I prepared for Sunday to arrive, the weirdness began as I knew I would not be in "church".
The difficulties began when my wife, who has been stuck in the house all week with the kids, said, "We have to go to a church tomorrow. I need some social contact outside this house." I predicted this would happen if you would recall. She even said, "We don't have to go every week, just once a month or so." We than began to list the possible places to attend this morning. As we listed them, weighed the pros and cons that we knew of for each one, we came up with zero choices. By the time we turned out the light last night, we had agreed that we would stay the course we are on. FYI, it was her decision, not mine.
Part of our discussion last night centered on what it meant to be a follower of Christ in the social, personal, and behaviorial contexts. We examined our social lives over the last two years. We reviewed how the brick and mortar church with its set schedules dictated our social lives. Our only social contact throughout the week occurred only on the appointed church related events. That's not a bad thing, but we had become dependent on this organizational structure to take care of too many parts of our lives.
This morning while Tammy cleaned up the breakfast dishes, I began putting the final touches on our family service. I came across Isaiah 58. It's a great chapter on what God considers true worship - feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, etc. But it also talks about the importance of keeping the Sabbath (verses 13-14). Here I began to question our current course again. Are we doing the right thing?
As I contemplated that last question, Tammy began playing the piano. She played through a book of familiar worship songs, new and old. As she played, I prayed. Memories of corporate worship services, singing with other believers, rolled through my mind, and an emptiness carved itself out of my heart. "God," I prayed, "are we doing the right thing? Am I leading my family in the right direction?"
Eventually, all four of us gathered in the living room. I read Isaiah 58 and the four of us discussed it. We talked about Acts 2:42-47 in light of this chapter. As a family we decided we were not giving God our true worship. We made a list of things that we could become intentional about doing as a way of giving God our worship and demonstrating his love to those around us. So look out - a friendly neighborhood visit, canned food drive, and some even more radical and ambitious projects are coming your way.
After over thirty minutes of discussing Scripture with my wife, my ten year old and my seven and a half year old sons, Sunday was not so weird. We had truly given God our time. And we didn't necessarily end it at the conclusion of our "service". We made commitments to make God a real part of our lives without an organizational crutch. Sunday turned out to not be so weird after all.
The Bangles hated Manic Monday (I can't believe they're still touring!) They preferred Sunday because that was their "fun day". For me, today (Sunday) was another weird day. For approximately thirty years, I have spent practically every Sunday in a brick and mortar church. For the last ten years, I have spent those Sundays in church as a pastor. Yesterday as I prepared for Sunday to arrive, the weirdness began as I knew I would not be in "church".
The difficulties began when my wife, who has been stuck in the house all week with the kids, said, "We have to go to a church tomorrow. I need some social contact outside this house." I predicted this would happen if you would recall. She even said, "We don't have to go every week, just once a month or so." We than began to list the possible places to attend this morning. As we listed them, weighed the pros and cons that we knew of for each one, we came up with zero choices. By the time we turned out the light last night, we had agreed that we would stay the course we are on. FYI, it was her decision, not mine.
Part of our discussion last night centered on what it meant to be a follower of Christ in the social, personal, and behaviorial contexts. We examined our social lives over the last two years. We reviewed how the brick and mortar church with its set schedules dictated our social lives. Our only social contact throughout the week occurred only on the appointed church related events. That's not a bad thing, but we had become dependent on this organizational structure to take care of too many parts of our lives.
This morning while Tammy cleaned up the breakfast dishes, I began putting the final touches on our family service. I came across Isaiah 58. It's a great chapter on what God considers true worship - feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, etc. But it also talks about the importance of keeping the Sabbath (verses 13-14). Here I began to question our current course again. Are we doing the right thing?
As I contemplated that last question, Tammy began playing the piano. She played through a book of familiar worship songs, new and old. As she played, I prayed. Memories of corporate worship services, singing with other believers, rolled through my mind, and an emptiness carved itself out of my heart. "God," I prayed, "are we doing the right thing? Am I leading my family in the right direction?"
Eventually, all four of us gathered in the living room. I read Isaiah 58 and the four of us discussed it. We talked about Acts 2:42-47 in light of this chapter. As a family we decided we were not giving God our true worship. We made a list of things that we could become intentional about doing as a way of giving God our worship and demonstrating his love to those around us. So look out - a friendly neighborhood visit, canned food drive, and some even more radical and ambitious projects are coming your way.
After over thirty minutes of discussing Scripture with my wife, my ten year old and my seven and a half year old sons, Sunday was not so weird. We had truly given God our time. And we didn't necessarily end it at the conclusion of our "service". We made commitments to make God a real part of our lives without an organizational crutch. Sunday turned out to not be so weird after all.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
The Curse of Knowledge
On my other blog, I've posted some thoughts on the concept of the Curse of Knowledge as depicted in the book Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath. Click here to read those thoughts. The Curse of Knowledge is the inability to remember or imagine what it is like to NOT know something, thereby makig it difficult to communicate that knowledge to an unknowing individual. Here, I'd like to address one other effect of the Curse of Knowledge - the tendency to make simple things complex. The Heath brothers also address this in their book. I want to apply it to our faith.
After two thousand years of Christianity and approximately twenty-five hundred years of organized Judaism before that, we have turned our relationship with God into a pretty complex affair. We have a pretty well thought out system of beliefs. We may not agree on all of them and different groups may emphasize certain nuances, but by and large, there is a set of universally agreed upon beliefs that characterize Orthodox Christianity.
It doesn't take long for the average person to be affected by the Curse of Knowledge once they begin their faith journey. Part of this is the result of being part of the institutional church. Over the last forty-five hundred years, we have reasoned out our theology pretty well. With each new development, we add to the list of requirements necessary to be a church member or even to be a Christian.
I will admit to my impatience and frustration with both the well-meaning person and the self-righteous person who insists on an adherence to a list of requirements in order to be considered a Christian. Over the last two or three years, I have put considerable study, prayer, and thought in boiling down what it means to be a Christian to the most basic core. It has not be an attempt to list the bare minimum for the sake of convenience. It has been an attempt to strip away all the complex baggage so people can be liberated to more fully live in relationship with God.
Many people point to the Apostle's Creed as this core. I'm beginning to wonder if even that is more than is necessary. Jesus said that we need to receive the kingdom of God like a little child. I don't think that meant we needed it to make it more complex.
Here's where the Curse of Knowledge rears its ugly head. As I have tried to identify the core, I always look for the right starting point. I usually start with "God loves us and wants to be in relationship with us." I then begin to identify how the relationship is possible, what impedes it, etc. Soon, it's no longer simple. Maybe the problem is I'm looking for a starting point when I should be looking for an ending point.
I feel myself beginning to get wordy and a well-articulated thesis is trying to escape my brain. So I'll stop here for now. I'll come back and continue later. For now, help me out. What are your thoughts?
After two thousand years of Christianity and approximately twenty-five hundred years of organized Judaism before that, we have turned our relationship with God into a pretty complex affair. We have a pretty well thought out system of beliefs. We may not agree on all of them and different groups may emphasize certain nuances, but by and large, there is a set of universally agreed upon beliefs that characterize Orthodox Christianity.
It doesn't take long for the average person to be affected by the Curse of Knowledge once they begin their faith journey. Part of this is the result of being part of the institutional church. Over the last forty-five hundred years, we have reasoned out our theology pretty well. With each new development, we add to the list of requirements necessary to be a church member or even to be a Christian.
I will admit to my impatience and frustration with both the well-meaning person and the self-righteous person who insists on an adherence to a list of requirements in order to be considered a Christian. Over the last two or three years, I have put considerable study, prayer, and thought in boiling down what it means to be a Christian to the most basic core. It has not be an attempt to list the bare minimum for the sake of convenience. It has been an attempt to strip away all the complex baggage so people can be liberated to more fully live in relationship with God.
Many people point to the Apostle's Creed as this core. I'm beginning to wonder if even that is more than is necessary. Jesus said that we need to receive the kingdom of God like a little child. I don't think that meant we needed it to make it more complex.
Here's where the Curse of Knowledge rears its ugly head. As I have tried to identify the core, I always look for the right starting point. I usually start with "God loves us and wants to be in relationship with us." I then begin to identify how the relationship is possible, what impedes it, etc. Soon, it's no longer simple. Maybe the problem is I'm looking for a starting point when I should be looking for an ending point.
I feel myself beginning to get wordy and a well-articulated thesis is trying to escape my brain. So I'll stop here for now. I'll come back and continue later. For now, help me out. What are your thoughts?
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Rediscovering & Re-implementing Biblical Leadership
This morning I came across a great article by Alan Hirsch on leadership in the church. It's a great article no matter what type of church you are part of. Here it is.
Here's a quote that particularly struck me:
For the last several years, I felt like I have spent most of my time doing that last part. I always referred to it as reconnecting de-churched Christians. What I really wanted to do was be more involved in the apostolic, prophetic, and evangelistic aspects of leadership. For one reason or another, the particular environments I was in made that difficult. As I embark on this new chapter of ministry and life as a follower of Christ, I must be careful that I don't overemphasize these roles to the neglect of shepherd and teacher.
Here's a quote that particularly struck me:
During Christendom, the centuries when Christianity dominated the culture, the church acquired a fundamentally non-missional posture. Mission beyond the walls of the institution was downplayed because every citizen was deemed at least a nominal Christian already. What was needed were pastoral and teaching ministries to care for and instruct the congregation, and to draw underdeveloped Christians back into the church on Sunday. (emphasis mine)
For the last several years, I felt like I have spent most of my time doing that last part. I always referred to it as reconnecting de-churched Christians. What I really wanted to do was be more involved in the apostolic, prophetic, and evangelistic aspects of leadership. For one reason or another, the particular environments I was in made that difficult. As I embark on this new chapter of ministry and life as a follower of Christ, I must be careful that I don't overemphasize these roles to the neglect of shepherd and teacher.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Transitions
If you read yesterday's post about the need to intentionally pursue community, you've probably come to a couple of conclusions. One of those is that we are not nor will we be attending church. Since stepping down as pastor from our last church, one of the most popular questions asked of us now is, "Where are you guys going to church?" We usually answer humorously with something like, "The First Church of The Living Room" or "Guthrie Memorial Home Church". I have a some friends who are now pastors without a flock and I have asked them the very same question. They have or currently are experiencing the same situation I now experience - the weird transition from being pastor/leader of a church to a guy who sits in the pew.
It's not an easy transition. I talked to one colleague who spent over a year and a half searching for a new church home went he entered early retirement. He never found one. Nothing ever felt right. Currently he is doing some interim pastor work. I haven't asked him, but I bet he feels the most comfortable he's felt in almost two years.
When I have talked to these other pastors, they all detail similar experiences. Like any other person searching for a church home, they are looking for church where the Holy Spirit is moving, the worship is uplifting and quality, the preaching is solid, and hopefully even a place where they can get involved in ministry. When we first resigned our last post and began searching, we too looked for all these things. The difficulty for us was we felt like after a year or so of healing, we would be starting a new church. We felt awkward searching for a place where we did not feel right about becoming too comfortable because we knew we would be leaving. I'm not saying we had the right perspective, but it's the one we had.
I'm discovering that my transition goes beyond moving from clergy to layperson. I'm undergoing a transition in what I understand church to be. We have faithfully had church services in our home for our family. In fact, we hope to add people to our group and eventually expand into a network of house churches. Those church services looked just like the ones held in all the brick and mortar churches around the country. We had some music, prayed, and expounded on Scripture. Does that make it church? If we did it with one, two, or even three other families, would that have made it church?
I've got some thoughts and opinions, which I'm reserving for the moment. I want to be able to explain them better after they have more time to ruminate. I will share this thought - it's amazing how trapped we allow ourselves to be by forms.
BTW, about the conclusions re: our church attendance. We'll stop by the traditional brick and mortar church on occasion. We're not avoiding church but we are coming to a new understanding of what it is.
It's not an easy transition. I talked to one colleague who spent over a year and a half searching for a new church home went he entered early retirement. He never found one. Nothing ever felt right. Currently he is doing some interim pastor work. I haven't asked him, but I bet he feels the most comfortable he's felt in almost two years.
When I have talked to these other pastors, they all detail similar experiences. Like any other person searching for a church home, they are looking for church where the Holy Spirit is moving, the worship is uplifting and quality, the preaching is solid, and hopefully even a place where they can get involved in ministry. When we first resigned our last post and began searching, we too looked for all these things. The difficulty for us was we felt like after a year or so of healing, we would be starting a new church. We felt awkward searching for a place where we did not feel right about becoming too comfortable because we knew we would be leaving. I'm not saying we had the right perspective, but it's the one we had.
I'm discovering that my transition goes beyond moving from clergy to layperson. I'm undergoing a transition in what I understand church to be. We have faithfully had church services in our home for our family. In fact, we hope to add people to our group and eventually expand into a network of house churches. Those church services looked just like the ones held in all the brick and mortar churches around the country. We had some music, prayed, and expounded on Scripture. Does that make it church? If we did it with one, two, or even three other families, would that have made it church?
I've got some thoughts and opinions, which I'm reserving for the moment. I want to be able to explain them better after they have more time to ruminate. I will share this thought - it's amazing how trapped we allow ourselves to be by forms.
BTW, about the conclusions re: our church attendance. We'll stop by the traditional brick and mortar church on occasion. We're not avoiding church but we are coming to a new understanding of what it is.
Day 1 - The End
Day 1 of posting my journey has ended. Not much happened but a lot of questions filled my mind. The most important question dealt with how to be part of a faith community if we are not part of a church. If you read my other blog, you know that being part of a faith community and journeying with others for mutual support and accountability are big deals to me. If I'm going to avoid the brick and mortar church, where will I get that?
It's especially important to me because it's important to my family, especially my wife. She voiced her concerns and desires for community outside our family. She misses the whole idea of Sunday School and catching up with other people, greeting everyone before and after the Sunday morning worship service. Plus we need to make sure our boys get outside social contact because we homeschool.
These seem like death rays to the notion of living faithfully without being part of the regular Sunday morning church thing. Perhaps selfishly on my part, I'm rather excited about facing this challenge head on. In thinking about it today, I realized just how intentional it will require me to be if I am to live in community. I cannot depend on the organizational structures like Sunday School, Sunday morning worship, and other church functions that facilitate gathering together. I'm excited because people get to relate to me as a normal person again, not as a pastor, or as someone called me this weekend, "The Preacher".
I'm looking forward to building new relationships on a different basis now. I'm looking forward to being missional in my faith as I still do the work of spreading the Gospel. I think it's going to be a great year.
It's especially important to me because it's important to my family, especially my wife. She voiced her concerns and desires for community outside our family. She misses the whole idea of Sunday School and catching up with other people, greeting everyone before and after the Sunday morning worship service. Plus we need to make sure our boys get outside social contact because we homeschool.
These seem like death rays to the notion of living faithfully without being part of the regular Sunday morning church thing. Perhaps selfishly on my part, I'm rather excited about facing this challenge head on. In thinking about it today, I realized just how intentional it will require me to be if I am to live in community. I cannot depend on the organizational structures like Sunday School, Sunday morning worship, and other church functions that facilitate gathering together. I'm excited because people get to relate to me as a normal person again, not as a pastor, or as someone called me this weekend, "The Preacher".
I'm looking forward to building new relationships on a different basis now. I'm looking forward to being missional in my faith as I still do the work of spreading the Gospel. I think it's going to be a great year.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Day 1 - Here we go!
Welcome to my faith journey. I hope you took the time to read the left hand column to see why I'm doing this. Unfortunately, it was impossible to fully explain it all without writing a 25 page thesis. So I tried to hit the highlights. There are lots of reasons and those close to me will recognize some of the hurt and disillusionment I'm experiencing come through. But today I want to begin with the positive elements motivating this experiment.
I'm excited about helping people outside the influence of the brick and mortar church find their meaning and purpose in relationship with their divine creator. A lot of people will never cross the threshold of a church building except to attend a wedding or a funeral. I may call myself a pastor without a flock, but it's probably more accurate to say I'm a pastor without a church building and organization.
I'm excited about experiencing my own relationship with God without some of the organizational trappings that I have thrown upon myself. I'm excited about experiencing my relationship with God personally instead of professionally. I'm excited about sharing this all with you.
I know this will raise many questions and genuine concerns. Feel free to share them with me. I hope that many of them will become clear in the coming weeks anyway. Come back often as I will be continually adding links and comments. It would be really cool if anyone out there has a some kind of futuristic direct brain-blog link so I could post all my thoughts as they happen. Until then, I'll do my best to keep you up to date.
I'm excited about helping people outside the influence of the brick and mortar church find their meaning and purpose in relationship with their divine creator. A lot of people will never cross the threshold of a church building except to attend a wedding or a funeral. I may call myself a pastor without a flock, but it's probably more accurate to say I'm a pastor without a church building and organization.
I'm excited about experiencing my own relationship with God without some of the organizational trappings that I have thrown upon myself. I'm excited about experiencing my relationship with God personally instead of professionally. I'm excited about sharing this all with you.
I know this will raise many questions and genuine concerns. Feel free to share them with me. I hope that many of them will become clear in the coming weeks anyway. Come back often as I will be continually adding links and comments. It would be really cool if anyone out there has a some kind of futuristic direct brain-blog link so I could post all my thoughts as they happen. Until then, I'll do my best to keep you up to date.
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