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.

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.

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?