“I like your Christ, but I do not like your Christians; they are so unlike their leader.†– Mahatma Ghandi
An interesting quote to start the weekend off with (thanks Mike)! And it makes me wonder, what would we look like if the body of Christ really ’embodied’ Christ in the contexts and in the places that we find ourselves today? The class I am taking right now is on congregational leadership, and we talk a fair amount about the missional church, the sending of the new church, God’s mission in the world – missio dei – all these things, as what should propel how we form our congregations… I wonder if people are just too busy, or too tired out, or don’t know how to more fully embody Christ? Or if we have bought into some counter-stories about what the purpose of church is (i.e. building structures, making money, producing programs, etc.) All these forms and functions of church of course can be really valuable – we do need building committees and programs and financial resources to do church with. But maybe we sometimes forget the priorities involved and think that is the whole purpose, instead of just helpful structure that provides the space to be and do ‘real church’.
Are our congregations places where brokenness is welcomed? Where poor and hungry people find sustenance, both physical and spiritual? Where modern day “widows, orphans, and aliens” from the Old Testament – like single parents, children without role models, vulnerable immigrants – are welcomed and supported in a holistic way? Where people who have been burned or disappointed by church/Christians may see authentic and lived out faith once again? Just think of what God might do with a church ready and willing to respond to where He is working. I am grateful for the congregations that I know who truly want to embody the body of Christ – but I think we have a long way to go!
“All these forms and functions of church of course can be really valuable – we do need building committees and programs and financial resources to do church with.”
Really? Why?
Yeah – sometimes we *don’t* need form in order to ‘be’ the church – and I love the efforts throughout history to unencumber church from unecessary form. Tell me more about why you think this isn’t needed. It seems to me that oftentimes, faithful members of the body *do* need form in order to figure out what the church looks like, how it functions, how worship is ordered, what story is told, how the story is told, etc. I think the first ECC polity conversations talked about a tension between “ardour versus order” – which we’ll alwayas be in the midst of, I think.
You assumed a lot from a simple “why?” I only quoted what you had said. We ALWAYS need form in order to be church. When you envision a formless church, you are not envisioning anything I would find helpful. The real question may be, “What forms express the church’s meaning the best for us.” You said in your post that we need building committees, programs, and financial resources. My “Really? Why?” was not rhetorical. I really would like to hear you to tell me why those three particular examples of forms are needed.