Become a Missionary to Your Culture

"Study the culture that God has placed you in so you can learn how to communicate the Gospel message in the way that people in your time and place will best understand. Stay current on what messages the media (the Internet, movies, music, TV shows, etc.) is presenting, and think critically about how those messages reflect attitudes in your culture. Consider what questions people are asking about life and faith through the culture, and how you can point them toward biblical truth in ways they can relate to well. Remember to approach people as they actually are right now, not as you wish they were. Keep in mind that many people today aren't familiar with what the Bible says and don't view it as an authoritative source. You may need to help them notice how God is showing up in popular culture before encouraging them to read the Bible. When you do present the Gospel message, communicate it in a context suited for the time and place in which you minister to people."

Brilliant I say! From We Are the Body: How to Become a Practicing Church by Whitney Hopler at Crosswalk.com

Becoming a Practicing Church

The following is an excerpt from the Crosswalk.com article by contributing writer Whitney Hopler and is a report on the practical applications of Tim Morey's recent book, Embodying Our Faith: Becoming a Living, Sharing, Practicing Church, (IVP Books, 2009). I have listed the major point headings of the article without her discussion. To read the entire piece click here.

ME: I have not read this book and cannot speak to its usefullness firsthand, but Hopler's points and discussion are valid and I agree with her. In fact, these are the things I saw that made me commit to following Christ.

We Are the Body: How to Become a Practicing Church by Whitney Hopler

"God wants your congregation to do much more than just come to church...

"In our postmodern world, what lost people need is to see faith embodied in the lives of those who believe. That's how they'll best discover that the Gospel is true.

"Here's how your church can learn to better embody faith:

• Be a contributor instead of a consumer.
  
• Become a missionary to your culture.
  
• Let people see a faith that's experiential.
  
• Let people see a faith that's communal.
  
• Let people see a faith that's enacted.
  

Adapted from Embodying Our Faith: Becoming a Living, Sharing, Practicing Church, copyright 2009 by Tim Morey. Published by IVP Books, a division of InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Ill., www.ivpress.com.

Tim Morey (D.Min., Fuller Theological Seminary) is founding and lead pastor at Life Covenant Church in Torrance, California. He also serves on the Evangelical Covenant Church's national church planting team and as adjunct professor teaching practical theology at Talbot School of Theology.

Original publication date: February 10, 2010

A Sense of Belonging

I found a new blog the other day about Creative Communities. It's mostly about relational stuff, small groups and the like. The following excerpt takes on the issue of "belonging" and "joining." I'm not in 100% agreement, but the insight is worthy of discussion.

"Today, I'm looking at chapter two from the book The Search to Belong by Joe Myers. This chapter is entitled, "Longing to Belong."

Belonging means different things to different people. According to Myers, "belonging happens when you identify with another entity -- a person or organization, or perhaps a species, culture, or ethnic group." Myers points out that belonging is not necessary reciprocal..."

Read the entire post at:

http://www.creative-community.org/2010/01/search-to-belong-for-whom-am-i.html

I'm back...

Hard to believe I laid this baby down for so long. It's time for a comeback. This time I think I'll stay, so don't be afraid to follow.

I want to start back with a reference/link to this intellgent article from RevLife:

Church Should Not Be About Hype

By Matt at The Church of No People

"To kick off our final week of Doubt Month, I want to ask you a question. Has church ever insulted your intelligence?"

See the entire piece at: http://www.revelife.com/720387522/church-should-not-be-about-hype/

LOVE JESUS, HATE CHURCH?

From the book "Love Jesus, Hate Church":

"During the past 10 years, approximately 50 million Christians left the church. In fact, the percentage of American adults who attend religious services has dropped from 49% to less than 32%. And more recent studies have shown that the problem of the decline in church attendance is actually getting much worse. In addition, a recent USA Today/Gallop poll reported that almost half of all Americans appear to be alienated from any form of organized religion. If the current trend continues, most Americans will not call themselves religious in just a few years.

"Of the roughly 140 million Americans who do make their way to church on any given weekend, an amazing 74% are not engaged in their church at all.Moreover, a study from the Barna Institute concluded that by the end of the next decade, up to 40% of all church-attending Christians will be worshipping God, serving others, studying the Bible, etc., outside of a congregational church setting. Clearly, the data indicates that church isn’t working."

Why? I'll let you know more as I read the book. In the meantime visit the website www.lovejesushatechurch.com for more info and three sample chapters.

When Dreams Die; Who Will Be There for You?

I went to a funeral yesterday. It was for a gal I've known since she was a middleschooler. She died at 21 in a freak accident. She left behind her husband of two years. He is a pastor. They had just accepted a new position. I don't understand things and I'm not going to pretend that I do.

Anyway, the thing that struck me at the funeral was this idea of community. There were over 1,000 people at this one. People came from W.Virginia., Kentucky, Indiana, Hawaii--all over to be with the family. And I thought: This is community.

I'm still thinking this through, but, you know, I wonder: Who's in our circle? Who's got our back? Who's gonna hold us up when life tries to knock us down? Do we have such a community?

Lord, thank you for the church!

Common Ground: Church in a Bar

From Pastor John Bishop's Blog:

Treasa and Rick Conn, who with the help of Danny Joe and the rest of our teams, are starting a church in a bar. Specifically Dodge City Saloon (I know, we live in the west). Over the course of the weekend and during the last several days, there has been nothing but incredible momentum, buzz and support over what ONLY GOD might do. I feel like we're stretching and risking like Paul did, who wrote most of the New Testament. Paul was a legalist, a Pharisee, went to the best schools, from the tribe of Benjamin, he knew more than most in his day, and was respected by most everyone in his day. Yet when God broke his heart, his faith became break-through and he saw EVERYTHING differently. Look at the words he told the church at Corinth:

1 Corinthians 9:22-23 says, "...Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings."

I love that! I try to find common ground with everyone, and do everything so that I might bring them to Christ. The thoughts are pretty radical. When we broke the news about Dodge City, with over 5,000 people in all of our campuses, I thought that people would be frustrated, and I assumed people wouldn't understand, but it was just the opposite. We didn't hear any negative comments. Only positive, only encouragement, only support for Rick and Treasa, and in the end, ONLY GOD will be glorified. Thanks to the owner of Dodge City Saloon who is not only helping finance the campus, but is allowing us to use the facility every Sunday morning for no charge. Did you get that? Every Sunday morning for no charge.

I hope that we continue to find common ground and do whatever it takes to reach someone for Jesus Christ. When the day is over, the bar is simply a building. I'm glad to be a part of a church that always does whatever it takes to reach the next one person for Christ.

A Former Pastor of Community Speaks

The Church was designed, in part, to function for koinia (fellowship); does it serve this function well or is it lacking?

It is lacking and does not serve this function well, IMHO. The church is too spread out geographically and folks have too many commitments to too many places and activities for true koinonia to take place.

How does effective communication aid the function and process of koinia?

Effective communication is essential to authentic relationships, which are at the core of koininia.

What has been your experience in the Church: Does it communicate well (both within and without)?

I know of no church that truly communicates effectively. Some do better than others. They are organizations that are protecting and withholding information as it suite their interests. Information is seen as power, and those who "communicate" hold that power. Withholding information is another form of power. They do not require people to talk face to face with those who are needing to communicate. They allow "dead" mechanisms to do this. This is not effective communication, in my book, but rather an abuse of power.

How might communication improve in the Church?

Communication can only improve in a church as they are dedicated to speaking the truth in love face to face with everyone. As long as communication is used as a form of power and control, there isn't much improving allowed.

How does communication relate to and/or effect community?

Communication makes or breaks community. It binds or frees community. It gives voice or silences community. It depends on who holds or gives away the power and control. I have lots of opinions about this...