Here are the continuing thoughts from "The Present Future" by Reggie McNeal. Specifically we'll be looking at New Reality Number Four – The Return To Spiritual Formation.
Wrong Question #4: How Do We Develop Church Members?
Have you ever joined something? What was it like? Good, bad, indifferent? Did it feel holy? Sacred? Were you joining an organization or becoming family? Have you found your tribe?
We have made following Jesus all about being a good church member. The truth is, the North American church culture extracts salt from the world and diminishes the amount of light available to those in darkness who need to find their way.
I think I'd rather be a good husband, dad, son, friend, neighbor, citizen than a good church member. A good church member sounds so sweet and tame. I want to be a good follower of Jesus, his words and his actions. A follower of Jesus sounds like a risk and adventure.
Tough Question #4: How Do We Develop Followers of Jesus?
What does discipleship mean and look like to you?
The church is there to help people develop an abundant life promised to them by Jesus. Imagine helping people see how God can get into the life they already have instead of asking them to give up their life for the church. This means less church activity and more people development. Life has been getting pushed to the side.
If we miss living life in all of this, well, we've really missed it.
In many cases, we’re not peddling Jesus – we’re peddling church with the assumption that if people will come to church and convert to churchianity they will get Jesus. What they often get is a poor substitute. Evangelism that will introduce Jesus to this culture will flow from people who are deeply in love with Jesus.
I've probably said this before and I will most certainly say it again.
If we pursue community we may not find a cause worth living for.
But if we pursue a cause worth living for we will most assuredly get community of the best kind.
If we pursue friendship we may not find discipleship that changes us.
But if we pursue discipleship that changes us we will most assuredly get friendship of the best kind.
If we pursue church we may not find a Jesus who saves.
But if we pursue a Jesus who saves we will most assuredly get church of the best kind.
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2 comments:
The more I ask the question, "How to BE the church?", the more I realize that it comes down to pursuit. I love the final statements of the blog. In the big attempt to "rethink church" it is easy to just to try to create results directly. (community, dicipleship, church, etc.) We have to become intentional about our pursuits and allow the results to develop as just that....a result. Embrace the evolutionary process of becoming.
I absolutely agree. You're right -a species does not know how it will evolve or what is shall evolve into. It is. It lives. It adapts. It grows stronger. It reproduces. They are. They live. They adapt. They grow stronger. They reproduce.
Kind of takes the mystery out of it all...and allows the mystery to deepen all at the same time.
I want to jump into the mystery of God, the mystery of Christ, the mystery of the cross, the mystery of the church, the mystery of life.
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