so what about church?

had a chance to tell a bit of my story to a group from rob's church over the weekend...
it was the prayer leaders prayer retreat...but it got me thinking more about how i view church...and then my journey group at western seminary has been looking at just what our purpose is...so i wrote this over on our journey blog and thought i'd post it here too...

the gang at emergent are attempting some definitions of the "movement" thing that is the emerging church...

rob and i are having many discussion on just what church is for us and how our views often differ from the churches god has us in...
you all are in very unique situations...each working, leading, growing, experimenting in being the church in the world...

SO
just what does church mean to you?
what things make church the church?
i read the importance of being foolish by brennan manning over vacation, and he has some definite opinions...focusing on jesus and the cross

and then today, mark ostreicher had some great comments on the passion for justice in the church of britain, specifically the charismatic church in the uk...
and dan kimball has been discussing this topic on his blog too.

SO...perhaps part of our mission/goal/purpose is to look at what church means...
for me it's about the kingdom of god...living out the kingdom, as well as celebrating god together.
it's about bringing the love of jesus to all people...not just the folks who look like me or who drive the same car, vote the same, or live in mayberry.

for me church is about passion... for jesus, for service and for the folks who aren't "here" yet
seeing our lives as the gospel...our neighborhoods and jobs as mission fields and ourselves as missionaries (not the poison wood bible kind, but the blues brothers kind on a mission from god, bringing the party as dan kimball says.
or as i like to say...the hudson taylor grow your hair long and wear chinese clothes, ken & debra loyd kind. they do the bridge church in portland, oregon)

for me church is seeing our lives as pilgrimage not destinations ...
a journey of faith
church is about helping others experience god, jesus, and the holy spirit on the journey
and the church is about helping others see where jesus has been at work in their lives all along!

also in the last few years i have stongly recognized that god's kingdom is very different from the american dream ...and thus choosing i am choosing to live differently, attempting to think differently and endevoring to help others see just what living as followers of jesus outside the "american dream" box might look like, helping myself and others to see that our god is a global god who blesses the whole world, not just america.

and in terms of worship...worship for me is what we are supposed to do 24/7...living a life that glorifies
jesus ...acknowledging his glory throughout the day, not just the 20 minutes of singing or the 10 minute homily, or the 45 minute expositional sermon, or even communion...

and in terms of that hour or so that is spent together in fellowship...whether it is sunday morning, sunday night, thursday afternoon, or whenever...the style for me must be as creative and interactive as the people who gather together...with space to listen to god as well as speak to him allowing folks to express their gifts and utilize all their senses not just their ears!

ok, i ramble....
and you may have heard all of this before, but i just think it's worth a discussion.

and now that school is back in session, (hudson today and mac tomorrow) i might just find time to blog my church story
as well as give you the update from the past few weeks of craziness. have a great day. lil

Comments

[Lori]

Funny, Alex McManus and I have been discussing the exact same thing... What is Dan Kimball's blog?