Last night in our talk on What is The (River) Church we said that "the Church is the communal incarnation of the Spirit of Christ (to the glory of God) bringing peace to the world".
There's incredible tension in that statement.
A Community, a deep rooted, authentic community-one where people confess their sins (the things that create separation b/t us and God, and between us and us- and those things that keep us from enjoying the reality of Christ, enjoying HIs excellencies in everyday life), a community where people love each other enough to bring to light things we see in each other that are harmful and unproductive, a church where we accept people for where they are in their journey as long as they are committed to moving forward and not desiring to drag the community down in their heart- this type of community-well....it takes a lot of time, energy, investment. It would seem that focusing on this this type of mission would be a full (life)-time job.
And yet investing our energies on bringing restoration in the world has adequate enough, difficulties that it would also consume our lives.
How do we handle the tension? How should we labor to see these two as NOT two, but rather one task, moreoever-The One Life we should commit ourselves to holistically?
What does this look like for a church, specifically our church?
Let's diagalogue this? With each other! (everyone).
sc
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I guess something that comes to my mind directly is this question.
Are we an accepting community?
Would most of us say we show people in and outside of the river gatherings that we are willing to accept them no matter what the situation or circumstance?
As a member of and whole hearted lover of the river I would have to say in comparison to previous communities I'd say we are very accepting, very hospitable. But the communities I came from were very weak in those area's so it's not a very good comparison. I will admit that my arrogance of thinking being tolerate, means I excel in acceptance and hospitality is very close minded and shallow. I think if we are striving to follow through with the vision we are seeking, we have to continually ask ourselves are we growing in these area's, does our entire day and week reflect the vision we talk about, and if not how do we challenge each other. I guess what I'm really trying to convey in all this, is that confessing our struggles and continuely talking these things out with each other might help us move in the direction we are aspiring to head, meaning a community that cares about these issues(something Sam has been teaching us for quite some time now). Does anyone connect with what I'm saying? Do you feel like we are very accepting, down to our bare roots, are we concerned with these things, does our life, families, week, holistically show that? I know mine doesn't, where do we go from here, what thoughts do you have, or if you are a certified shrink go ahead and give us the final authourity on these matters. thanks
Daniel
Boy, I think I fall short in this area. I need help in this area. I don't know how welcoming I am of EVERYone. I think that there have been times when I am not sure if a certain family or individual would fit in our group. It doesn't really matter who these people are, the fact of the matter is that I need to change. I don't mean to make this about me but a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link and I would like to not be that link.
As far as reconciling the tension, someone said on Sunday night, I think, that it has to do with humility/pride. Don't we have to let the pride go and humble ourselves enough to accept the "constructive criticism" people may bring to us? AND be willing to change and/or ask for help changing?
But then what do we do with the new people that come into our fold that may be new Christ followers that have not yet maybe let that pride fall or are not familiar with our "open book" lifestyle? Then again, sometimes "new" Christ followers are the most humble because they are in that honeymoon stage. Can we expect the people that come to our gathering that are not following Christ to be as open? Can we go to them about a sin in their life if they are committing the ultimate sin of not following Christ?
I'm not very articulate and I have just be throwing stuff down as it comes to mind so my apologies.
In response to Daniel:
I definitely struggle with the holistic-ness (?) of my worldview. It's very very easy to be loving and accepting sometimes, but other times, it's just not. I think the more i immerse myself in people and literature, music, etc, that encourages love and peace and acceptance and unity, the better I get at this.
In response to Sam:
The balance thing is HUGE for me. During the school year, I have so much going on at once that it's hard sometimes to resist putting my church stuff on the backburner. it's even even harder to resist one of my biggest, worst, and most longstanding habits..putting my life into neat little categories. When I categorize things, I become a different person for each category and end up not being the person God intends me to be.
Any thoughts?
Balance/tension is almost impossible, if not impossible. It seems what Jesus calls of us is that we invest 100% of ourselves to...say- loving those not yet living the reality of Jesus and experience abundant life. And then He calls us to give 100% to ......say-a Church/community. He's asking us to do something we simply cannot. I think this is what plagues me. I/ (we) talk of HOLISTICITY yet- we are by nature fragmented and compartmentalized. I feel like what I imagine the disciples did when Jesus told them it is harder for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven (Mt 19). Dumbfounded they asked- 'who then can do this?"- Jesus says: "with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" I seriously doubt they nodded their heads with that "fundy" look of- HE NAILED IT! Like that one liner just removed all the tension in the world. I picture them looking at each other and doing the silent mouthing of "WOW", like Jesus just had a "blond" moment. That statement is filled with all kinds of tension in and of itself. Jesus tells the Rich guy to DO something, that Jesus a few minutes later says HE CANNOT DO!
Does anyone else feel the tension?
Maybe, the calling of the church is to labor to endure together. Literally together. Maybe how we find a way to ease the tension or balance the un-balanceable- is that we do it together. We lean on each other. And together-we lean on Jesus, b/c it's impossible for even us collectively, AND Christ is found most visibly in the "COmmunity" especially when the community is living The Mission.
What do we think? Does this mean a higher calling to things like: confession, helping, serving, forgiveness, giving...money/resources/time, loving people we are inclined to dislike?
How do we connect to people not in our Community, apart from the community? that's been on my mind for a while.
I know that because of past experincese I am challanged at excepting people and loving them. I try very hard and I learn to love and except them by emursing myself with knowlege about them. How do we relate? What do we have in commen? I have found that it is hard for me to balance relationships, I feel like to many and I wont be able to juggle them all. But with all that I am willing to help people in anyway. I know that life sometimes throws you curve balls and that people need help. I feel that giving and helping all I can is what I strive to do. But I think to whole heartedly do that I need to learn to accept people, and let go of my fears and anxiety's. As a community to love an accept others maybe we need to support eachother more in that area,so that we all can be more open to accepteance.ok sorry if i just confused you all i sometimes am thinking to much and it comes out wrong.
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