1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
What (therefore...) has been said in the previous verses is awesome and lays the foundation for this part of the letter. God is magnificent, gracious, forgiving and loving.
Three things we must do because of what God has done for us.
1. “prepare your minds for action” – our minds matter, when we become believers we don’t say goodbye to thinking, to reason, to intellect. We have minds that can discuss, debate, argue and learn new things. Because God has fashioned our minds they can be redeemed, changed and used for the glory of God. The mind is crucial to how we live; action is preceded by thinking, if we think about something long enough we will be more likely to follow our thoughts with actions. Therefore “... the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man" (Matt. 15:18-20).
Our minds are not just vessels for thinking but for action. Philosophy is interesting and helps us develop ideas but if it doesn’t transform into actions then it becomes idol daydreaming. Just as our minds can lead us into wrong actions so they can lead us onto ‘good’ actions. Things that benefit our neighbour, honour God and build us up in our faith.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
2. “be self-controlled” – this is a phrase that society seems to have an aversion too. The teaching of our age is to “be happy”; to do what you want as long as it doesn’t hurt someone! The sports person who erupts into anger or violence on the field is considered justified or is applauded. Our young people are regularly loosing control on the streets with ‘binge drinking’.
We believe that happiness is the ultimate aim in life. So if over eating makes me feel happy then why should I stop. Sleeping with many different partners satisfies my sexual desires, then why not. Spending money on luxury items is okay because I have lots of money and it makes me feel good. No self-control is linked to individualism, if all we concentrate on is ourselves then the need to satisfy our desires, cravings or wants become a high priority in our lives.
What is the danger of no self-control?
1. We become lazy; “ So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.” (1 Thess 5:6). We can fail to see the dangers our over indulgence is creating for us. We can neglect to look after our physical and spiritual health allowing compromise to creep in. Laziness leads to inactivity which leads to a blindness to the needs of others.
2. We become self-centred; when you have no or little self-control we can end up seeing everything as revolving around us. We can become like those who ‘crossed over to the other side’ in the ‘Good Samaritan’ story. The world stops at our front door, the needs of others pale when compared to ours. If something or one doesn’t satisfy our wants or desires then we dispose of them, change them for something better.
3. We take the now instead of the better; we are satisfied with the ‘plate of porridge’ over our ‘birth-right’ (Genesis 27:35-37). Sexual satisfaction over marital fidelity. The sweet taste over good health. Anger over love. Take a look at the following:
(http://nudges.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/do-you-have-more-self-control-now-than-when-you-were-young/)
3. “set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed” “We rejoice in hope of the glory of God, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.”(Rom 5)
This is because our future hope is based on something that has already happened in the past, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord!
Commentator William Barclay wrote, “The Christian hope is the hope which has seen everything and endured everything, and has still not despaired, because it believes in God. The Christian hope is not hope in the human spirit, in human goodness, in human endurance, in human achievement; the Christian hope is hope in the power of God.” That is what living a life of hope is!
It is also about being focused; focused on Jesus, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb 12:2.)
Thornton Wilder once wrote, "Hope, like faith, is nothing if it is not courageous; it is nothing if it is not ridiculous." As believers, our hope, which rests in the Lord Jesus Christ, should be courageous and ridiculous. “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?”(1 Thess. 2:19).
Basically these verses are telling us that we need to respond to what God has done for us. Our lifestyle should be changed starting with our minds, and affected by the Hope within us. My hope in God is to see those I know become followers of Jesus.
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Thats me in blue with cycling friends at Lake Taylor NZ
Monday, November 30, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Unconditional Love and Relational Faith
Came across this post the other day and I think it follows on nicely with the 3rd place and Radical Hospitality posts:
The Call to Radical Hospitality
"Despite my utopian tone, none of these Third Places really serve as God's ideal for a focal point of human community. The Village Square is too passive. The Market is too hectic and money-driven. The Pub is too alcoholic. The Coffeehouse is too expensive. The Church is too culturally exclusive. The Mall is too frenzied, too homogenized and too big. And the Internet is two-dimensional... too flat and too digital to give us real social fulfillment.
Except for the relatively passive spaces of the Village Square and Internet, every one of these examples is fraught with agenda. Get his money! Get his attention! Get her phone number! (Nightclubs... Third Place or Third Base?) Isn't God calling us to something better? Maybe he wants his children to be creators of Third Places that honor him, that welcome everyone, that shun hidden agendas and just love people like Jesus. The institutional church may have yet to serve as a real God-intended Third Place, but who better than a community of Christ-followers to make it happen?
Even with God's help, we have no utopian aspirations short of heaven. But we know we can do better than this. Isn't it tragically obvious how much our society suffers from a lack of community and public life? Third Places have been the scene of revolution in the past... why not create a space to start a new revolution of unconditional love and relational faith? "
Recently had a meeting where we talked about 'where our third place was?' and the idea was made that for some their place will be dictated by their soci-economic positioning. The suburb that our church buildings are located in is mainly lower socio-economic, they don't have have a suitable 3rd place, cafes are expensive and are often more geared to middleclass and upper people. So the church complex could become the ideal place for these people to meet. I would caution that we need to careful it doesn't end up being a place where church members socialise together, only. The attractiveness of the church as third place will depend on the amount of trust it has within the community, the connection it has with people from the commuinty, the ease of access and the environment it portrays. There should be no hidden agendas, with the venue enabling relationships not evangelism.
Other questions arise as to how it is run: should we charge for the coffee? What hours do we open? How professional do we become? Is this a beginning of 'radical hospitality', how would we relate or engage a glue sniffer who comes in for a coffee?
The Call to Radical Hospitality
"Despite my utopian tone, none of these Third Places really serve as God's ideal for a focal point of human community. The Village Square is too passive. The Market is too hectic and money-driven. The Pub is too alcoholic. The Coffeehouse is too expensive. The Church is too culturally exclusive. The Mall is too frenzied, too homogenized and too big. And the Internet is two-dimensional... too flat and too digital to give us real social fulfillment.
Except for the relatively passive spaces of the Village Square and Internet, every one of these examples is fraught with agenda. Get his money! Get his attention! Get her phone number! (Nightclubs... Third Place or Third Base?) Isn't God calling us to something better? Maybe he wants his children to be creators of Third Places that honor him, that welcome everyone, that shun hidden agendas and just love people like Jesus. The institutional church may have yet to serve as a real God-intended Third Place, but who better than a community of Christ-followers to make it happen?
Even with God's help, we have no utopian aspirations short of heaven. But we know we can do better than this. Isn't it tragically obvious how much our society suffers from a lack of community and public life? Third Places have been the scene of revolution in the past... why not create a space to start a new revolution of unconditional love and relational faith? "
Recently had a meeting where we talked about 'where our third place was?' and the idea was made that for some their place will be dictated by their soci-economic positioning. The suburb that our church buildings are located in is mainly lower socio-economic, they don't have have a suitable 3rd place, cafes are expensive and are often more geared to middleclass and upper people. So the church complex could become the ideal place for these people to meet. I would caution that we need to careful it doesn't end up being a place where church members socialise together, only. The attractiveness of the church as third place will depend on the amount of trust it has within the community, the connection it has with people from the commuinty, the ease of access and the environment it portrays. There should be no hidden agendas, with the venue enabling relationships not evangelism.
Other questions arise as to how it is run: should we charge for the coffee? What hours do we open? How professional do we become? Is this a beginning of 'radical hospitality', how would we relate or engage a glue sniffer who comes in for a coffee?
Monday, November 23, 2009
Hospitable love
"Imagine a world where we as Christians actually "live our faith" as a first priority. The natural result is to "share our lives" with the hurting, hopeful, proud, strong, weak. rich, poor, the oppressed, the oppressor, the foreigner, the worker, the boss, everyone. Would it not transform lives (ours and others) and possibly our culture and society as we participated with Christ in the salvation of the world by living our faith? True, it might also raise the ire of this world's powerful, wise, religious, wealthy, beautiful people. But, that is what it did when Jesus lived it too!"
What is it that makes us different; what are our distinctive's? Well although finding those 3rd places, engaging with people where they are will make a difference, they are not enough on their own. We need to live the love of Jesus in our community. Our witness to Jesus must be more than words, although words are important too.
I think it has to cost us something! To be honest we tend to avoid costly love, thinking that it really belongs to the 'professionals' of Christian service. If we take the scriptures as our blueprint of life then we see example upon example of love costing.
What kind of people are we among our communities? Do they see us as people who experience the power of God through the Holy Spirit? Do they see us living among them for their benefit? Are they witnessing our hard-working biblical faith and our sacrificial biblical love? Faith characterized by work, in unison with sacrificial labours of love, results in a Christ-centred hope of victory (see 1 Thess). "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us."
Radical Hospitality... "Hospitable love cares enough to create space in one's own life in order to welcome another in." I wonder if we have lost sight of true hospitality, of welcoming stranger or even friends into our homes! Are we practicing an exclusive religion, keeping people out marking our boundaries, defining too clearly who we are and not. "The Pharisees were more exclusionary - and thus, less welcoming - than God. They erected boundary markers that kept people out, rather than let people in."
If we want to engage people we need to be with them. If we make the door too small we are excluding people and loose our legitimacy of entering into their lives and talking about Jesus. The problem with many Christians is they have bought into modern culture that promoted the self ahead of community, independence instead of interdependence. The backyard decking and high fence against the front porch and no fences. The mentality of being mobile using the car to do the simplest task; so we travel to the mall to do shopping instead of walking to the corner or local shops. This takes away an opportunity of meeting local people and offering hospitality. What sort of greeting do we give to those around us?
"Our greeting is to be different. Jesus calls us to greet others with warm welcome. Our greeting is deeply influenced by the grace we have experienced in Christ. Instead of erecting boundaries to keep people out, we are to remove obstacles to people's participation in God's kingdom community. Instead of boundaries, we focus on the center. All are welcome, for there is "neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, slave nor free, but all are one in Christ" (Galatians 3:28)."
Normal Hospitality
Normal hospitality usually involves us inviting someone home for a meal or at least a cuppa. Often this is limited to those who are our friends and if we don't get invited back at some stage, well they are often taken off our list, only see them at Church meetings. I should say that normal hospitality is good, it does help us get to know our friends better and is a valued way of creating community within the life of the church. Normal hospitality provides opportunity to be with others in a social setting; it could be a 'pot-luck' meal. It is usually a very safe activity. It is not radical.
Radical Hospitality, is different. It is well described by St Benedictine and it is not about sipping tea and making bland talk with people who live next door or work with you. "It does not refer to hotels or cruise ships. It is not connected to entertaining friends and family
in the warmth of candlelight with gleaming silver and ivory lace. Nor did it begin with Howard Johnson's and Good Housekeeping."
"Hospitality, as it has been practised from ancient days, protected people from the dangers of travelling alone. In St. Benedict's day there were no safe and cheap shelters for travellers. Along the way people could be brutalized, robbed, wounded, or lost. In those days monasteries saved lives when they opened their doors to strangers." And when the monks of ancient days opened up their monastery and made room for someone who was not one of them, they, too, took a risk."
From a radical hospitalty point of view, it honors the other without trying to make them over into something else, something more like you and me. Radical hospitality opens up the possibility of exploring new ways of being within the context of authenticity. That is to say, within the context of one’s community, ethnicity, history, family, etc. I think that is a huge step beyond merely doing good for someone less fortunate. It’s also a huge step beyond our usual sort of hospitality that opens our doors to others if they want to come into our space to become as one of us. In my case that means to become a New Zealander rooted in northern European ways nurtured by various Pagan mythologies encased in the Protestant tradition of the Christian faith as expressed by the Baptist Church.
The Bible and Hospitality
We can turn to the Bible and find examples of God's attitude towards Hospitality. As one expression of loving God with all our heart and soul, the scriptures exhort ancient Israel to "love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt" (Deuteronomy 10:19). Israel knew what it was like to be strangers in a foreign land - both in their slavery in Egypt and their experience in the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities. Because they serve a God "who is not partial" and "loves the strangers, providing them with food and clothing" (Deuteronomy 10:17-18), they must likewise show hospitality to strangers. In Leviticus 19:33-34, they are exhorted, "When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God." "Just as God protected the people of Israel when they were refugees, so God insists on proper care for other aliens now, judging harshly those who treat them ill."[4]
The example of Jesus reveals that this radical hospitality extends to all people - including sinners. Jesus was condemned by the religious establishment because he "welcomed sinners and ate with them" (Luke 15:2). Contrary to popular understanding, "loving, welcoming, and eating with wicked people doesn't make you like the sinners--it makes you like our loving, merciful God."[5]We seek to practice radical hospitality because we follow the Lord who applauded that fact that when we welcome strangers we are, in reality, welcoming Jesus: "I was a stranger and you welcomed me... Whatever you do for the least of these, you've done unto me" (Matthew 25:35).
After a lengthy detailed treatment on the gospel of Christ in his Epistle to the Romans, the Apostle Paul encourages the church "to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God -- what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2). One expression of this countercultural love is "extending hospitality to strangers" (Romans 12:13). "The Greek word for 'hospitality' used here is philoxenia, which contains within it the words for 'love' (philia) and 'stranger' (xenos)."[6]
We welcome all - those who are weak and strong in faith - because God has warmly welcomed us in Christ: "Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God" (Romans 15:7). God graces us with the gift of one another. We must make room for this gift in all its various forms. "The church is the place where, in the fellowship of Jesus Christ, we learn to love those whom we have not chosen but who are presented to us as a gift: our parents, our friends, the stranger, even our enemies." href="http://www.theocentric.com/ecclesiology/community/radical_hospitality.html">http://www.theocentric.com/ecclesiology/community/radical_hospitality.html
So this hospitality offers strangers and friends an openess without strings attached to enter into our world without having to become the same as us. it is sharing the welcome that Christ gave us to those we meet. It involves a risk and a cost but if we want to show the world that we have something worth sharing then we need to be living an incarnational life, engaging, being present and living our faith; sharing our life.
This is going beyound the 3rd place and living our faith in our 1st and 2nd place as well!
What is it that makes us different; what are our distinctive's? Well although finding those 3rd places, engaging with people where they are will make a difference, they are not enough on their own. We need to live the love of Jesus in our community. Our witness to Jesus must be more than words, although words are important too.
I think it has to cost us something! To be honest we tend to avoid costly love, thinking that it really belongs to the 'professionals' of Christian service. If we take the scriptures as our blueprint of life then we see example upon example of love costing.
What kind of people are we among our communities? Do they see us as people who experience the power of God through the Holy Spirit? Do they see us living among them for their benefit? Are they witnessing our hard-working biblical faith and our sacrificial biblical love? Faith characterized by work, in unison with sacrificial labours of love, results in a Christ-centred hope of victory (see 1 Thess). "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us."
Radical Hospitality... "Hospitable love cares enough to create space in one's own life in order to welcome another in." I wonder if we have lost sight of true hospitality, of welcoming stranger or even friends into our homes! Are we practicing an exclusive religion, keeping people out marking our boundaries, defining too clearly who we are and not. "The Pharisees were more exclusionary - and thus, less welcoming - than God. They erected boundary markers that kept people out, rather than let people in."
If we want to engage people we need to be with them. If we make the door too small we are excluding people and loose our legitimacy of entering into their lives and talking about Jesus. The problem with many Christians is they have bought into modern culture that promoted the self ahead of community, independence instead of interdependence. The backyard decking and high fence against the front porch and no fences. The mentality of being mobile using the car to do the simplest task; so we travel to the mall to do shopping instead of walking to the corner or local shops. This takes away an opportunity of meeting local people and offering hospitality. What sort of greeting do we give to those around us?
"Our greeting is to be different. Jesus calls us to greet others with warm welcome. Our greeting is deeply influenced by the grace we have experienced in Christ. Instead of erecting boundaries to keep people out, we are to remove obstacles to people's participation in God's kingdom community. Instead of boundaries, we focus on the center. All are welcome, for there is "neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, slave nor free, but all are one in Christ" (Galatians 3:28)."
Normal Hospitality
Normal hospitality usually involves us inviting someone home for a meal or at least a cuppa. Often this is limited to those who are our friends and if we don't get invited back at some stage, well they are often taken off our list, only see them at Church meetings. I should say that normal hospitality is good, it does help us get to know our friends better and is a valued way of creating community within the life of the church. Normal hospitality provides opportunity to be with others in a social setting; it could be a 'pot-luck' meal. It is usually a very safe activity. It is not radical.
Radical Hospitality, is different. It is well described by St Benedictine and it is not about sipping tea and making bland talk with people who live next door or work with you. "It does not refer to hotels or cruise ships. It is not connected to entertaining friends and family
in the warmth of candlelight with gleaming silver and ivory lace. Nor did it begin with Howard Johnson's and Good Housekeeping."
"Hospitality, as it has been practised from ancient days, protected people from the dangers of travelling alone. In St. Benedict's day there were no safe and cheap shelters for travellers. Along the way people could be brutalized, robbed, wounded, or lost. In those days monasteries saved lives when they opened their doors to strangers." And when the monks of ancient days opened up their monastery and made room for someone who was not one of them, they, too, took a risk."
From a radical hospitalty point of view, it honors the other without trying to make them over into something else, something more like you and me. Radical hospitality opens up the possibility of exploring new ways of being within the context of authenticity. That is to say, within the context of one’s community, ethnicity, history, family, etc. I think that is a huge step beyond merely doing good for someone less fortunate. It’s also a huge step beyond our usual sort of hospitality that opens our doors to others if they want to come into our space to become as one of us. In my case that means to become a New Zealander rooted in northern European ways nurtured by various Pagan mythologies encased in the Protestant tradition of the Christian faith as expressed by the Baptist Church.
The Bible and Hospitality
We can turn to the Bible and find examples of God's attitude towards Hospitality. As one expression of loving God with all our heart and soul, the scriptures exhort ancient Israel to "love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt" (Deuteronomy 10:19). Israel knew what it was like to be strangers in a foreign land - both in their slavery in Egypt and their experience in the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities. Because they serve a God "who is not partial" and "loves the strangers, providing them with food and clothing" (Deuteronomy 10:17-18), they must likewise show hospitality to strangers. In Leviticus 19:33-34, they are exhorted, "When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God." "Just as God protected the people of Israel when they were refugees, so God insists on proper care for other aliens now, judging harshly those who treat them ill."[4]
The example of Jesus reveals that this radical hospitality extends to all people - including sinners. Jesus was condemned by the religious establishment because he "welcomed sinners and ate with them" (Luke 15:2). Contrary to popular understanding, "loving, welcoming, and eating with wicked people doesn't make you like the sinners--it makes you like our loving, merciful God."[5]We seek to practice radical hospitality because we follow the Lord who applauded that fact that when we welcome strangers we are, in reality, welcoming Jesus: "I was a stranger and you welcomed me... Whatever you do for the least of these, you've done unto me" (Matthew 25:35).
After a lengthy detailed treatment on the gospel of Christ in his Epistle to the Romans, the Apostle Paul encourages the church "to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God -- what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2). One expression of this countercultural love is "extending hospitality to strangers" (Romans 12:13). "The Greek word for 'hospitality' used here is philoxenia, which contains within it the words for 'love' (philia) and 'stranger' (xenos)."[6]
We welcome all - those who are weak and strong in faith - because God has warmly welcomed us in Christ: "Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God" (Romans 15:7). God graces us with the gift of one another. We must make room for this gift in all its various forms. "The church is the place where, in the fellowship of Jesus Christ, we learn to love those whom we have not chosen but who are presented to us as a gift: our parents, our friends, the stranger, even our enemies." href="http://www.theocentric.com/ecclesiology/community/radical_hospitality.html">http://www.theocentric.com/ecclesiology/community/radical_hospitality.html
So this hospitality offers strangers and friends an openess without strings attached to enter into our world without having to become the same as us. it is sharing the welcome that Christ gave us to those we meet. It involves a risk and a cost but if we want to show the world that we have something worth sharing then we need to be living an incarnational life, engaging, being present and living our faith; sharing our life.
This is going beyound the 3rd place and living our faith in our 1st and 2nd place as well!
Friday, November 20, 2009
The Unlocking of the Doors...
The Church as a 3rd place? I came across this comment the other day:
"The question we need to ask ourselves is: How can we introduce the church, not the coffeehouse, as a third place where community and connection take place. Why isn’t the church serving as a third place for many of our neighbours today? Why aren’t we creating a community marked by the qualities lifted up by Paul in his letter to the Colossians?(www.homileticsonline.com/nonsubscriber/btl_display.asp?)"
To introduce the Church into this discussion of community opens up a huge topic, one that I don't want to enter into at the moment. However I will post some of my thoughts as related to third places.
The Church is a rather difficult form to describe; is it a building, a people, an institution, a movement, a religious gathering place or a place of refuge for the masses? From a biblical standpoint the church is a people, set apart from, bride of Christ, community of believers. A living testimony to Christ; a visual example of what heaven is like. The church, this body of believers is set into the world but not conformed to the patterns of the world. It is an open community to all that know Jesus and offers the inclusive love of God to all who come to its doors.
But we know the Church, as we see it in our communities, has not always lived up to this image; it has become very exclusive, set apart and judgemental. People come on a Sunday and meet other members, say 'hello' then 'worship' God and go home. They might meet again during the week for home group, but not much community apart from that.
"Have you ever felt Christianity to be reserved for pastors, priests, and professional Christians? Jesus spent His earthly life teaching, healing, and visiting every day people. Sermons and parables were not reserved for the Sabbath. His lessons were from real life.
Fishermen, carpenters, tax collectors and beggars followed Jesus seven days a week, from town to town searching for answers. Jesus said: "I am come that they might have life"(John 10:10) and we know life isn't lived only on Sunday. Christianity is meant to bring joy to life on mundane Monday's at work, fellowship at Friday's ball game and excitement to Sunday's worship. It is meant to help us live simply and provide answers in the midst of crisis.
Real Christianity provides solutions to stressful situations and builds relationships. "
So can the church become your 3rd place? Can it become the 3rd place of choice for the wider community? There are a number of ways we can face this challenge. We could try and create a 3rd place physically within the walls of the Church, as many Churches are doing; start a cafe! I liked this piece I found a while back:
imagine
"The question we need to ask ourselves is: How can we introduce the church, not the coffeehouse, as a third place where community and connection take place. Why isn’t the church serving as a third place for many of our neighbours today? Why aren’t we creating a community marked by the qualities lifted up by Paul in his letter to the Colossians?(www.homileticsonline.com/nonsubscriber/btl_display.asp?)"
To introduce the Church into this discussion of community opens up a huge topic, one that I don't want to enter into at the moment. However I will post some of my thoughts as related to third places.
The Church is a rather difficult form to describe; is it a building, a people, an institution, a movement, a religious gathering place or a place of refuge for the masses? From a biblical standpoint the church is a people, set apart from, bride of Christ, community of believers. A living testimony to Christ; a visual example of what heaven is like. The church, this body of believers is set into the world but not conformed to the patterns of the world. It is an open community to all that know Jesus and offers the inclusive love of God to all who come to its doors.
But we know the Church, as we see it in our communities, has not always lived up to this image; it has become very exclusive, set apart and judgemental. People come on a Sunday and meet other members, say 'hello' then 'worship' God and go home. They might meet again during the week for home group, but not much community apart from that.
"Have you ever felt Christianity to be reserved for pastors, priests, and professional Christians? Jesus spent His earthly life teaching, healing, and visiting every day people. Sermons and parables were not reserved for the Sabbath. His lessons were from real life.
Fishermen, carpenters, tax collectors and beggars followed Jesus seven days a week, from town to town searching for answers. Jesus said: "I am come that they might have life"(John 10:10) and we know life isn't lived only on Sunday. Christianity is meant to bring joy to life on mundane Monday's at work, fellowship at Friday's ball game and excitement to Sunday's worship. It is meant to help us live simply and provide answers in the midst of crisis.
Real Christianity provides solutions to stressful situations and builds relationships. "
So can the church become your 3rd place? Can it become the 3rd place of choice for the wider community? There are a number of ways we can face this challenge. We could try and create a 3rd place physically within the walls of the Church, as many Churches are doing; start a cafe! I liked this piece I found a while back:
imagine
- the unlocking of the doors
- the re-emergence of the churches interiors as a public space in our cities
- if the 'worship' installations could stay up all the time
- your local church building as an open-door hangout
- sofas, visuals, newspapers, food, drink, books
- a church with good coffee
- plenty of places to plug in your laptop and free Wifi
- opening hours from 10 am to midnight
- spiritual resources and personal space available at all times
- a place to work, rest and play
your living room only bigger. Your life only bigger
Does the creation of "Church" cafes really become a place for the community or a nice social spot for members of the Church. Some Churches start a wholly separate cafe in a certain part of town. In Christchurch a local Baptist Church have opened a cafe in another suburb called 'Coffee Coop', they have created a very nice cafe but why? How does this place introduce the 3rd place goers to God? I can imagine the scenario: once you have your coffee a person will slide into the chair next to you and flop on the table 'The Four Spiritual Laws'! I'm sure that doesn't happen, but they would need to be careful about any 'hidden' agendas.
People are more hungry for an inviting third place than ever before. In his book The Great Good Place, Ray Oldenburg writes that, due in part to the suburbanization of modern cities, “we do not have that third realm of satisfaction and social cohesion beyond the portals of home and work that for others is an essential element of the good life.” Our neighbours crave a place of satisfaction and social cohesion — it’s something they need at the very deepest levels of their hearts and souls.
I have no problem churches trying to make their gatherings more attractive, relevant, inclusive and appealing. I for one enjoy a real coffe at our Sunday meetings but I wonder if we are going down the wrong pathway by trying to create a 3rd place for the wider community. Why reinvent the wheel. There are many very good cafes already operating that are peoples 3rd places. What the church needs to do is not create 3rd places but go to 3rd places; take Christ with you into these places and engage with people, take your neighbours there. Be Christ in their 3rd places. go into the 'market places'.
"Paul encourages us to teach and to sing, and those are two things that the marketplace is anxious for us to do. In a world of moral confusion, our neighbors are looking for conversation and guidance about difficult and thorny issues, everything from raising teenagers to responding to terrorism, so the time is right for the church to think creatively about addressing these concerns.
Finally, care about community. Don’t simply care about church attendance figures and the maintenance of this institution. Care about community, and about the filling of needs that people may not even be aware they have. This is what Howard Schultz did, when he opened the first Starbucks to fill an emptiness that people couldn't even articulate. He gave them a third place before they even knew they needed a third place".
The "church" is not a neutral place or an attractive place for many people in the wider community.
Now all this leads us onto another topic related but a little different which I will start later.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Where is Your Third Place
I would like to continue with the thoughts on being with people for the sake of the kingdom.
We have been looking at how we can 'live our faith; share our lives' amongst those we naturally interact with at home, work or play. That people today need places where they can have community and engage with others outside the home or work environment. This place is sometimes referred to our '3rd place'.
I would now like to think about where our 3rd place is. Now I can imagine that if you come from a church culture you will automatically think that the 'Church' is the default 3rd place for everyone! And if the traditional format is not working then we try to create a third place. It can work but if we are trying to engage the non-believer then why not go to where they meet.
Lets look at some possible 3rd places and how they could work.
1. The Town square: this could be looked at as the original 3rd place. Our forbears found this to be an ideal place to meet their neighbours from across the city. This space has diminished in our modern cities, although the rising popularity of the 'Farmers Market' could be an alternative new 'Town Square' 3rd place. It could be seen to be compromised by the commercial activity but it certainly is a possibility.
2. Neighborhood: Many years ago we would stand at the front fence and chat with those passing by, the front veranda was a design feature that promoted communal dialogue. Our modern day rear, private decking speaks volume about our lack of community. However we could make each others homes a 3rd place. Popping in for a cuppa, street BBQs, sharing tools and other combined activities would help develop our neighbourhoods back into places where we relax and engage each other.
3. The church: We have already touched on the church and I will come back to it again later. Certainly in the past it could be said to be a 3rd place.
4. The Pub: The pub did hold a place of sorts as a third place and still does provide some still. But it's major draw-back is the longer you stay the less control you will have on what you say; that is the effects of the alcohol make it a poor 3rd place. However this following quote does show that for some the pub is still a good place:
meet : chat : chill
“The bar at the ‘Smokehouse’ is a place where working class men and women congregate daily to seek sanctuary from the world of work and, with their words, forge an alternative space. Those who work behind the bar at the ‘Smokehouse’ are in the business of producing leisure: those who play here spend time and money they can afford to consume it but for producers and consumers, the real currency that drive the social economy of the ‘Smokehouse’ is talk.”
(A Place to Stand: politics and persuasion in a working-class bar. Julian Lindquist)
5. Café: This is the modern day 3rd place for many people. It started in the cafe's of Europe traveled to the Coffee Houses of the US via Starbucks and has settled comfortably in NZ. What is nice to see is that the dominance of the Global brand of Starbucks has not happened here. In my own city we have success stories in places such as: 'Coffee Culture', Underground, C1, Cafe Metro, The Coffee Smiths, Bean Scene, The Cup etc.
The cafe offers people young and old, all economic levels and political persuasions a place to eat and drink without pressure to consume or move on. Sure Cafe's are a business and will only survive when people buy their products. But the 'third place' is not focused on the act of eating and drinking in the fashion of traditional cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs. The food or drink one consumes is the entry fee, not the point. The 'third place' is a living room, but not in someones house; a workplace, but not in someones office.
So we see business people come for an informal meeting, friends wanting a neutral place to chat, mothers for time out, bikers having a breather and many others. The cafe can be a place to be with people but it can also be a place where you are amongst people but not with them:
· Cafe's are a place for people to come to, a place to not be alone, a place to be with other people, and a place where, without having to do anything people become a part of a community of sorts. During my observations and interviews, I noticed many of these same activities, including customers reading the newspaper, working on their laptops, conducting job interviews or small business meetings, etc. However, in this public space, most people appear to be isolated from one another, each closed off in their own private space. The focus of my research is on this self-created private space within a public place. I have identified three emerging patterns: the creation of the public environment, the self-creation of the private space within, and the elements of trust. The order of today’s activities is so demanding and fast paced. People are isolated in the workplace as well as in their homes. Coming to a cafe to work or study offers the prospect of being part of a community without really engaging – an invaluable opportunity given our extremely limited discretionary time.
6. The Mall: Many young people use the Mall as their 3rd place, a point of contact, a place to be seen, a place to chat or chat up. But is it really our 3rd place? Can commerce and community be compatible? I think there will be a limitation on how far the Mall can fill this social gap; it is not a place where you can really linger, feel relaxed and really be present with the other person.
7. Internet: As much as one would like to deny that the Internet can be a place to meet and have real communication with people, the reality is that for a rapidly growing part of society this is where they meet. The problem I have is are you ever really present when using the Internet as a 3rd place, do you really interact with a person or is it just a sharing of your thoughts?
I hope that the Internet is not the final answer to our 3rd place, but perhaps it is a part of the 'post-modern' way to socialise.
Or…
We have been looking at how we can 'live our faith; share our lives' amongst those we naturally interact with at home, work or play. That people today need places where they can have community and engage with others outside the home or work environment. This place is sometimes referred to our '3rd place'.
I would now like to think about where our 3rd place is. Now I can imagine that if you come from a church culture you will automatically think that the 'Church' is the default 3rd place for everyone! And if the traditional format is not working then we try to create a third place. It can work but if we are trying to engage the non-believer then why not go to where they meet.
Lets look at some possible 3rd places and how they could work.
1. The Town square: this could be looked at as the original 3rd place. Our forbears found this to be an ideal place to meet their neighbours from across the city. This space has diminished in our modern cities, although the rising popularity of the 'Farmers Market' could be an alternative new 'Town Square' 3rd place. It could be seen to be compromised by the commercial activity but it certainly is a possibility.
2. Neighborhood: Many years ago we would stand at the front fence and chat with those passing by, the front veranda was a design feature that promoted communal dialogue. Our modern day rear, private decking speaks volume about our lack of community. However we could make each others homes a 3rd place. Popping in for a cuppa, street BBQs, sharing tools and other combined activities would help develop our neighbourhoods back into places where we relax and engage each other.
3. The church: We have already touched on the church and I will come back to it again later. Certainly in the past it could be said to be a 3rd place.
4. The Pub: The pub did hold a place of sorts as a third place and still does provide some still. But it's major draw-back is the longer you stay the less control you will have on what you say; that is the effects of the alcohol make it a poor 3rd place. However this following quote does show that for some the pub is still a good place:
meet : chat : chill
“The bar at the ‘Smokehouse’ is a place where working class men and women congregate daily to seek sanctuary from the world of work and, with their words, forge an alternative space. Those who work behind the bar at the ‘Smokehouse’ are in the business of producing leisure: those who play here spend time and money they can afford to consume it but for producers and consumers, the real currency that drive the social economy of the ‘Smokehouse’ is talk.”
(A Place to Stand: politics and persuasion in a working-class bar. Julian Lindquist)
5. Café: This is the modern day 3rd place for many people. It started in the cafe's of Europe traveled to the Coffee Houses of the US via Starbucks and has settled comfortably in NZ. What is nice to see is that the dominance of the Global brand of Starbucks has not happened here. In my own city we have success stories in places such as: 'Coffee Culture', Underground, C1, Cafe Metro, The Coffee Smiths, Bean Scene, The Cup etc.
The cafe offers people young and old, all economic levels and political persuasions a place to eat and drink without pressure to consume or move on. Sure Cafe's are a business and will only survive when people buy their products. But the 'third place' is not focused on the act of eating and drinking in the fashion of traditional cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs. The food or drink one consumes is the entry fee, not the point. The 'third place' is a living room, but not in someones house; a workplace, but not in someones office.
So we see business people come for an informal meeting, friends wanting a neutral place to chat, mothers for time out, bikers having a breather and many others. The cafe can be a place to be with people but it can also be a place where you are amongst people but not with them:
· Cafe's are a place for people to come to, a place to not be alone, a place to be with other people, and a place where, without having to do anything people become a part of a community of sorts. During my observations and interviews, I noticed many of these same activities, including customers reading the newspaper, working on their laptops, conducting job interviews or small business meetings, etc. However, in this public space, most people appear to be isolated from one another, each closed off in their own private space. The focus of my research is on this self-created private space within a public place. I have identified three emerging patterns: the creation of the public environment, the self-creation of the private space within, and the elements of trust. The order of today’s activities is so demanding and fast paced. People are isolated in the workplace as well as in their homes. Coming to a cafe to work or study offers the prospect of being part of a community without really engaging – an invaluable opportunity given our extremely limited discretionary time.
6. The Mall: Many young people use the Mall as their 3rd place, a point of contact, a place to be seen, a place to chat or chat up. But is it really our 3rd place? Can commerce and community be compatible? I think there will be a limitation on how far the Mall can fill this social gap; it is not a place where you can really linger, feel relaxed and really be present with the other person.
7. Internet: As much as one would like to deny that the Internet can be a place to meet and have real communication with people, the reality is that for a rapidly growing part of society this is where they meet. The problem I have is are you ever really present when using the Internet as a 3rd place, do you really interact with a person or is it just a sharing of your thoughts?
I hope that the Internet is not the final answer to our 3rd place, but perhaps it is a part of the 'post-modern' way to socialise.
Or…
Friday, November 13, 2009
Being Present...
Had a lovely birthday, wishes from Bronwyn, the kids, wider family and friends; from Indonesia and across the road. After work our neighbours popped over with a bottle of wine, chips and a little painting they came across on TradeMe of two little mini cars. I have to admit I'm a Mini nut, having had two in my past, would like a new "BMW" Mini but alas can't afford one.
A few off us went to a fashion show where my daughter, Sarah, and her husband Jono were displaying some of their latest fashion creations, under their label 'Infinite Definite' (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=55816122088). After the evening I noticed one of the designer labels - Fashion Ministry' - 'because you love me'. I thought that this was the opposite of Jesus ministry. His phrase was always 'because I love you'. We think that happiness comes from getting, Jesus says happiness comes through giving; the ultimate in His giving his life because he 'so loved the world'.
Being Present...
Another thought has been bugging me lately. You are sitting with a person and they ask you a question about either what you have been doing or how are you. You start to tell your story but before long you notice the other person looking away and at other happenings going on around. Or they have that 'far away look' in their eyes, you know they are not with you...so annoying.
Today this habit is compounded with a little object called a 'cell phone'! How many times do you sit with people and even when talking will be looking or operating their phone. They are here but not with you. I found the following piece particularly helpful.
"There was once a young woman who was asked what her goal in life was. She
answered, “My goal in life is to simply be fully present to the person who happens
to be right in front of me.”
Imagine being fully present, giving your undivided attention (eyes, ears, attention
etc.) to every person you met in a day! Could you do this?
To serve someone is to be present to them, to pay attention to them, to not
judge or make comments, but to listen and be open. So often in life we are never
fully present to anyone. If we are on the phone we barely pay attention to the
person on the other line or when they are speaking we may be thinking of what we
want to say next. At school, we are constantly looking around at everyone, often
not even paying attention to the person talking to us.
A great example of someone who was fully present to others is Jesus. If we think
about it, we can definitely say that Jesus was the one person in history who was
most fully present to people. How did Jesus do this? Instead of just walking by a
person, even people who were disregarded by society (like those who were sick,
lepers, blind, tax collectors etc.), Jesus would stop. He would focus only on that
person and give them time, his attention. Instead of ignoring people, Jesus would
be fully present to them—He would learn their name, look them in the eye, listen,
smile and try to understand their needs at that moment.
This is Ministry of Presence. To simply stop and say hi. To simple sit quietly with
those you meet and be present. To share your name and to ask their name as
well. To meet each person with the belief that they are special and unique and to
show them utmost respect and equality during the time you are in their presence."
A few off us went to a fashion show where my daughter, Sarah, and her husband Jono were displaying some of their latest fashion creations, under their label 'Infinite Definite' (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=55816122088). After the evening I noticed one of the designer labels - Fashion Ministry' - 'because you love me'. I thought that this was the opposite of Jesus ministry. His phrase was always 'because I love you'. We think that happiness comes from getting, Jesus says happiness comes through giving; the ultimate in His giving his life because he 'so loved the world'.
Being Present...
Another thought has been bugging me lately. You are sitting with a person and they ask you a question about either what you have been doing or how are you. You start to tell your story but before long you notice the other person looking away and at other happenings going on around. Or they have that 'far away look' in their eyes, you know they are not with you...so annoying.
Today this habit is compounded with a little object called a 'cell phone'! How many times do you sit with people and even when talking will be looking or operating their phone. They are here but not with you. I found the following piece particularly helpful.
"There was once a young woman who was asked what her goal in life was. She
answered, “My goal in life is to simply be fully present to the person who happens
to be right in front of me.”
Imagine being fully present, giving your undivided attention (eyes, ears, attention
etc.) to every person you met in a day! Could you do this?
To serve someone is to be present to them, to pay attention to them, to not
judge or make comments, but to listen and be open. So often in life we are never
fully present to anyone. If we are on the phone we barely pay attention to the
person on the other line or when they are speaking we may be thinking of what we
want to say next. At school, we are constantly looking around at everyone, often
not even paying attention to the person talking to us.
A great example of someone who was fully present to others is Jesus. If we think
about it, we can definitely say that Jesus was the one person in history who was
most fully present to people. How did Jesus do this? Instead of just walking by a
person, even people who were disregarded by society (like those who were sick,
lepers, blind, tax collectors etc.), Jesus would stop. He would focus only on that
person and give them time, his attention. Instead of ignoring people, Jesus would
be fully present to them—He would learn their name, look them in the eye, listen,
smile and try to understand their needs at that moment.
This is Ministry of Presence. To simply stop and say hi. To simple sit quietly with
those you meet and be present. To share your name and to ask their name as
well. To meet each person with the belief that they are special and unique and to
show them utmost respect and equality during the time you are in their presence."
Thursday, November 12, 2009
3rd Places
This is a special day because i turned 55 years old. Always a good time to reflect on what has gone before and what is to come! Unfortunately what is to come has past by before you realise and all you can do is reflect a bit more.
Have been talking with a friend who is going through a tough time at the moment, broken family, failed relationships and depression! But what he did say is that he is worried about what he will leave behind. He feels that he wants to make a contribution to peoples lives, invest in people because that is what will leave a lasting memory of his life. He also feels an emptyness that work, money or possessions fail to have a lasting impact.
He is so right in that we can waste so much time collecting things, that we miss out on time to collect the one thing that can have a lasting influence on others.
Following on with what I have been discussing the last few days also connects to the above. Being with other people, spending time and engaging them and so allowing Christ to speak into their lives can have a life changing effect. But first we need to be where people are, not just being there in body but present in mind and conversation. So now I would like to talk about places to be.
In a normal community most Christians will be operating much like the Good Samaritan. He didn't wake up thinking "Today I will start a ministry to Jews". He was simply being sensitive to the people God brought across his path.
Where do you normally meet non-Christians?
At the corner shop?
At the bank?
At the café?
In your neighbourhood?
At the petrol station?
When you order pizza?
At the Gym?
Your place of work
Who have we met in our suburb? An Afghan refugee, the local shop keeper, a foreign language student, local member of council and many more. I find it easiest to meet people:
in a neutral public area (like the park or outside the school) where they have time to interact
and are not already involved in a large group activity.
You may find it easier to meet people in larger groups or in more structured settings. God made each of us different.
Open your eyes and see who God leads across your path today.
Concept of "The Third Place"
According to Ray Oldernburg an American Sociologist who coined this term, third places are "distinctive informal gathering places (first being the home and the second being work).
· They make the one feel at home
· They nourish relationships and a diversity of human contact
· They help create a sense of place and community
· They invoke a sense of civic pride
· they provide numerous opportunities for serendipity
· They promote companionship
· They allow people to relax and unwind after a long day at work;
· They are socially binding
· They encourage sociability instead of isolation
· They make life more colourful
No one understands this better than Howard Schultz, founder and CEO of Starbucks. Schultz founded Starbucks on the premise that Americans are missing a third place in their lives — a place that his coffeehouses can fill. While on a business trip to Italy, Schultz discovered that Italians were living remarkably balanced lives. He was impressed by the passion they brought to their work, their rest and their enjoyment, and he noticed that a great deal of enjoyment was being found in the camaraderie and community of Italy’s 200,000 coffee bars. Because there was nothing similar in the United States, Schultz began to dream of establishing Italian-influenced third places where people could congregate. He hoped that after the first place of home and the second place of work, Americans would come to consider his coffeehouses to be their third place, a place to experience camaraderie and genuine community.He understood that in America, as well as in Italy, it’s not about coffee, it’s about connection.
That’s the Starbucks Principle. And for many, it seems to be working.
Everyone has their places in the world . . .
Have been talking with a friend who is going through a tough time at the moment, broken family, failed relationships and depression! But what he did say is that he is worried about what he will leave behind. He feels that he wants to make a contribution to peoples lives, invest in people because that is what will leave a lasting memory of his life. He also feels an emptyness that work, money or possessions fail to have a lasting impact.
He is so right in that we can waste so much time collecting things, that we miss out on time to collect the one thing that can have a lasting influence on others.
Following on with what I have been discussing the last few days also connects to the above. Being with other people, spending time and engaging them and so allowing Christ to speak into their lives can have a life changing effect. But first we need to be where people are, not just being there in body but present in mind and conversation. So now I would like to talk about places to be.
In a normal community most Christians will be operating much like the Good Samaritan. He didn't wake up thinking "Today I will start a ministry to Jews". He was simply being sensitive to the people God brought across his path.
Where do you normally meet non-Christians?
At the corner shop?
At the bank?
At the café?
In your neighbourhood?
At the petrol station?
When you order pizza?
At the Gym?
Your place of work
Who have we met in our suburb? An Afghan refugee, the local shop keeper, a foreign language student, local member of council and many more. I find it easiest to meet people:
in a neutral public area (like the park or outside the school) where they have time to interact
and are not already involved in a large group activity.
You may find it easier to meet people in larger groups or in more structured settings. God made each of us different.
Open your eyes and see who God leads across your path today.
Concept of "The Third Place"
According to Ray Oldernburg an American Sociologist who coined this term, third places are "distinctive informal gathering places (first being the home and the second being work).
· They make the one feel at home
· They nourish relationships and a diversity of human contact
· They help create a sense of place and community
· They invoke a sense of civic pride
· they provide numerous opportunities for serendipity
· They promote companionship
· They allow people to relax and unwind after a long day at work;
· They are socially binding
· They encourage sociability instead of isolation
· They make life more colourful
No one understands this better than Howard Schultz, founder and CEO of Starbucks. Schultz founded Starbucks on the premise that Americans are missing a third place in their lives — a place that his coffeehouses can fill. While on a business trip to Italy, Schultz discovered that Italians were living remarkably balanced lives. He was impressed by the passion they brought to their work, their rest and their enjoyment, and he noticed that a great deal of enjoyment was being found in the camaraderie and community of Italy’s 200,000 coffee bars. Because there was nothing similar in the United States, Schultz began to dream of establishing Italian-influenced third places where people could congregate. He hoped that after the first place of home and the second place of work, Americans would come to consider his coffeehouses to be their third place, a place to experience camaraderie and genuine community.He understood that in America, as well as in Italy, it’s not about coffee, it’s about connection.
That’s the Starbucks Principle. And for many, it seems to be working.
Everyone has their places in the world . . .
- Your first place is your home. It’s where you live, where you sleep, where you surround yourself with people and things that belong with you.
- Your second place is where you work. That’s where you make your contribution to society, where you build your reputation, where you try to be your best self at all times.
- But what about a third place?Is there a place where you can let your hair down and be yourself? Somewhere that isn’t home and isn’t work, a place to gather with friends and neighbors to talk about what’s happening in your first two places?
Yes, there is. Everyone has their third place, a place where they belong.
Where is your third place . . .
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Live Your Faith! Share Your Life!
We need to engage our communities, they need to see something attractive in the Christian lifestyle. What do we stand for not always against.
“The world watches and often only sees our protests against certain activities or people. We will always have an audience. People watch what Christians do and don’t do, and on that basis decide whether or not they are interested in what we have. What unbeliever wants to spend his life praying, skipping meals, and giving his money away? It’s not our religious activities we want people to see; it’s the grace and mercy that comes from God’s love that needs to show.”. Jim Petersen & Mike Shamy The Insider (Navpress 2003)
We need to overcome the mentality that we are only being successful in our 'witness' when we get someone along to the church service. If we want to engage with people who do not know Jesus then we need to be where they are, learn to communicate (not just talk, tell or criticize them) with them using language they understand.
Why do we need to go door docking when there are people at work, next door or at the gym who already know you; that would love to be your friend and will learn about Jesus from you. We have these natural centers of influence waiting for us to engage in meaningful relationships. Our witness must be geniune and transparent. I came across a wonderful comment recently that summarized what I'm trying to say:
"We were taught to "Share our faith. Live our life." As such it was very important to be busy witnessing - sharing our faith. Sharing the Four Spiritual Laws, or pointing out sin, or pushing for a commitment were all part of sharing our faith. Good arguments about creation, abortion, the inerrancy of scripture, plus exposing the cults, humanists, atheists, liberals, socialists and communists were also part of sharing our faith. We were schooled in how to make our "testimony" fit our theology of "say the prayer and get your free ride to heaven".
Live your faith! Share your life! This is what the world needs. It can't be done in a building where the church meets for worship. That is, not if it is to be done the way Jesus did it. Rather, it is done in the everyday ordinariness of life, in the commonplace, where we live every single day. It is small things done with great love. It is overlooking faults and forgiving without condition. It is responding with kindness. It is radical hospitality and love of neighbor and enemy. It is laying down our lives, that others might live. It is bringing peace and seeking justice without regard to reputation. It is loving as Christ loved, no strings. When people who live like this are seen, people say ... "that's what Jesus is like." I want to be that kind of follower of Jesus." (For more information check out the Outside The Gate blog atOutsideTheGate.TheCommonplace.org )
“The world watches and often only sees our protests against certain activities or people. We will always have an audience. People watch what Christians do and don’t do, and on that basis decide whether or not they are interested in what we have. What unbeliever wants to spend his life praying, skipping meals, and giving his money away? It’s not our religious activities we want people to see; it’s the grace and mercy that comes from God’s love that needs to show.”. Jim Petersen & Mike Shamy The Insider (Navpress 2003)
We need to overcome the mentality that we are only being successful in our 'witness' when we get someone along to the church service. If we want to engage with people who do not know Jesus then we need to be where they are, learn to communicate (not just talk, tell or criticize them) with them using language they understand.
Why do we need to go door docking when there are people at work, next door or at the gym who already know you; that would love to be your friend and will learn about Jesus from you. We have these natural centers of influence waiting for us to engage in meaningful relationships. Our witness must be geniune and transparent. I came across a wonderful comment recently that summarized what I'm trying to say:
"We were taught to "Share our faith. Live our life." As such it was very important to be busy witnessing - sharing our faith. Sharing the Four Spiritual Laws, or pointing out sin, or pushing for a commitment were all part of sharing our faith. Good arguments about creation, abortion, the inerrancy of scripture, plus exposing the cults, humanists, atheists, liberals, socialists and communists were also part of sharing our faith. We were schooled in how to make our "testimony" fit our theology of "say the prayer and get your free ride to heaven".
Live your faith! Share your life! This is what the world needs. It can't be done in a building where the church meets for worship. That is, not if it is to be done the way Jesus did it. Rather, it is done in the everyday ordinariness of life, in the commonplace, where we live every single day. It is small things done with great love. It is overlooking faults and forgiving without condition. It is responding with kindness. It is radical hospitality and love of neighbor and enemy. It is laying down our lives, that others might live. It is bringing peace and seeking justice without regard to reputation. It is loving as Christ loved, no strings. When people who live like this are seen, people say ... "that's what Jesus is like." I want to be that kind of follower of Jesus." (For more information check out the Outside The Gate blog atOutsideTheGate.TheCommonplace.org )
Monday, November 9, 2009
Transforming Witness
For Christians it has always been easier to withdraw from society and feel the safety of the Church. Mix with Christian friends, go to Christian schools and when at work either deny any Christian connection or never socialise with your work mates. We can't enter into their world because it is evil, they will use bad language, tell off colour jokes and drink alcohol.
What I find so disappointing is seeing a new believer come into the church and leave all their old friends behind at the door. They cut themselves off or become so 'religious' that their friends start avoiding them. In some ways it is a natural thing to want to associate with those of like mind, people you have something in common with but what opportunity do you then to let your non-believing friends see what Jesus is doing in your life. What we need are people living within their old communities. The following is a good description of what I mean:
"An “insider movement” is any movement to faith in Christ where a) the gospel flows through pre-existing communities and social networks, and where b) believing families, as valid expressions of the Body of Christ, remain inside their communities, retaining their identity as members of that community while living under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the authority of the Bible. "
We need to be 'in the world but not of the world' we need to engage with the world, not standing to one side and throwing stones, not being against the world. However we also don't want to be completely intertwined within the world that we lose the essence of our faith, that something extra that we can give to the world.
We need to be 'transforming our culture'. Agents of change, offering to the world a sweet smelling incense of the gospel of Christ. We need to be doing three things:
Building Bridges....Our purpose is to build bridges between two communities – non- believers and Christian. Bridges of understanding, communication, and certainly love.” (Acts 17: 22‑31)
Weaving faith into life...Unfortunately in our church culture we have tended to live dual lives. People watch what Christians do and don’t do, and on that basis decide whether or not they are interested in what we have.
Creating opportunities…It is when we are walking with God, talking to him in prayer, knowing His Word that we will be more attuned to the opportunities that he places in our path. Look for them; they are often very small, and fleeting. It could be something said, a question asked or a look. Be prepared and expect them. (John 4:7‑30)
What I find so disappointing is seeing a new believer come into the church and leave all their old friends behind at the door. They cut themselves off or become so 'religious' that their friends start avoiding them. In some ways it is a natural thing to want to associate with those of like mind, people you have something in common with but what opportunity do you then to let your non-believing friends see what Jesus is doing in your life. What we need are people living within their old communities. The following is a good description of what I mean:
"An “insider movement” is any movement to faith in Christ where a) the gospel flows through pre-existing communities and social networks, and where b) believing families, as valid expressions of the Body of Christ, remain inside their communities, retaining their identity as members of that community while living under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the authority of the Bible. "
We need to be 'in the world but not of the world' we need to engage with the world, not standing to one side and throwing stones, not being against the world. However we also don't want to be completely intertwined within the world that we lose the essence of our faith, that something extra that we can give to the world.
We need to be 'transforming our culture'. Agents of change, offering to the world a sweet smelling incense of the gospel of Christ. We need to be doing three things:
Building Bridges....Our purpose is to build bridges between two communities – non- believers and Christian. Bridges of understanding, communication, and certainly love.” (Acts 17: 22‑31)
Weaving faith into life...Unfortunately in our church culture we have tended to live dual lives. People watch what Christians do and don’t do, and on that basis decide whether or not they are interested in what we have.
Creating opportunities…It is when we are walking with God, talking to him in prayer, knowing His Word that we will be more attuned to the opportunities that he places in our path. Look for them; they are often very small, and fleeting. It could be something said, a question asked or a look. Be prepared and expect them. (John 4:7‑30)
Saturday, November 7, 2009
How to influence people
I have been looking at how we as followers of Jesus can be more effective in influencing others for the Kingdom. It seems to me that in fact we are not doing so good.
When I was a young believer I used to cringe when people started talking about 'witnessing'. It usually involved confronting total strangers and 'sharing' your faith with them. I did try it a couple of times but found I just felt uncomfortable doing it. Then visiting speakers would come along and share their experiences; how they would be travelling on a plane and during the flight lead the person next to them to Christ! Wonderful stories that only made me feel more inadequate and dismissive of even trying.
As I have travelled through my faith journey I have seen many 'witnessing' episodes that have made me embarrassed and sometimes even angry. People are often so intent on 'converting' a person, that they become insensitive to how people really feel. A non-believer is not always unhappy with their life of 'sin'! They are not necessarily 'really bad people' either. And getting them to church is not always the best place for them to be.
What we have tried to be with people we live, work or socialise with is genuine and authentic . We love them because they are people created by God and he has put them into our pathway. Some of them become our friends, we enjoy their company and we love them. Because they are our friends, we naturally want them to meet Jesus. But we don't have a list with their name on it that we can tick off when they 'get saved'! Even if they don't become a follower of Jesus we will keep being their friend.
We have a number of neighbours that we have been friends with for many years; we have been to parties in their homes, they have been to ones in our home, we have shared BBQ's and gone on outings. These are natural things that friends do together and they know we have a relationship with Jesus. Sometimes we invite them to social gatherings with believing friends; we are not compartmentalising our life, we are being 'real' with who we are.
I will continue this later...
When I was a young believer I used to cringe when people started talking about 'witnessing'. It usually involved confronting total strangers and 'sharing' your faith with them. I did try it a couple of times but found I just felt uncomfortable doing it. Then visiting speakers would come along and share their experiences; how they would be travelling on a plane and during the flight lead the person next to them to Christ! Wonderful stories that only made me feel more inadequate and dismissive of even trying.
As I have travelled through my faith journey I have seen many 'witnessing' episodes that have made me embarrassed and sometimes even angry. People are often so intent on 'converting' a person, that they become insensitive to how people really feel. A non-believer is not always unhappy with their life of 'sin'! They are not necessarily 'really bad people' either. And getting them to church is not always the best place for them to be.
What we have tried to be with people we live, work or socialise with is genuine and authentic . We love them because they are people created by God and he has put them into our pathway. Some of them become our friends, we enjoy their company and we love them. Because they are our friends, we naturally want them to meet Jesus. But we don't have a list with their name on it that we can tick off when they 'get saved'! Even if they don't become a follower of Jesus we will keep being their friend.
We have a number of neighbours that we have been friends with for many years; we have been to parties in their homes, they have been to ones in our home, we have shared BBQ's and gone on outings. These are natural things that friends do together and they know we have a relationship with Jesus. Sometimes we invite them to social gatherings with believing friends; we are not compartmentalising our life, we are being 'real' with who we are.
I will continue this later...
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