Thursday, October 25, 2007
Yep, That's Right
Milt Stanley links to a post by Jim Martin. Milt has his own favorite pull quote, here's mine
Obvious notion that, but it is the response that is maddening. "Well of course, that's true, after all, we are all sinners." Indeed, but that does not mean we should not hold to the ideal. That does not mean we should be satisfied. That does not mean we should lose sight of that which lies ahead. Our call, both individually and corporately is to run the good race, which means looking at where we should be, not where we are.
The same that says we are all sinners, also says we are to be sanctified. It says we have a way out of the sin if we but rest in the Holy Spirit and strive.
The problem that Jim describes is about what we strive for. We strive to build an organization instead of striving to use an organization to build people, nay disciples, that then begin that cycle again. We lack vision for what the church SHOULD BE.
Think about that for a minute. We have a vision for what we has individuals should be, but what should the church be? Aside from "growing"? Come on, don't you think our vision should be a little more radical than that?
Why must I turn to very old literature to find real vision for faith communities instead of the modern manuals that read suspiciously business textbooks in church skins? Why don't we read that old literature now?
I recall that when Christ was in the wilderness, The Evil One tempted him not with perversions, but with alternate vision of His mission.
Hmmmm.....
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I am just describing the realities that many of us are in. This is very familiar territory to me. I have gone through moments and even months when I thought I was going to die spiritually. The irony? That happened while I was spending every waking hour thinking about how to deal with messes in a church system.Jim says he is not "fussing at anyone" which is fine, but I'm gonna. How can the state he describes, one I have derided here over and over again, come to be? When the church is not an adequate reflection of the God it seeks to worship, that's how.
Obvious notion that, but it is the response that is maddening. "Well of course, that's true, after all, we are all sinners." Indeed, but that does not mean we should not hold to the ideal. That does not mean we should be satisfied. That does not mean we should lose sight of that which lies ahead. Our call, both individually and corporately is to run the good race, which means looking at where we should be, not where we are.
The same that says we are all sinners, also says we are to be sanctified. It says we have a way out of the sin if we but rest in the Holy Spirit and strive.
The problem that Jim describes is about what we strive for. We strive to build an organization instead of striving to use an organization to build people, nay disciples, that then begin that cycle again. We lack vision for what the church SHOULD BE.
Think about that for a minute. We have a vision for what we has individuals should be, but what should the church be? Aside from "growing"? Come on, don't you think our vision should be a little more radical than that?
Why must I turn to very old literature to find real vision for faith communities instead of the modern manuals that read suspiciously business textbooks in church skins? Why don't we read that old literature now?
I recall that when Christ was in the wilderness, The Evil One tempted him not with perversions, but with alternate vision of His mission.
Hmmmm.....
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