Have we got it?
Two posts ago, I posed the question “Do you think we have the missional and spritual resources to respond adequately to the issues facing us?” (Thanks to those who responded.) I suppose I had better state my own view in regards to the question.
Well I suppose it will not surprise you that I do not think that our inherited formulas will work anymore. And what is more, I know I am not alone in this view. Most who will visit this blog are already part of a massive roaming of the mind that is going on in our day. The search for alternatives is heating up. However, in my view, most of the current thinking as it relates to the future of Christianity in the West only highlights our dilemma and generally proposes solutions that are little more than revisions of past approaches and techniques. It worries me that even much of the thinking about ‘Emerging Church’ leaves the prevailing assumptions of church and mission intact and simply focuses rather on the issue of theology and spirituality in a postmodern setting. This amounts to a reworking the theological ‘software’ whilst ignoring the ‘hardware’ as well as ‘operating system’ of the church. In my opinion this will not be enough to get us through. As we anxiously gaze into the future and delve back into our history and traditions to retrieve missiological tools from the Christendom toolbox, I think many are left with the sinking feeling that this is simply not going to work. The tools and techniques that fitted previous eras of Western history simply don’t seem to work any longer.
And it’s not that reaching into our past is not part of the solution…it is. The problem is that we generally simply don’t go back far enough; or rather, that we don’t delve deep enough for our answers. Every now and again we do get glimpses of an answer, but because of the radical and disturbing nature of the remedy we so easily retreat to the safety of the familiar and the controllable. The real answers, if we have the courage to search for and apply them, are usually more radical than we are normally given to think, and because of this they undermine our sense of place in the world with its status quo—not something that the Western church has generally been too comfortable with. But I believe that we are now living in a time when only a solution that that goes to the very roots of what it means to be Jesus’ people will do.
Anyhow, all this has led me to look into the nature of apostolic movements. As stated before, I believe that this form of ecclesia is the one that has the right answers for us. The Forgotten Ways is an exploration into the phenomenology of dynamic, world-transforming, Jesus movements. And I want to share some of the insights that I found along the way. So stay tuned.
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Alan - point taken.
We have a house for sale opposite us here in Minneapolis. It has seen some years. The last occupiers noticed that it was in a state of decay and spent a lot of resources and time on the superficials - making it nicer the live in, replacing the windows and siding. Yet the foundations have moved, the house noticeably leans. It’s value has dropped and they are having difficulty in passing it on to the next inhabitants.
Without driving the analogy too hard, I think the parallels with modern evangelicalism fit well.
The modifications we are seeing by some in tidying up the outside without addressing the foundational shifts that have occurred (over some period of time) feels to me like an ecclesiological renovation, when maybe what we really need is a gutting and complete rebuild.
I’m really intrigued to read Forgotten Ways as well to hear more about how we as the church can delve “deeper” into our past for answers to the contemporary issues. I’m in the process of reading UNOH’s little but blessed book titled “Collective Witness: A theology and praxis for a missionary order” as some of us here are praying about what God is calling us to in our context. Would you say UNOH is one example of what a “apostolic movement” can look like?
Blessings to you…
Hey Derek. Yes, I consider UNOH an apostolic movement, however it is not one that has reached the point of what Roland Allen called ’spontaneous expansion’ (I love that term!) But it has all the hallmarks of an evolving transformative movement among the poor. And it is picking up in momentum. And they are all great people/friends to boot!!
Looking forward to your insights………..Hopefully we do have the courage to not retreat ot the familiar and the controllable
hey al…
i love the graphic…
my observations are that one of the foundational issues for christianity is that we have inherited a building that has it’s foundation on a philosophy of “fear.” the great motivating stick of evangelical christianity is fear of consequence if we’re found to do the wrong thing… so, often people are hiding their wrong doing in shame or immobilised from attempting the right thing for fear of failure and the majority do nothing!
our delving deep ought to be spiritual first then historical/material - changes in those realms are a consequence of spiritual revelation. we need to truly uncover the triune god of love, we need to discover who he says he is, who he says we really are.
there’s a sense for me that what the model looks like on the surface (in the material realm) is less important than the true motivation of it in the spiritual realm. christianity has been building on the wrong foundation, we must restore a foundation of love. firstly as individuals - genuinely believing that we are loved - and then as communities. the most radical motivation, in the sight of a self-centred culture, is a culture that is genuinely other person centred.
when we have the confidence that comes from understanding how much we are truly loved by god, we are less inclined to be motivated by the approval or the fear of other people and their thoughts, words or deeds.
when we have the confidence that comes from understanding how much we are truly loved by god, we are more inclined to do things from a motivation that is a response to his love than a fear of being spanked.
when we have the confidence that comes from understanding how much we are truly loved by god, we are more inclined to acknowledge our weaknesses and failures and to grow through the process.
when we have the confidence that comes from understanding how much we are truly loved by god, we are more inclined to radical sacrifice and trust…
delve deeply and discover you are loved…
the ramblings of a celtic son
Mate one of the reasons that we keep repeating the old formula with new wrapping is that we have not faced up to the fact that much of it is an idol. The whole ‘local’ church thinking has taken over the one (Christ) it is meant to serve and it has become the end in itself ie the sacrificing of all else to it….including mission! Untill we are prepared to name this thing, face it and destroy this part of it, we will keep worshiping it and wasting our best to it! The proof….what is the biggest institutional blockage to ‘the forgotten ways’ paradigm? The current institution of local church and its great High Priests. They have the power to stop and hinder new and different thinking and too much time and effort has to be put into keeping them happy so we can progress. Still what would I know!
Alan,
Is the term “spontaneous expansion” by Roland Allen first found in his work “THE SPONTANEOUS EXPANSION OF THE CHURCH: And the Causes Which Hinder It” in which he discusses his experiences in China?
I like the term and would like to investigate further.
Thanks,
Derek
Derek, yep…you got it. And I have a downloadable copy. You can find it on the internet. It is a wonderful work. they guy was precient!!
And for the angry Daz. I totally agree with you bro. We have so tied ourselves to what is at best a certain ‘imagination’ (image//idol) or ‘conception’ of the church that we cant seem to see beyond it. It was not the original one, nor is it the most potent, and yet we still seem to cling to it.
But I do see signs that people, perhaps even the best thinkers and actors in our midst, are begining to question it and search for more authentic alternatives.
Its an interesting time. I for one have moved from being an iconoclastic, hand-wringing prophet with messages of doom, to being almost triumphalistic about the possibilities. So there is hope for you too Darryl G!
hey angryandshallow…
i agree with the sentiments but not your conclusion… it’s the kind of response that the high priests love to see engendered in those who are considering alternatives - despair that takes you out of the game!
a few years ago i separated from a large church based on questions of direction and use of resources. i went through a stage of cynicism, anger, spite etc… until there came a point where i had to admit that my response to what i perceived to be their crap, was that i took myself out of the game - two wrongs don’t make a right my friend
no-one has the power to stop and hinder new and different thinking… unless you allow them to! i’m not clear what efforts you’re suggesting are necessary to keep the current high priests of the institution happy… i’m not inclined to be motivated by the approval or the fear of other people and their thoughts, words or deeds. i’m more inclined to focus on the one (Christ) i am meant to serve - what about you?
in all honesty angryandshallow i reckon one of the biggest blocks to authentic progress is when energy is wasted trying to destroy something that’s just a dead man walking when it ought to be applied trying to build something fresh or redisover truth.
my response is to see the idol is there, recognise it’s patterns and then ignore the bugger and get with building in the opposite direction! nothing frustrates the seekers after popularity than ignoring them…
i’d be a little cautious of going as far as mr hirsch’s triumphalism… particularly when he’s given himself the title of “alah”! but i would suggest coverting your anger and applying your energy in constructive ways
discover you are loved…
the ramblings of a celtic son
Hehehe celtic son. You have seen through my veil so to speak. But look…I am no longer Alah, but back to the more approachable ‘Alan’. I am god of my blog no more!
hah rev hirsch,
the veil has been torn in two… so to speak
may the LORD bless you and keep you; make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; turn his face toward you and give you peace.
shalom
Hi Celtic son
The high priests and structures do have power to hinder (may be a better term than stop) in that they control funding and accreditation. While some pioneers (like Hirschy)are brave and strong enough to go on without this many are not and therefore hindered. The reason some of the structures need to be destroyed is that sometimes God wants that done with idols. Ignoring them can give them power over others and our ignoring them makes us complicit in this wrong power relationship. I do agree that two wrongs do not make a right so wisdom is needed in doing it in the right way!
and finally I am not despairing….I am excited, unsure and a bit scared, and I am in good company!
Hirschy your point is noted as well that there are some who are questioning and looking….most will do this as the pioneers open them to new ays of imagining and thinking…so we need to keep the idol smashing pioneers encouraged at all times…even when they go too far.
Hi angryandshallow,
i’m glad you’re excited, unsure and a bit scared… my apologies if i made some wrong ASSumptions.
you’re right that there are times to deal with idols, though i think there’s a tendency to rely more on old testament models there… to me the new testament seems more concerned that we stand on what we believe in, than we oppose the other BUT you are right that we have a responsibility not to leave others to get caught up in wrong power.
my wife and i found it difficult to exist in a given structure and left 8 years ago… 6 years ago we started out on our own - meeting with two other families… i chose not to rely on other funding or accreditation. of course it’s a challenge in other ways, but there’s a great deal more freedom too
now we have some great partnerships in our community, with the local school where we hold our weekly meetings - we recently had over 100 local people involved in a clean up day in the school. we also partner with them in running a weekly playgroup, run in the school hall with a regular attendance of about 20 mums and 25 kids - only about 5 would consider themselves as Christians…
we’re launching some other community based initiatives in the next 12 months, all aimed at serving and supporting our community… and there are up to 100 or so adults involved in various community ventures and loving it… don’t allow the funding or accreditation to stop you from having a go… serve within your own framework
i’m amazed at what i’ve found out about myself, about my community and about my god just by having a go at implementing some simple community related ideas…
god bless you
the rambling celtic son
Hello Alan, Celtic Son, et. al -
Many of these replies are quite telling as to whether or not we’ve got what it takes in the West. Alan, the movements you preach (Ancient Greek/Jewish/Roman/China worlds)were birthed in cultures that were extremely community oriented or perhaps communitas in nature. Confucionism of China/Asia is permeated with “Saving Face” to the community/family - many times in bondage to it. Being burned for marriage to someone outside the family line, changing religion, etc.
While the West has a yearning for community - or perhaps communitas, we are extremely individualistic. Few of us know what it will take or mean to shift.
I am not trying to make light of anyone severing a relationship with their former fellowship, but fundamentally the New Command of Christ is to love as he loved (John 13
) - the context of the unveiling of this New Command is footwashing, treachery (Judas) and betrayel/denial (Peter). In short, there may be a yearning to go towards communitas but few are truly willing to endure the path to go there - it may mean a literal death to self, unifying with people with ulterior motifs, submiting to and honoring governments with whom you radically disagree - even those willing to kill you, or willing to serve your boss or spouse who treats you awful.
I see our biggest obstacle in a Western Missional Church planting movement is our bondage to individualism. Those wanting communitas may ultimately get tired of “dealing with people” and end relationships to go make new ones that will end a decade later or sooner. Alan, I would be very interested in hearing how you or others address this…
challenging observations seeingkalos…
i agree with much that you have observed, not necessarily with all of your conclusions…
i agree that my own “bondage to individualism”, as it has been defined by growing up in this culture, is a huge obstacle. there is a definite danger that I “may ultimately get tired of “dealing with people” and end relationships to go make new ones that will end a decade later or sooner.” the flip side is that, in fear of potential failure, I can choose not to take the risk to connect at all… which is the choice of many and really no solution. despite the great potential for failure, and the experience of failures, i choose to keep getting up again.
the church is a miracle, which relies on every member choosing to place the interests of others before their own interests… even placing the interests of the world before the interests of the church… we need a deep understanding that we are only complete when we are in connection with the body.and the body is only complete when we are each connected. we always face the reality that any one person withdrawing into themselves, putting self first, destroys community
the essense of the christ is a focus on others that over-rides focus on self, and i agree with you that there is a requirement to die to self that is completely alien to us.
i take seriously your challenge about severing relationship with a former fellowship - some of the statements you make are confronting and true. obviously i have personal experience and don’t simply want to try to justify myself. mine was not a decision taken lightly - it was the first church i belonged to and i had been there for a number of years. at the time i was a staff member and discussion and decision making was a journey that took over 12 months.
while there is truth to your challenges i am also aware that one of jesus’ biggest criticisms was to religious leadership that lacked integrity. in the end my rationale for separation was that i did, and still, believe god relocated me to a different community. trying to fit where i did not fit lacked integrity
the choice between remaining in a paid staff role, that had material security, and choosing to move out and begin to develop community ourselves, was challenging. we opened our home, invested in the community, gave money to pay fellowship bills and took no payment ourselves.
while i acknowledge that our lives have not been threatened, nonetheless it has cost us… the only solution i have discovered is to continue to move forward, despite the setbacks and failures…
“I get knocked down, but I get up again… you’re never gonna keep me down”
rambling Celt
What about the possibility of pulling out of Iraq, letting Iran invade and lose resources fighting their own kind,
and then come in and mop up the dregs?