Rebranding Christianity - A new kind of community

In chapter 7, Jones talks about the formation of a new kind of community. He says Jesus came to form a "new community of diverse people who are united by what we have in common." To me, that means diverse tribes of people with differences, yet we all have this new kingdom community in common. It seems maintaining this broader, more inclusive definition of church has been getting more difficult. 

I feel honored to share and teach at times to church groups that are different than my own. I've experienced some wonderful openness and hunger for truth. I've also encountered some guarded skepticism, which is wise, but there is also a feeling of resistance. I try to stay in the common areas, but I also want to stretch their thinking. I've found it's a balancing act. If I go too far or don't properly prepare them for truth, they will tune me out and hear nothing else I say. If I don't push and challenge them at the right times, then I miss the moment to plant new seeds. It seems to be getting more difficult as tribes defensively limit their influencers and grow more exclusive. We should be hungry to hear and receive truth from anyone until the Holy Spirit prompt us otherwise. Today many are resistant and reluctant until you prove your one of them. How can we ever learn and grow that way?

Jones says, "Now is the time to resist the comfortable pull of sameness, and intentionally form multiethnic and multigenerational communities who love and welcome everyone always." If we could just remember that phrase "Resist the comfortable pull of sameness" things would begin to change. Sameness is not the same as unity in what we have in common. Seeking sameness is a fear and self-preservation response. 

Let's be open and welcoming to others. Let's habitually seek truth, live truth, and share truth. That's the way of this wonderful new kingdom community.



Popular posts from this blog

Thoughts on Easter

Easter is always a good time for reflection and examination. The thought of what Jesus Christ has done for me is overwhelming and brings me ultimately to the foot of the cross. What more can be done in the face of such holiness and great sacrifice? All I can do is lay my life down there as well, surrender myself, my life, all I have, and all I am or ever will be. There can be no fruitfulness or fulfillment of our purpose until we lay our life down unto death. We spend so much time striving, building ministries, making better plans, and working harder. We don’t see that from Jesus. In his essay In Him and Over Him: The Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus John O’Donnell says Jesus had to accept the failure of His human mission. He says “Jesus who came in the power of the Spirit to proclaim the Good News had to accept that because of the hardness of hearts of His people the kingdom could only come through the cross. And so Jesus goes to His death, tested to the utterness of His obedience,
Read more

More on Erasing Hell

I can defintely relate to this quote by Francis Chan from his book Erasing Hell . This is such a difficult topic and it's easier to just not think about it and move on.  I believe we are entering a season when God's people will feel an urgency to step up and speak the truth in a loving and firm way. Don't speak out of ignorance or your own thoughts. Know the Word . We are all surrounded by opportunities to learn the Word and allow it to transform our lives. There is no excuse for not knowing. Speak out of that transformation. Let the Holy Spirit speak for you. Know Christ deeply and allow Him to take control of your life fully. "What causes my heart to ache right now as I’m writing this is that my life shows little evidence that I actually believe this. Every time my thoughts wander to the future of unbelievers, I quickly brush them aside so they don’t ruin my day. But there is a reality here that I can’t ignore. Even as the conversations of people around me fill my
Read more

Obeying God's Voice

Image source The Bible makes no distinction between hearing and obeying God's voice. Hearing Him is the first step, but hearing requires us to obey. The writer of Hebrews warns us to not harden our hearts if today we hear God's voice (Heb. 3:15). There is no rest or peace in disobedience to His voice. When we harden our hearts to His voice, we reject the life that He is offering. I like to think of these times of obedience as continual alignment of my life with God's Word. As the Holy Spirit speaks we obey by yielding our will to His. Obedience brings transformation which makes us more and more like Christ. Doesn't a student who continues to yield themselves to the process of learning soon experiences changes in their thinking and behavior as a result? So a disciple (a learner) becomes more and more like the Master as they yield to His teaching. God's Word and His voice cannot be separated. God's voice, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the Biblical messag
Read more

Intervention

I saw this picture on msnbc  today which was linking to a news video concerning Pakistanis who are desperate for aid.  My heart breaks for kids like this all over the world who go hungry every day.  I've fed hungry people in India, and its overwhelming to see people desperately grabbing for a bread roll and a small banana.  I want to see the church of Jesus Christ rise up and take the authority given to us by Jesus Christ and intervene in these situations.  We are not on this earth to make it a better place, but to share the good news of Jesus.  When people know Him, we will see better living conditions where all people are loved and treated with respect and dignity.  We can end hunger and poverty and poor drinking water conditions.  My good friend and warrior in the kingdom Suresh Kumar likes to quote William Booth "Give them soup, soap, and salvation".
Read more