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Alan Creech
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aaron klinefelter
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November 28, 2005
> 7:38 PM
our own context again Good reminder today about how I, we, need to focus primarily on our own ecclesiastical context. We do, this is true. I said something a while back about this and meant it. I still do. In churches like ours, there are many times those who have been burned or have seen acutely how harmful certain ways of being church can be. We can tend to ramble on about that. If we're not careful, too much, to our own detriment, and that of those around us. Of course, some of that is cathartic. It can be a step in the healing process to hash those things out. We need to continue and move on though. We can't stay in that place. Of course not, many of us have said this. That is not to say that discussion about how things "used to be" or the like can never happen, or shouldn't ever happen in our context. Our culture is full of a certain way of looking at church, what it is, how it works, etc. - even for those who have never been a part of one. We can't get away from that. So, even if someone becomes a part of one of our communities and has never been "churched," they may still ask the same questions that others may: "why don't you meet in a building like a 'normal' church?" - "why isn't there preaching from behind a pulpit like you see on tv?" - "why does your pastor have a job as a graphic designer?" Of course, then, you have to explain these things. We have to find ways of explaining them without any hatred, without bitterness, matter-of-factly and straitforward. This is needed. This is legitimate. Unless your viewpoint is that everything is OK and is fine if it's "fine for you" then there are real reasons why the answers to these questions are what they are, and we have to be honest about them. Of course I'll stand by not making a fuss in church expressions of which I am not a part or have no connection to. I don't think that's necessary. I don't think that's really helpful. I don't have much to say about Baptists and the way they behave as the church because I am not one, never have been, and don't really have any relationships with anyone who is a part of one of their churches such that I am being asked my thoughts on anything. I've had much more connection and contact with independent charismatics, especially in the faith movement, so I might say something related to them every now and then, but not often. I'm not there any more. Even though I'd probably be considered a "charismatic" by many, I'm not in that structure any more and they're really not coming and asking my opinion, so I should probably refrain from giving it. I probably find the most identification with the Roman Catholic Church within myself and from my having been a part of that church, having come into Christ through that church - so I talk about that context a bit. If you'll notice, not really a lot about critical things. Again, unless someone asks me or it's an open forum sort of set up, I need to keep quiet for the most part on that. On the other hand, there is this wide and wooly world of the "emerging church" of which I am most assuredly a part and a voice. In that context, which is again, not only one context, I often have much to say. I say it because I think it needs to be heard. And there are times in this context when someone might be asking something like, "I'm the pastor of so and so 1st whatever church of somewhere and we want to reach the young people, how can I start me an emerging service?" If someone asks me such a question I would answer them. I'd say, in this case, to quote Jackson Bishop, "don't do it!" I'd then proceed to tell them the inconsistencies and why not, etc., etc. Would I yell and scream at them and say they were horrible people? No. See, ya'll just don't know me. Anyway, there are times when questions need to be answered and things need to be stated clearly. These are usually when one is being asked, not when no one invited your ass to say anything at all. "What do you think about this or that Alan?" saying it is something like this "I think it's harmful to the Body of Christ and here's why...." Yeah, we can do that. Maybe it's, "It's really neither here nor there - whatever you want to do." Both answers may be legitimate. The former has become recently unpopular, and perhaps too rarely used, but still should be said from time to time. If you haven't come up with real, deep, positive reasons why you are doing what you're doing, where you're doing it as far as church is concerned, then do so. It's time for much more of that and much less just doing nothing because you're tired and pissed or doing something else... just because you're tired and pissed. Think! Of course there will be some degree of reaction in this thing, but think and pray and think and read. Don't merely be a reactionary. It doesn't carry you very far. So, live in your own context and know why you are doing it. Don't be so much all up in the business of something that you're not a part of. Don't hesitate, though, to say what you believe to be the Truth. Try to be calm. Try to be as peaceful as you can about it, but don't wishy-washy yourself down the drain. That's all from me tonight. Grace and Peace to you. Labels: church, emerging church 0 Comments:| permalink | e-mail me | 
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