A people who live in fellowship with God
Occasionally, I come across a post or paragraph that really makes me stop and think… ok, so that happens often. And, I’m glad that it happens often.
But, when I read “God’s eternal purpose is found in the church life” by Josh (at “Called to Rebuild“), I really resonated with what he said.
Now, when some read the term “church life” they think about attending events and participating in programs at a certain building, but I’m pretty sure that’s not what Josh is talking about. In fact, this paragraph pretty much guarantees it:
For the past three years I have had the privilege of living and gathering with a small company of believers for whom life in Christ is more than a private, individual affair. We have gone through many seasons, had our fair share of highs and lows, and learned that Christ is found in the mundane aspects of life as well as the spectacular. Being built together in this way is worth its weight in gold, if you ask me. I so appreciate the church life, and I’ve come to see that this is the very heartbeat of God. The church life is the very center of His purpose and the end of all His activities. What God is ultimately seeking to obtain is a people who live in fellowship together with Himself.
Here’s the thing, as John told us, when we share life (fellowship) with one another, then we also share life (fellowship) with God. (1 John 1:3) If we are sharing in God’s life, then he is not only leading us to other believers, but he is also leading us out into the world.
When we share life with God, we are both gathered and sent. And, as Josh pointed out, this (gathering and sending) often happens when we fellowship with God in “the mundane aspects of life”
Pooling resources for general church purposes?
Felicity Dale at “Simply Church: A House Church Perspective” writes “How should we give financially within the simple/organic/house church?” This post is part of a series that she’s been writing on finances among simple churches. (I pointed to an earlier article in the series in my post “Did someone forget to pass the offering plate.”)
Because of her post, I began to think about churches and money in Scripture again. Today, believers typically pool their money with others among their “local church.” Later, people decide how that money is spent. Yes, there are usually budgets, but the use of the money is not actually decided until the money is spent.
Do we see anything like this in Scripture?
Well, there are at least two instances of believers pooling their money. (Felicity points out these passages, among others, in her post.):
There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. (Acts 4:34-35 ESV)
Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me. (1 Corinthians 16:1-4 ESV)
In each of these cases, believers were pooling their money together. But, they were doing so for a particular reason: to help those in need.
They did not store the money and decide later how to spend it. And, more importantly, they did not spend it on themselves – even for “ministry” purposes. The money was give to people who were in need.
This is quite different than the way that money is used in the church today.
Practical Steps Toward Missional Living
It seems that I’m pointing you to this blog often lately. But, that’s because Chris keeps writing excellent blog posts.
I’m talking about Chris from “The Amplified Life.” His latest post is called “Making Missional Living Practical.” In this post, Chris shares eight ideas (which he found at another blog) about how to live a more missional life.
Here are the eight ideas:
1. Eat with Non-Christians.
2. Walk; Don’t Drive.
3. Be a Regular.
4. Hobby with Non-Christians.
5. Talk to Your Co-Workers.
6. Volunteer with Non-Profits.
7. Participate in City Events.
8. Serve Your Neighbors.
Chris quotes some comments about each of these ideas. So, jump over to his blog to learn more.
I will say this: These ideas will not make you live a missional life. However, they will give you opportunities to live missionally.
What do you think? Do you have other ideas to add?
Eating With Unwashed Hands
I have an exciting announcement to make today!
If you’ve been around this blog for more than a few days, then you’ve probably noticed comments from someone named “Hutch.” Hutch (Mike) and I ran into one another through various blogs some time ago. I honestly don’t remember how long ago it was.
We’ve communicated with one another through blogs, email, and facebook. Unfortunately, we’ve never met in person (yet).
I’ve always found his comments to be extraordinarily helpful and challenging. Because of this, I’ve often encouraged him to start blogging… again.
Well, guess what?!?! Hutch is blogging at “Eating With Unwashed Hands.”
Do yourself a big favor and jump over to Hutch’s (Mike’s) blog. Read it. Comment on it. Bookmark it. Add it to your feedreader.
This will be one blog that you definitely want to follow!
Did someone forget to pass the offering plate?
When people meet with us (and I’m assuming something similar happens with other simpler types of churches), they are often confused because we don’t “pass the plate.” In fact, I’ve had several people ask me if someone forgot to pass the plate.
Nope. We don’t “pass the plate.” Why? Because we don’t expect people to give “to the church.” We expect them to give as God directs them – primarily to friends, neighbors, family members, and perhaps even strangers who are in need. (And, there are many, MANY people in our area in need right now.)
That’s just not the way it’s done in churches today. People usually expect to give to the church, and they then expect the church to decide how to apportion that money. In most cases, the largest percentage of the money goes back to the church, not to those in need.
But, won’t people stop giving altogether if the church doesn’t expect (and require, in some cases) people to give to the church?
Well, Felicity at “Simply Church” recently wrote an article about that. The article is called “House Church Finances.”
In the article, Felicity refers to some research. Here are some of the findings:
Of those surveyed, 51.6% of those involved in organic/simple church gave 11%-25% of their income to charity, and 7.5% gave greater than 25%. In other words, almost 60% of people are giving more than a tithe.
The money spent on the internal administration of simple/organic churches is very low: 59.1% of the participant’s house/simple church spent less than 1% of their total annual proceeds on internal needs, and 15.1% spent 2%-5%. In other words, more than 70% say their simple church spends less than 5% on administration costs.
(The typical American Christian gives less than 3% of their income to charity and the typical institutional church spends 85% of all church activity and funds directly toward the internal operations of the congregation, such as staff salaries, building payments, utility and operating expenses.)
What do you think about these findings? Do you think the stats reflect what is actually happening in both simple and more organized churches today?
Troublemakers, Finding Work, Passports, and even more on Making Disciples
This is another post of posts. Yes, people continue to write so many good blog posts, and I continue to have trouble keeping up with them all.
So, again, in this post I want to highlight four very good blog posts that I’ve read over the last few days.
First, Eric at “A Pilgrim’s Progress” writes “One of Those Blogs“
Eric admits that his blog has turned into “one of those blogs,” but he doesn’t want to be divisive. Sounds familiar…
Jeremy at “Til He Comes” writes “Finding Work as an Ex-Pastor“
Jeremy offers advice for people who are getting out of “vocational ministry.”
Chris at “The Amplified Life” writes “My Passport Arrived!“
Chris talks about his plans (and God’s provision) of working in the Kibara Slum of Nairobi.
Finally, Geoff at “My Blog” writes “Making Disciples“
Geoff’s post is an answer to questions I asked in a previous post, which was a highlight of a post on Guy’s blog. Gotta love blogging!
Do not read this post if you are comfortable NOT making disciples
Guy at “The M Blog” has written an excellent post called “Great Commission Myths.”
In the post, as the title suggests, Guy shares certain myths that often crop up. These myths especially come to the fore whenever someone is comfortable NOT making disciples. (Guy got these myths from Joey Shaw.)
Here are the five myths of disciple making:
1. The myth of accidental discipleship.
2. Crossing cultures is a step beyond the general mandate.
3. Jesus wants converts.
4. When I am ready and able, I will start making disciples.
5. Making disciples is great advice.
Check out Guy’s post for a description of these myths.
I’ve heard several of these reasons myself. In fact, I’ve given into several of them myself.
What do you think? How do we dispel these myths?
Food stamps, seminary, secondary issues, and hearts and brains
Again, I’ve marked so many great post in my feed reader that I can’t write a post for each one. Unfortunately, even the highlights in this post doesn’t even scratch the surface.
For example, Bobby at “Deconstructing Neverland” writes “Warming pews and waiting on food stamps.”
Bobby suggests (along with the post that he quotes) that the modern day church system and leadership creates a system of codependency much like the welfare system.
Eric at “A Pilgrim’s Progress” asks (and answers) “Would I attend seminary all over again?”
Eric and I attended seminary together. He decides – in the same way that I did – that the best part about seminary is the people that he met.
Steve at “From the Pew” writes “Secondary Issues.”
Steve talks about the difference between the essentials of Christianity and secondary issues. Of course, we usually divide from one another based on secondary issues.
Trista at “Theological Zombie Student” writes “Hearts & Brains (Faith & Reason).”
Trista is also a seminary student who understands what we’re doing at “Zombie Theology.” She writes a commentary and response to one of our stories.
To Develop ALL Believers Into Leaders
Over at “SimpleChurch Journal“, Roger has written an excellent article called “House Church is ALL About Leaders.”
Now, the article title seems to mean that simple church enthusiasts only care about leaders and leadership. However, this is not what Roger means.
Instead, he’s trying to point out that those who prefer simple church seek to encourage all to lead.
For example, consider this:
But I would like to suggest that the purpose of the church ought to be to develop ALL believers into leaders. For this reason, I would say that simple/house churches are ALL about leadership. Furthermore, the problem in the past has been that, too often, we have limited the leadership development of others because there is only so much room for the few who are prescribed to lead from the top.
Think about what it is that ALL believers are called to do:
- To be salt and light in the world.
- To love neighbors sacrificially.
- To make disciples.
- To serve as priests.
- To be an example of the incredible wealth of God’s kindness and grace.
- To bring a song, a word, a prophesy when we gather.
- To be ready to share God’s word of grace with others in season and out.
- On and on and on.
Of course, if those who are currently recognized as leaders want to help all to become leaders, it means those current leaders will have to step out of the way and allow others to lead… yes, even to lead them.
Leaders are often happy when others step up and lead in “lesser” things, but it’s more difficult to get leaders to submit to others in issues that seem more important.
In fact, however, I would say that this (submission to others – considering others as more important than themselves) is a very important part of being a leader in the first place.
What do you think?
Brother, the line between us is artificial
First, I want to thank Chris at “The Amplified Life” for his kind words about me and my blog in his post “We’ve Crossed ‘the Line.’”
Then, I wan to encourage you to read that post. No, I don’t want you to pat me on the back. I want you to notice what Chris is talking about.
Yes, there are differences and disagreements between Chris and myself. You can read about some of them in his post.
But, that which (or who) unites us is more important and bigger than anything that might separate us.
That’s the way it is with brothers and sisters. We are family because of our common relationship with God. Anything that we allow to get in the way is artificial.
(By the way, keep up the great blogging and living, Chris! You’ve been a great encouragement to me as well!)