cairns

In the early days of studying intentional communities in America there were endless discussions of the success or failure of various communities largely based on how many years they persisted in the exact form of total shared property and possessions.  My friend and mentor, Don Pitzer, and I often discussed the flaws in this model.  Some did great things in a short period of existence.  Some came into existence and faded away again with barely a ripple of effect noticeable anywhere.  Some continue as well known communities today, just in far different forms.  Don finally developed the concept of “developmental communalism,” which you can read about in his book shown on my widget.  Under this model, a community which meets the aims it is designed to meet, especially if it can successfully evolve over time to continue to do so, is a success.

As he and I were having lunch this week, it dawned on me that maybe what some of us are talking about is a similar attitude towards church.  People react so violently when they think we are attacking the Bible, their favorite theology, “fundamental” doctrines, or even forms of worship.  It seems that individual congregations (I am using this word on purpose in an attempt to stop refering to different campuses and forms as different churches, which appears to me at this time to be un-Biblical) are often deemed successful when they persist over a large number of years and attract a sufficient number of attendees, whether they make any percievable difference in life or not.

What if we are talking about considering our particular practice of the church as successful when it accomplishes the purposes the church is designed to meet?  Why should the congrgation not be expected to change and evolve (Duh, grow in depth and maturity?) over time?  Why should the forms and practices, including engagment with the broader culture, not also be expected to change in a responsive way over time in a healthy example of the church?  Is it success to keep doing what we did in the 18 or 1900’s and insist that anyone who wants to worship with us do the same?  Or is it success to engage present reality, gifts, and needs and respond meaningfully to them in full knowledge that what we “do” and how we do it, may continue to change over time?

I like the idea.  It seems obvious to me which view would most likely make visible the presence of the Kingdom in our midst.

peace

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I have known since I was an undergrad in the 70’s that utopia is a word play on “now here” vs “no where.”  This is always true in efforts at creating community, and no place truer than in the church.  For my part, I expect more from the church.  I expect you to function on a different level than my worldly associates.  I expect you to forgive my own shortcomings more readily than my worldly associates.  So there is always a tension between what we desire to be, what we are, and what we are willing to accept in each other.

In my current decision process my pastor friend seeks to remind me that we are called to reconciliation with both God and man.  True enough.  But, that means I forgive your human frailty as I expect you to apply grace to mine.  It does not mean we are meant to stay together in the same community forever.  Some of the most influential communities in American history existed for a short time and then morphed into new forms and/or launched their members back into the general society.  Don Pitzer brilliantly calls it developmental communalism.  The church should be so lucky as to change, evolve, and allow individuals to do the same.

As I write this, I am mentally/spiritually/emotionally someplace between looking for a church, and abandoning the modern western church as having very little in common with what Jesus, or the apostles, were talking about.  But then, I am a little short on handing out grace right now.  I salute K for finding a meaningful home in the Catholic Church, B for finding a place with the deaf, Doc for rediscovering the local church after years of damage and distance, T for trying to call the next generation of leaders to totally new realities, and S for being real with me and even helping me hunt for a church while having no intention of going to one!

For the moment I can only sing Leonard Cohen,

“Even if it all goes wrong, I’ll stand before the Lord of Song with nothing on my lips but Hallelujah.”

I know its “just” a love song, but that’s the point isn’t it, being able to find the hallelujah in the togetherness of our brokeness even if its time to let each other go.

peace

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Got a couple suggestions from T.  Any suggestions from anyone else?  I am looking for a place that can benefit from a mission oriented family with capacities to teach or even preach.

I am liberal according to conservative churches and conservative in a liberal setting.  I believe the evangel is about bringing people into the saving presence of Jesus Christ and allowing the miraculous love of God to work His will through Grace.  I do not believe the Republicans or the Democrats hold claim to godliness in any way that should allow one to critique anyone’s faith based on those affiliations.  I still believe in a real return of Jesus Christ to set up the completed Kingdom on Earth.  I also believe in the present Kingdom declared by Christ and often missed by Western versions of Christianity.  I believe that God calls us to participate in all parts of life — suffering and miracles, poverty and the abundant life in Him, Divine intervention and the desert of the soul.  So I also believe in a Christianity which allows each to grow, to walk, to live by the light they have been given with love and support rather than judgment and arbitrary markers of the successful Christian life.

If you know a place where such a nut can fit, clue me in.  I am looking.

peace

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I have always said that I am not political, meaning not attracted to or skilled at the type of human maneuvering, intrigue, and deceit which takes place in all organizations.  I have used it in a rather derisive way for as long as I can remember and little in the field of elections has given me a more positive twist.  But I just read this in Marcus Borg’s book as he discusses Jesus as a political figure.

But he was political in the more comprehensive and important sense of the word: politics as the shaping of a community living in history.

I like it.  That is the kind of politics a person can aspire to be known for pursuing!

peace

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I have been reading among the emergent folks of the desire for church that allows conversation, exchange, community and growth.  I just posted an entry on “deep” because there was no opportunity for any of that at the meeting I attended.  Some “group response” and carefully timed and guided “small group sessions” in the name of “good teaching” and “group formation,” but there was no real opportunity for exchange and fellowship.  We sat in rows and mostly listened to teaching from the front to the ‘participants.’  And it was a “Team Formation” meeting! So, I blog instead in desperate search for conversation, discussion, friends, and real growth.

My lone wolf days have exhausted themselves.  I seek community and I thank the folks writing of the emergent church who are trying to show us possibilities to escape method and program and become real.

peace

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