First Lutheran is continuing to move toward greater clarity (and eventually implementation) of its calling. Our Vision Leadership Team met over the weekend to summarize our progress so far and to chart a course toward completing this discernment process. As we talked, I summarized three themes that seem to me to be rising to the top in our reading, talking, thinking, and praying. We are still intentionally refraining from any final evaluations or articulations yet, but just testing out some ideas on each other. Those of you who are following along here can test out these ideas in your comments if you'd like. In our group I suggested that we are discerning ourselves to be a church of substance, a church of generations, and a church for others.
By "church of substance," I mean many of the things that I said in our September 14 worship services. We have a long history of and a strong present commitment to spiritual depth and substance, including Biblical preaching, small group involvement, and a commitment to prayer. I don't think that many of us would want to see any of this change, except perhaps to see it grow stronger.
But "church of substance" also means something else to me. I'm also thinking about articulating and practicing this dimension of our church life in a way that is engaging to outsiders so that we offer them a substantial opportunity to engage with Jesus and his gospel. I want to see us make space and opportunity for people to ask their questions, no matter how challenging those questions might be, and trust that we can walk faithfully with them into real answers that are never glib and may rarely be quick or easy. It seems to me that First Lutheran may be uniquely equipped to share the hope of the gospel with people who have substantial reservations about the faith, and if that is true, then it is a calling from which we dare not shrink.
It would probably also be well to talk about substantial love and service to our community, but I'll save that for part 3.
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6 comments:
Steve - Sounds like our church is affirming the calling which Jesus gave us in Matthew 28:16-20 (otherwise known as the Great Commission)which I also celebrate and affirm. However - there is still a lack of clarity as to how this is to be lived out as a church movement at FLC.
Our church community has done excellent activities such as the Community Picnics and the like as "outreach events" - but what I am hoping to see is how we at FLC can become the "hands and feet of Christ" to the specific needs in our community of White Bear Lake. There are hundrends and thousands in our community who not only need to hear the freedom of the Gospel but also need Christians to come along beside them in their daily struggles.
I hope our Mission can become clear very soon - because I am sensing some "fatigue" from some in our congregation from "all of the discussion and lack of action".
Perhaps sometimes we get so caught up in the process that the practicalities of our mission gets lost.
Keep preaching Jesus!
Shalom
I am excited to see God use FLC in mighty, unimaginable ways, but I agree with Brad. I think the anticipation is dying off. People seemed so excited for Outflow, Conversations with a Skeptic seemed like it would be a good draw, renovations in the building, then neighborhood picnics this summer, prayer vigil, listening sessions, what's next? It has just seemed so programed and church-driven. Does that mean stop trying? No! The church is people and, moved by the Spirit, the people need to take the initiative and reach out to their neighbors. Word of mouth is the best "advertising" whether it be for toothpaste or for God.
Brad and BP,
Thanks for both of your comments.
Brad, regarding your hope to see us be the hands and feet of Christ to our neighbors, I couldn't agree more. In fact, you'll see me blogging about it sometime in the next few days. I think this is probably one of the biggest growth edges for us as a church. Might be one of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing churches in the 21st century. I'm really encouraged, in fact, to hear you prodding in that direction.
Regarding your perception of fatigue from the process, I appreciate both of your input on that. (Bethany, were you saying that too?) Thanks for the feedback.
Bethany, I'd love to hear some more of what you mean by "programmed" and "church driven." Honestly, from where I sit, I've had a different experience. It has started to feel more like we're trying to keep up with the Spirit as the ball rolls down hill rather than driving a ministry ball up hill - if that metaphor makes any sense... Examples that spring to mind include increases in volunteer ministry, involvement in prayer services/events, seekers exploring Alpha, etc. But I know I'm seeing those things only from my perspective. I really would like to hear more about your perception of that.
Thanks to both of you. I'm glad for your engagement in this process and your desire to see Kingdom work done.
skt
Let me clear up what I mean by "programmed" and "church driven". You bring up volunteer ministry, prayer services/events, seekers exploring Alpha. These are programs and church driven. People are volunteering in the church, people are praying at services and events, seekers are exploring Alpha (the program). Its great, don't get me wrong, but I often wonder of ministries what of these would naturally be done without a program to support it? Would people pray so fervently (maybe zealously) if there were no prayer services or events? Would seekers be exploring and bringing their questions to the FLC friends if there was no Alpha? Are people volunteering outside of the church with as much enthusiasm as they are volunteering inside it? I would love to see those ministries and events be the second step. I would love to see these ministries have deeper roots and sound like: “I know my neighbors and they know I'm there for them, we have a great relationship so they feel safe asking me about Jesus (2ndly, we talk about it a lot, so I suggested he go to Alpha, I’m going to Disciple anyways and the food is really good, he might be willing to try it)” or “I am so fired up from my personal prayer time (2ndly I see the church is having a prayer event, I should go, I know God has answered my prayers before).”
Instead, I see people getting really excited for events, I'm hearing about events right after they happen, and then they aren't brought up again. For example, I've heard very little about Outflow since the series ended and it seemed like it would be this great, revolutionary thing for the church. We have great events, they are hyped up, and then they end and there is little to no follow up. I think it is because the roots weren’t there. There was no organic movement to begin with. Do we really have a commitment to prayer? Do we really love our neighbors? Or do we just have programs that make us think we do (we threw them a bbq, so they must know we love them) (we have a prayer vigil, so we must be committed to prayer). I don’t want to sound overly critical. And I’m sure there are people at FLC who ARE DEEPLY DEEPLY committed to and already doing these things but I think it is a needed challenge. So I’ll just throw that out there.
BP - thanks for clarifying. I think you're pointing in a really important direction. (Btw, there are some significant overlaps between what you're saying and some of the things that Willow Creek has been urging as a result of their REVEAL research. Are you familiar with that material?)
I really appreciate what you're saying about people wanting to pray/serve/evangelize/etc. not because it was programmed but because it's just who they are and what they do. Or at least I think that's what you're saying; I hope I'm not putting words in your mouth. In fact, one of the things I talked about with the community picnics was the ability for people to take this idea home and do it in their own neighborhoods. If we're going to reach our world with the gospel, it can't and shouldn't all happen between County Roads E and F! So let me just say taht I agree with and appreciate your point here and I share your desire to see an organic uprising of Christian discipleship and outreach.
On the other hand - and I hope I'm not just quibbling with words - I wouldn't say that these examples of things that are happening at church are church _driven_. We can host an Alpha program but the people who are coming are coming because they want to. And we can host a prayer event, but people aren't driven to the event by coercion. And the people who are volunteeting at church in greater numbers don't seem to have come as part of any kind of recruitment drive. Whenever we try to do something as a whole church or even as a large segment of people, it's going to have to be programmed to some degree. So I wouldn't complain that these things are programmed. Increasingly, in fact, I find that some of us on staff are turning to each other and saying things like "That just felt easier than it's supposed to be" or "Doesn't it seem like we're suddenly connecting better?" I think that's because God's Spirit is moving people and making disciples.
To conclude, though, I do mostly agree with your point that that kind of discipleship should start showing up outside of "church events." Do you think it's all right if the church or its leadership tries to point people in that direction or will that be too programmed? (Honest question; I'm not trying to sound snippy.)
I've heard of Reveal only in name. I tend to shy away from Willow Creek's doings. But I think there are movements going on in the world where people are wanting discipleship to be more natural and "organic" (as the popular name goes). People don't want to merely invite their neighbors to church, they want to bring Jesus (not even the church, but Jesus) to their neighbors. I think the church building, for one reason or another, is becoming a place people are less and less comfortable going to. I've seen the missionaries I support ALL within a week of each other moving to tent-maker ministry (where they have jobs outside of church so to be more involved in the natural ebb and flow of life in their community).
To answer your question, yes, I think the church or its leadership should point people in the direction of discipling outside of "church events". I think it can be natural and not programed. Programmed would look like, "we challenge you to reach people for Christ, so this week, throw a bbq for 10 of your neighbors" Natural would look like, "we challenge you to reach people for Christ, who could you reach and how?" It is more open ended and will look different in each life. It gives the person the responsibility to think and pray about what their action might be and not have it dictated to them by the church. While I might be taking my coworker out for coffee to reach them, you might be taking your neighbor for a run.
Don't get me wrong, programs are not bad, they just should not be the main thing. Programs should be an overflow of what is going on in the hearts of people. Take Alpha for example, if Alpha didn't exist, if FLC didn't exist, the people who lead Alpha would still have a strong passion for "lost" people and would be doing something to reach them. But thank God for Alpha, where this team of people can gather their passion together and work in a mighty force to reach people. It is very powerful (I love Alpha and see God moving in mighty ways), it is a program (with lectures and workbooks and all), but it is secondary, it is an overflow of their hearts. I hope that all makes sense. I'm not the best with words. I look forward to your next themes as I realize you've only hit on one so far, maybe they will clear things up more.
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