| | been thinking about the gospel and community, especially missional community.
and it just clicked for me:
soong-chan rah, a professor at northpark theological seminary in chicago, writes his book "the next evangelicalism" in hopes of awakening evangelicalism to a fuller, broader and bolder vision of the church in the next years:
"the phrase 'captivity of the church' points to the danger of the church being defined by an influence other than the scriptures. the church remains the church, but we more accurately reflect the culture around us rather than the characteristics of the bride of christ. we are held captive to the culture that surrounds us. to speak of the white captivity of the church is an acknowledgement that white culture has dominated, shaped and captured christianity in the united states. at times, the white evangelical church has been enmeshed with western, white american culture to the great detriment to the spread of the gospel. this state of american evangelicalism cannot continue if we are to move toward the future." (p. 21-22)
(as an aside... i dont want to make the mistake of attributing evil or something to being white. there was a compelling charge a few years ago to a latino candidate for governor asking if anything would be different in the coming years when latino americans will comprise the majority in california. what will change? of course a lot will be different, but at the same time, we can't pretend minorities are more pure somehow. power does funny things. but i also don't want to play down the injustice that has been perpetuated, either.)
his first chapter is individualism and how it's destroying the idea of church - as 1 cor 12 defines it, one body, many parts. how it creates an easy culture of consumerism (do i like this church? did it entertain me? did it give me what i wanted? okay then, next!) and cheap grace.
america was founded on the notion of freedom.
but to believe that freedom is solely individual is death. it leaves us more vulnerable than we know to believe that our joy and liberty is found alone and in causes that divide and separate. it creates haves and have-nots. it makes us believe our needs are greater than others. shaun groves wrote a super post awhile back (just before his compassion trip to india!) fleshing out a story francis chan keeps retelling... mostly because we keep needing to be reminded:
In his message he told the story of how he decided to give away a large sum of money he earned from a successful book deal. He ended the story by saying that some advocates of moderation have asked him if it’s wise to give all that cash to aid the poor. “Shouldn’t you put some of it away in case of emergency?” To which he answered, “Are you saying that what’s happening in ‘the developing world’ isn’t an emergency? ...Oh, you mean an emergency that involves me. Because if it doesn’t involve me then it’s not a real emergency right?” He explained passionately and very gently that God is not moderate in his generosity toward us. Jesus didn’t look at the mess on Earth and say, “Well those problems aren’t my problems so I’m staying out of it.” No, he gave all because he loved the whole world. Love says your emergency is my emergency and then it sacrifices without moderation to rescue. Love, Francis believes, doesn’t save a sum so large for its own future needs when someone else is in tremendous need right now.
being one body means that what happens to one of us happens to all of us.
it means that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." (dr king)
and we simply can't afford to forge ahead on our own.
we don't welcome people to our meetings in hopes that they'll stay. we invite them into relationship with us and part of that involves sharing in the call and identity that we are perfectly loved and sent people (see mark 5).
we don't ask how we can pray for others so we can spread their crap around. we do it because God's given us the special privilege to intercede for one another in his name because the days are short and cruel. his name is the only real power we have.
we don't encourage because it's the altruistic thing to do and makes others feel good and/or think more highly of us. we do this because we are able to say words to give grace to those who hear because God has placed his holy spirit in us as a seal for that day.
we don't give to fulfill some quota or alleviate some guilt. we give because we've been given much.
we don't serve because of some crazy obligation. we served because jesus came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. i will never be that ransom. but i think i can labor so that others may be blessed.
we don't share our faith because it makes us appear spiritual. we do it because the world needs to know that it can be loved and redeemed. forever.
we don't lead to make much of ourselves. there's simply no time and we're not that impressive anyway. lead people to the cross.
neither are we asian american in a bubble. we need to be intentional to seek and love those around us. our identity is in christ and our citizenship is in heaven and that's wonderful. but so many aren't and we have the unique perspective to speak into their lives.
/ / /
ok back to reading/ processing.
seriously, i've been slacking on journaling just because i've been kind of down / furiously at work / dissolving into laziness because it's easier... about the end of the year. please pray for strength in love.
i also have four more posts to write. lots has been going on.
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| | Posted 5/14/2009 11:24 AM - 12 Views - 4 eProps - 2 comments
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