"All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him..." 1 Sam 22:2
Don't you love that word - togetherness?
From when God made Adam in the garden, he said that it 'was not good for man to be alone...' The Trinity is the frame and foundation for all of life. This perfect togetherness is defined as being 'unity in diversity'. We were simply not made to be alone, work alone, partner alone [if that were possible].
When I met Dudley Daniel in 1983, he spoke then of this verse - a promise God gave him of those who would be joining him on this global adventure of discipling the nations. And we saw this happening. Many connected in from many backgrounds, with as many stories and God forged us into a strong fighting force advancing the kingdom. Paul echoed this sentiment when he wrote: "Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong...Let him who boasts boast in the Lord" 1 Cor 1:26 - 31
Whilst we were on sabbatical, we were enquiring from the Lord what he requires of us, He took me back to this text. The emphasis to me was not David as leader. Rather it was the glorious redemption of a gracious God who loves doing great things with ordinary people, together.
genesis has no dreams of global colonization. Rather there is the desire to see those who lead churches and even the churches themselves, journey from distress, in debt, discontented to find new God grace rhythms to health and wholeness. Added to this is to see hub / base / lighthouse churches established who shine their light to provide love, protection, security, clarity and example to the smaller churches under their orb. And then of course, to see from each nation the emergence of an authentic indigenous apostolic story / sphere emerge [from one apostolic story, many]. That is a togetherness that is worth fighting for.
This kind of togetherness [like a family] celebrates diversity, uniqueness, creativity. It seeks to help every church find their own story whilst loving belonging to a bigger story at the same time. This kind of togetherness like a good father, who loves seeing each child as fearfully and wonderfully made without feeling the pressure to get each child to conform to one style, size or behavior.
Togetherness that revisits the scripture, embraces the solid foundation that the scripture provides [as we find it in our statement of faith], whilst allowing room for love, leadership, learning and humility. It values every church as well as incorporates a sense of belonging and the safety of not being alone.
"... you also are like living stones are being built into a spiritual house..." 1Pet 2:5
This house that the Father is building is not made of bricks[each one exactly the same - same words, theology, vocabulary, liturgy...] but of stones, each one gloriously different and yet similar enough to be built into a single house. This togetherness is not around conformity but similarity. Again I am not putting my passion on others, however the DNA that governs our journey is celebrating trinitarian unity and diversity. That is not an easy house to build, but it is a togetherness that is worth fighting for.
A peep into the language and imagery of the prophet reads: "I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive. I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together" Is 41:19. The clever people tell us these trees do not naturally live together. There ecological requirements are different - but when God joins us together on mission, it works... there is "a pool of water in the wilderness" vs 18
Those who in distress, in debt, discontented are not to be left in their trauma. True togetherness will place us on a journey "that you may mature and complete, lacking nothing" Jam 1:4. The perseverance that the trials will require include the challenges of togetherness. But I would not have it any other way.
Monday, March 24, 2014
genesis DNA Rights
"I will come and remove the lampstand from its place..." Rev 2:5
"I have received full payment and more. I am well supplied having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent..."Phil 4:18
"Are you not the workmanship in the Lord... for you are the seal of my apostleship...Do we not have the right to...nevertheless we do not make use of these rights...?" 1Cor 9:1 - 27
This is a beautiful part of the bible story. In the kindness of God we have key pieces from the life of Peter, John and Paul that gives us an inkling into the practical workings of the apostles and the churches they helped establish.
The part we have to get right is the holy tension of between:
* Each church has a specific, God given assignment, mandate [what the bible calls a lamp stand ] for which they are to be accountable and intentional.
* The apostles are to catalyze a togetherness, bringing churches onto a incarnational global stage, enlarging their world, especially where 'together we can achieve more' Terry Virgo.
Both are sacred and have to be upheld, supported and made possible. Many churches find themselves in the lopsided posture, that their church is the center of the universe and the only thing that really matters is what they are doing. Major parts of the text are neglected and ignored.
There is tragedy on the other side also. When the togetherness piece overwhelms the local community and their own lamp stand is ignored, neglected so that the 'togetherness mission' is all that matters, there is no divine smile on this action. This denominational mindset requires conformity to the system and surrender to the sacred lampstand the Father has given. Conversely, when churches place themselves in the center of the universe, not only do they lack the global nature of the apostolic but they will be ruined by their independence. It is a huge tension we simply cannot forfeit.
I love the example of the apostles and elders working together in Acts 15. Here a profound theological crisis is looming. How will these leaders walk out this holy tension on a matter that affects all of them? My love for this story is multifold. Firstly, the apostles do not bombastically assume that they are the 'top dogs' and all have to listen to their decisions. Secondly, the elders are not territorial about their church and hold the apostles at bay. Thirdly, the congregation is in the conversation as all of this does affect them. Fourthly James gets up and wraps up the dialogue holding all the perspectives in place. This is a wondrous example of how this can work - the integrity of the local church, matched with the collaborative involvement of the apostles whilst the congregation are actively present.
This can work, if we are not obsessed with local church territorialism, nor apostolic imposition. Rather through honor and respect, each is Spirit sensitive and appreciative of the value and necessity of the other. I love the way the encounter ends: "For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements..." Acts 15:28
"I have received full payment and more. I am well supplied having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent..."Phil 4:18
"Are you not the workmanship in the Lord... for you are the seal of my apostleship...Do we not have the right to...nevertheless we do not make use of these rights...?" 1Cor 9:1 - 27
This is a beautiful part of the bible story. In the kindness of God we have key pieces from the life of Peter, John and Paul that gives us an inkling into the practical workings of the apostles and the churches they helped establish.
The part we have to get right is the holy tension of between:
* Each church has a specific, God given assignment, mandate [what the bible calls a lamp stand ] for which they are to be accountable and intentional.
* The apostles are to catalyze a togetherness, bringing churches onto a incarnational global stage, enlarging their world, especially where 'together we can achieve more' Terry Virgo.
Both are sacred and have to be upheld, supported and made possible. Many churches find themselves in the lopsided posture, that their church is the center of the universe and the only thing that really matters is what they are doing. Major parts of the text are neglected and ignored.
There is tragedy on the other side also. When the togetherness piece overwhelms the local community and their own lamp stand is ignored, neglected so that the 'togetherness mission' is all that matters, there is no divine smile on this action. This denominational mindset requires conformity to the system and surrender to the sacred lampstand the Father has given. Conversely, when churches place themselves in the center of the universe, not only do they lack the global nature of the apostolic but they will be ruined by their independence. It is a huge tension we simply cannot forfeit.
I love the example of the apostles and elders working together in Acts 15. Here a profound theological crisis is looming. How will these leaders walk out this holy tension on a matter that affects all of them? My love for this story is multifold. Firstly, the apostles do not bombastically assume that they are the 'top dogs' and all have to listen to their decisions. Secondly, the elders are not territorial about their church and hold the apostles at bay. Thirdly, the congregation is in the conversation as all of this does affect them. Fourthly James gets up and wraps up the dialogue holding all the perspectives in place. This is a wondrous example of how this can work - the integrity of the local church, matched with the collaborative involvement of the apostles whilst the congregation are actively present.
This can work, if we are not obsessed with local church territorialism, nor apostolic imposition. Rather through honor and respect, each is Spirit sensitive and appreciative of the value and necessity of the other. I love the way the encounter ends: "For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements..." Acts 15:28
genesis DNA Apostles
"first of all apostles... last of all apostles..." [1 Cor 12:28 & 1 Cor 4:9]
We love the local church - that extraordinary community of the king who are on assignment to show the world just what he is like. She is the big story and we are eunuchs to this bride.
In our statement of faith we declare that:
"We believe in the church local, global and historical..."
The simple purpose of this blog is affirmation and instruction. In spite of much local church deconstruction, we do not believe that wherever two Christians meet over a beer that is the church. Rather, there is a glorious architecture that the sacred text lays out, as to what the church is biblically. We affirm that every local church is autonomous and elder governed. [Acts 20 and 1 Peter 5]
This community of the king exists to partner with Him - the Father in fulfilling his cosmic plans and purposes, the Son in declaring and demonstrating the gospel of the kingdom till his return, with the Holy Spirit as he transforms and empowers us on this great, global, gospel, mission.
But this blog puts an added lens on the partnership between apostles and the local church. From our side we believe that:
* the Ephesians 4 gifts exist to empower and equip every local church and believer on their journey,
* the local churches are to be multiplying, reproducing organisms and we are there to aid the process,
* each local church has a lamp stand [a divine mission] and the E4 gifts are there to ensure that they remain on track to fulfill this assignment,
* elders are the highest human authority in the local church, so we are to honor and respect them in that role, walking alongside them, not lording over them,
* believer empowerment is vital to this conversation - the E4 gifts are not to come and display their abilities to draw crowds, rather draw out these gifts in others, building faith and ownership,
* as architects and engineers [masterbuilders 1 Cor 3:10] the apostles seek to help the elders / pastors find the God dream for their community, then assist in giving it shape and form NOT impose a 'one size fits all' blueprint on all churches,
* apostles are needed especially when the church is being planted, replanted, enlarged and when trauma / destruction has ravaged the community,
* apostles are "sent ones". They need to put their feet on the ground to help lay foundations [digging theological, missional and community trenches] in these gospel communities. Therefore Paul worked with around 12 churches we think, and John with 7 in the book of Revelation. How can an apostle work with 100's of churches unless there are many apostles in the movement?
* apostles also call the leaders together [Acts 20]. At times the weight and mystery of this gift is needed to invest into the leaders for the chapter which lies ahead esp guarding the truth,
* apostles do create a sense of togetherness. I love what Terry Virgo drove as a prevailing energy in their story "together we can achieve more". Bringing churches together on a common mission is vital to this gift. Togetherness is a powerful weapon where we can achieve what no one church can achieve by themselves,
* apostles are "first of all" [1 Cor 12:28] as well as "last of all" [1 Cor 4:9] but the bible never says "over all" that papal posture is not in the text. Even the great Paul was never over all the churches. They break ground as well as lead a rearguard action but do not position themselves as being between the Father and the local churches - danger, danger, danger...
This is obviously not a comprehensive list of what apostles do. Rather, it seeks to simply give a peep into the way that the Lord is directing us. We do not wish to be critical or judgmental toward those who do it differently. There is a simple quest to be obedient on our part to that which the Lord requires of us.
We love the local church - that extraordinary community of the king who are on assignment to show the world just what he is like. She is the big story and we are eunuchs to this bride.
In our statement of faith we declare that:
"We believe in the church local, global and historical..."
The simple purpose of this blog is affirmation and instruction. In spite of much local church deconstruction, we do not believe that wherever two Christians meet over a beer that is the church. Rather, there is a glorious architecture that the sacred text lays out, as to what the church is biblically. We affirm that every local church is autonomous and elder governed. [Acts 20 and 1 Peter 5]
This community of the king exists to partner with Him - the Father in fulfilling his cosmic plans and purposes, the Son in declaring and demonstrating the gospel of the kingdom till his return, with the Holy Spirit as he transforms and empowers us on this great, global, gospel, mission.
But this blog puts an added lens on the partnership between apostles and the local church. From our side we believe that:
* the Ephesians 4 gifts exist to empower and equip every local church and believer on their journey,
* the local churches are to be multiplying, reproducing organisms and we are there to aid the process,
* each local church has a lamp stand [a divine mission] and the E4 gifts are there to ensure that they remain on track to fulfill this assignment,
* elders are the highest human authority in the local church, so we are to honor and respect them in that role, walking alongside them, not lording over them,
* believer empowerment is vital to this conversation - the E4 gifts are not to come and display their abilities to draw crowds, rather draw out these gifts in others, building faith and ownership,
* as architects and engineers [masterbuilders 1 Cor 3:10] the apostles seek to help the elders / pastors find the God dream for their community, then assist in giving it shape and form NOT impose a 'one size fits all' blueprint on all churches,
* apostles are needed especially when the church is being planted, replanted, enlarged and when trauma / destruction has ravaged the community,
* apostles are "sent ones". They need to put their feet on the ground to help lay foundations [digging theological, missional and community trenches] in these gospel communities. Therefore Paul worked with around 12 churches we think, and John with 7 in the book of Revelation. How can an apostle work with 100's of churches unless there are many apostles in the movement?
* apostles also call the leaders together [Acts 20]. At times the weight and mystery of this gift is needed to invest into the leaders for the chapter which lies ahead esp guarding the truth,
* apostles do create a sense of togetherness. I love what Terry Virgo drove as a prevailing energy in their story "together we can achieve more". Bringing churches together on a common mission is vital to this gift. Togetherness is a powerful weapon where we can achieve what no one church can achieve by themselves,
* apostles are "first of all" [1 Cor 12:28] as well as "last of all" [1 Cor 4:9] but the bible never says "over all" that papal posture is not in the text. Even the great Paul was never over all the churches. They break ground as well as lead a rearguard action but do not position themselves as being between the Father and the local churches - danger, danger, danger...
This is obviously not a comprehensive list of what apostles do. Rather, it seeks to simply give a peep into the way that the Lord is directing us. We do not wish to be critical or judgmental toward those who do it differently. There is a simple quest to be obedient on our part to that which the Lord requires of us.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
genesis DNA Pioneer
"the wind blows where it wishes... so it is with everyone born of the Spirit..." John 3:8
In Eugene Peterson's delightful book entitled "The Pastor", he writes: " [I have a ] developing conviction that the most effective strategy for change, for revolution - at least on the large scale that the kingdom of God involves - comes from a minority working from the margins..." pg 16.
As with many of our DNA pieces there are some God requirements we have to settle. This is most certainly one of them. When John [the baptist] appeared to "prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight" Mark 1:3, he was in the wilderness. He was not found to be mainstream, taking the popular high road, he was not doing the white picket fence thing. He was out on the fringes of society, a voice crying out in the desert places.
We do not want to be guilty of appearing to be elitist by fighting for a remnant theology, thinking 'we are the only ones left' [as Elijah felt in 1Kings 19:14 - then God reminded him that there are actually 7000 others vs 18].
In the army of God we are all positioned by his sovereign grace. He has asked us to pioneer. We are not called to either defend a legacy or uphold a tradition, take the safe route or aim at the popular mainstream. We are fighting on the fringes I guess.
When M and I look at our lives, we have simply never been allowed to go mainstream. From getting saved into the Jesus People Movement, we should have known this was not going to be a safe, popular journey. Secondly, planting Glenridge Church in South Africa, we were viewed with much suspicion by the mainstream church - we were simply too radical. Thirdly, helping form NCMI with Dudley back in 1983 [even before there was any form or shape to the movement], we were spoken against, treated as outsiders by the church in the nation. And so I can go on. One of the great moments of truth during our sabbatical was the realization that this is the story he is writing with us. Even when I try to go mainstream, there is no joy or delight.
The church is rarely changed from the 'inside out'. History seems to indicate that the church is changed from the 'outside in' - Luther had to step outside the then known church to bring change. So too with Knox, Wesley and so we can go on.
There is no pride in this role. Read the writings of Paul and you see tears, tenderness, loneliness, exile on the run, betrayal. We do not wish that on each other, nor do we have a martyr complex [I love 'fancy', luxury... but it is not an option I suspect]. No it is simply accepting the mandate that the Father has given us to pioneer - clearing a path in the jungle for others to walk in, even letting them make a highway where we cut a pathway. To accept and embrace this journey is to walk with conviction and yet be open to 'blurred edges' - God is still on the move and there is more he wants to teach us. [I don't mean theological blurred edges. We have strong theological convictions although there always needs to be a comma after our definitions as he has so much more to teach us].
At times it is very uncomfortable to pioneer - think of the old wagons going west or ox wagons in Africa going into the hinterland. It was uncomfortable, vulnerable, scary, without certainty. A mission drove them. A conviction kept them advancing even if it cost everything. This is the journey we are on. It is in our DNA.
In Eugene Peterson's delightful book entitled "The Pastor", he writes: " [I have a ] developing conviction that the most effective strategy for change, for revolution - at least on the large scale that the kingdom of God involves - comes from a minority working from the margins..." pg 16.
As with many of our DNA pieces there are some God requirements we have to settle. This is most certainly one of them. When John [the baptist] appeared to "prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight" Mark 1:3, he was in the wilderness. He was not found to be mainstream, taking the popular high road, he was not doing the white picket fence thing. He was out on the fringes of society, a voice crying out in the desert places.
We do not want to be guilty of appearing to be elitist by fighting for a remnant theology, thinking 'we are the only ones left' [as Elijah felt in 1Kings 19:14 - then God reminded him that there are actually 7000 others vs 18].
In the army of God we are all positioned by his sovereign grace. He has asked us to pioneer. We are not called to either defend a legacy or uphold a tradition, take the safe route or aim at the popular mainstream. We are fighting on the fringes I guess.
When M and I look at our lives, we have simply never been allowed to go mainstream. From getting saved into the Jesus People Movement, we should have known this was not going to be a safe, popular journey. Secondly, planting Glenridge Church in South Africa, we were viewed with much suspicion by the mainstream church - we were simply too radical. Thirdly, helping form NCMI with Dudley back in 1983 [even before there was any form or shape to the movement], we were spoken against, treated as outsiders by the church in the nation. And so I can go on. One of the great moments of truth during our sabbatical was the realization that this is the story he is writing with us. Even when I try to go mainstream, there is no joy or delight.
The church is rarely changed from the 'inside out'. History seems to indicate that the church is changed from the 'outside in' - Luther had to step outside the then known church to bring change. So too with Knox, Wesley and so we can go on.
There is no pride in this role. Read the writings of Paul and you see tears, tenderness, loneliness, exile on the run, betrayal. We do not wish that on each other, nor do we have a martyr complex [I love 'fancy', luxury... but it is not an option I suspect]. No it is simply accepting the mandate that the Father has given us to pioneer - clearing a path in the jungle for others to walk in, even letting them make a highway where we cut a pathway. To accept and embrace this journey is to walk with conviction and yet be open to 'blurred edges' - God is still on the move and there is more he wants to teach us. [I don't mean theological blurred edges. We have strong theological convictions although there always needs to be a comma after our definitions as he has so much more to teach us].
At times it is very uncomfortable to pioneer - think of the old wagons going west or ox wagons in Africa going into the hinterland. It was uncomfortable, vulnerable, scary, without certainty. A mission drove them. A conviction kept them advancing even if it cost everything. This is the journey we are on. It is in our DNA.
Friday, March 21, 2014
genesis DNA Partnership
"... of your partnership in the gospel..." Phil 1:3
"... I John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and patient endurance that are in Jesus" Rev 1:9
We are all on a quest to be both biblically accurate, prophetically obedient and culturally relevant. This is never easy, holding all these ideas in tension. It is not only seeking to be as close to the text as we can be, it is also placing all the conversations through the grid of "what does the Lord require of me?"
Whenever we try to find language to describe a togetherness, we are stepping a little into the arena of what is 'abiblical'. By this I mean, there is no clear biblical language that we can say is unequivocally textually true and must be adhered to without discussion.
For this reason, when this togetherness is declared, phrases like the following are used: "I belong to this brotherhood", "I am a member of this denomination", "I am connected in with this network", "I relate to this team". It is not too difficult to see why this kind of language is used.
However, the two verses mentioned above have been very empowering for us. Not only is the brother piece, a great intro to the notion of "a family of churches", but being "partners" especially around the "gospel", finds us exactly where we want to be - gospel centered and doing life with mates.
Partnership makes sense for the following summarized reasons:
1. The local church is the divine emphasis, not the translocal gifts, they walk alongside not over;
2. There is no evidence of local churches living and operating alone in the scriptures. It looks like they were always connected in with apostles, prophets...
3. We love each local church living in the full measure of the mandate that God has for them and the E4 gifts are there to empower them to that end;
4. The E4 gifts can partner by bringing in the big picture, matched with the ascension gifts that Christ gave, to build his church. The local churches can partner with the apostles by providing a base for these gifts to reside in, operate out of, offering community, adding muscle power, being launch pads for the next pioneering work, contributing to global gospel costs...
5. There is therefore room for both 'sons' leading partner churches as well as 'orphan' leaders and churches, sharing a common assignment, that has to be real, authentic and collaborative.
We will explore this in more detail later. This DNA piece of partnership will look gloriously unique in each situation. This requires humility, honor, gift recognition, relationship and the desire to be part of a bigger story than 1 church can achieve.
"... I John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and patient endurance that are in Jesus" Rev 1:9
We are all on a quest to be both biblically accurate, prophetically obedient and culturally relevant. This is never easy, holding all these ideas in tension. It is not only seeking to be as close to the text as we can be, it is also placing all the conversations through the grid of "what does the Lord require of me?"
Whenever we try to find language to describe a togetherness, we are stepping a little into the arena of what is 'abiblical'. By this I mean, there is no clear biblical language that we can say is unequivocally textually true and must be adhered to without discussion.
For this reason, when this togetherness is declared, phrases like the following are used: "I belong to this brotherhood", "I am a member of this denomination", "I am connected in with this network", "I relate to this team". It is not too difficult to see why this kind of language is used.
However, the two verses mentioned above have been very empowering for us. Not only is the brother piece, a great intro to the notion of "a family of churches", but being "partners" especially around the "gospel", finds us exactly where we want to be - gospel centered and doing life with mates.
Partnership makes sense for the following summarized reasons:
1. The local church is the divine emphasis, not the translocal gifts, they walk alongside not over;
2. There is no evidence of local churches living and operating alone in the scriptures. It looks like they were always connected in with apostles, prophets...
3. We love each local church living in the full measure of the mandate that God has for them and the E4 gifts are there to empower them to that end;
4. The E4 gifts can partner by bringing in the big picture, matched with the ascension gifts that Christ gave, to build his church. The local churches can partner with the apostles by providing a base for these gifts to reside in, operate out of, offering community, adding muscle power, being launch pads for the next pioneering work, contributing to global gospel costs...
5. There is therefore room for both 'sons' leading partner churches as well as 'orphan' leaders and churches, sharing a common assignment, that has to be real, authentic and collaborative.
We will explore this in more detail later. This DNA piece of partnership will look gloriously unique in each situation. This requires humility, honor, gift recognition, relationship and the desire to be part of a bigger story than 1 church can achieve.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
genesis DNA Unity
"maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace... until we attain the unity of the faith" Eph 4:3 + 13
This conversation of our unfolding DNA is not meant to suggest we are right and others are wrong. Quite the opposite. This is an exploration. This is a journey. When I look back on my 30 years of preaching, I have to say I am a little embarrassed by some of the things I taught - either by ignorance or misguided emphasis, the wonder of revelation does tend to put us on a story of truth unfolding, rather than a position of truth that is unyielding.
I have been through around 7 major moves of God - and I have loved them! Each has been a huge surprise, came in ways that caused us to stumble [just as he said he would as the rock of offense.] Tragically friends have not remained on the journey. From the Jesus People Movement to today, friends have subconsciously made a decision "this far and no further". By settling in their current theological position, it seems that they are like the foolish virgins who just weren't ready 'when he came'.
How does this fit into the unity piece?
Firstly we are told: "until we attain the unity of the faith". It is not a single conversation. We need to hold to what we believe with passion but not with dogmatism. We must place a comma behind it clearly indicating there is so much more of him that we do not yet know.
Secondly, it seems like most movements start with a particular "restored theological piece". This broad based unity is spacious and exciting in its discovery. However as the movement develops shape, form and direction it will move from a more vague sense of "unity" to some definition - one may say into 'uniformity". I sat at Starbucks yesterday with 3 great young minds setting up our statement of faith. What I loved was the diversity around the table and yet we could find a strong foundation for biblical conviction without anyone feeling like their theological cornerstones were being stood on. We will publish that statement soon.
Thirdly unity goes wrong when it moves beyond uniformity to conformity. There are many tragic aspects to this thinking, not the least is that conformity always shrinks! There is no room to ask questions, to disagree, to shift in one's thinking - that is deemed unloyal. By then, the individual believer and local church has surrendered their unique story and maintaining the legacy of the system is the highest value. That is not our story. Like the trinity where unity and diversity is celebrated, so we too celebrate the joy of that divine essence to reverberate in our story - we desire never to forfeit weighty biblical gospel truth, we want to enjoy both diversity while we walk in unity.
This conversation of our unfolding DNA is not meant to suggest we are right and others are wrong. Quite the opposite. This is an exploration. This is a journey. When I look back on my 30 years of preaching, I have to say I am a little embarrassed by some of the things I taught - either by ignorance or misguided emphasis, the wonder of revelation does tend to put us on a story of truth unfolding, rather than a position of truth that is unyielding.
I have been through around 7 major moves of God - and I have loved them! Each has been a huge surprise, came in ways that caused us to stumble [just as he said he would as the rock of offense.] Tragically friends have not remained on the journey. From the Jesus People Movement to today, friends have subconsciously made a decision "this far and no further". By settling in their current theological position, it seems that they are like the foolish virgins who just weren't ready 'when he came'.
How does this fit into the unity piece?
Firstly we are told: "until we attain the unity of the faith". It is not a single conversation. We need to hold to what we believe with passion but not with dogmatism. We must place a comma behind it clearly indicating there is so much more of him that we do not yet know.
Secondly, it seems like most movements start with a particular "restored theological piece". This broad based unity is spacious and exciting in its discovery. However as the movement develops shape, form and direction it will move from a more vague sense of "unity" to some definition - one may say into 'uniformity". I sat at Starbucks yesterday with 3 great young minds setting up our statement of faith. What I loved was the diversity around the table and yet we could find a strong foundation for biblical conviction without anyone feeling like their theological cornerstones were being stood on. We will publish that statement soon.
Thirdly unity goes wrong when it moves beyond uniformity to conformity. There are many tragic aspects to this thinking, not the least is that conformity always shrinks! There is no room to ask questions, to disagree, to shift in one's thinking - that is deemed unloyal. By then, the individual believer and local church has surrendered their unique story and maintaining the legacy of the system is the highest value. That is not our story. Like the trinity where unity and diversity is celebrated, so we too celebrate the joy of that divine essence to reverberate in our story - we desire never to forfeit weighty biblical gospel truth, we want to enjoy both diversity while we walk in unity.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
genesis DNA Multiply
"increase, multiply and fill the earth..."
For those who know me, this is a text I love quoting. It gives us a wonderful inclination of what the Father had in mind in a sinless world. Like a family, when two people discover the wonder of love, marry, have children - we know that is full, rich and delightful increase. However, the very essence of parenting is to raise up the children to leave home, get married, have their own children - that is the power of multiplication. These children and grand children are then empowered on their gospel adventure that will fill the earth and this we celebrate.
When I first started studying what happens to movements in the second and third generations I found that they tended to implode or institutionalize. That was rather depressing, so I asked professors, global leaders and pastors if that was just the way movements are suppose to go. Well their answers were intriguing. But that is for another time.
Our DNA is to multiply - just as it happens in the family, so too we are looking to empower churches to do the same. We all know it is not enough to simply add more folks into our churches. Rather faith tends to explode when we multiply - be it campuses or church planting or global assignments. We have found that our communities want to know that they are part of a global changing story. Simply adding more Life Groups and programs does not ignite great faith.
But the part that excites us most is the multiplication of our sphere. When I look at the life of Jesus, he was fully and passionately committed to multiplication. He did not hand over his 'movement' to one man [even though the Catholics dearly want to motivate that he handed over leadership to Peter, there in insufficient biblical evidence to believe this.]
Rather Jesus prepared 12 men for this global assignment. The great multiplying texts of Matthew 28, Mark 16 and Acts 1 lay the platform for a new way of doing this apostolic journey. Our commitment is not global conquest of one imperialistic mandate - always adding more churches to the mix. Rather, we want to raise up AND release many authentic, indigenous apostolic stories in the countries and contexts in which we minister. When we have achieved this in a country, like Paul says in Romans 15, our task is done and we will move on to the next situation to repeat this assignment.
I have no desire to establish one single growing apostolic story. Rather the passion that grips our hearts is to multiply many apostolic households from this one [Like Terry Virgo has done with NF]. When M and I enter the twilight years, genesis as a family of churches will ride with us. Our prayer and faith is that we would have seen the emergence of many wonderfully unique, context specific, apostolic families, led in collaboration by the Ephesians 4 gifts, proclaiming the gospel, advancing the kingdom and preparing the way for His return. That is a glimpse of true multiplication through our lenses.
For those who know me, this is a text I love quoting. It gives us a wonderful inclination of what the Father had in mind in a sinless world. Like a family, when two people discover the wonder of love, marry, have children - we know that is full, rich and delightful increase. However, the very essence of parenting is to raise up the children to leave home, get married, have their own children - that is the power of multiplication. These children and grand children are then empowered on their gospel adventure that will fill the earth and this we celebrate.
When I first started studying what happens to movements in the second and third generations I found that they tended to implode or institutionalize. That was rather depressing, so I asked professors, global leaders and pastors if that was just the way movements are suppose to go. Well their answers were intriguing. But that is for another time.
Our DNA is to multiply - just as it happens in the family, so too we are looking to empower churches to do the same. We all know it is not enough to simply add more folks into our churches. Rather faith tends to explode when we multiply - be it campuses or church planting or global assignments. We have found that our communities want to know that they are part of a global changing story. Simply adding more Life Groups and programs does not ignite great faith.
But the part that excites us most is the multiplication of our sphere. When I look at the life of Jesus, he was fully and passionately committed to multiplication. He did not hand over his 'movement' to one man [even though the Catholics dearly want to motivate that he handed over leadership to Peter, there in insufficient biblical evidence to believe this.]
Rather Jesus prepared 12 men for this global assignment. The great multiplying texts of Matthew 28, Mark 16 and Acts 1 lay the platform for a new way of doing this apostolic journey. Our commitment is not global conquest of one imperialistic mandate - always adding more churches to the mix. Rather, we want to raise up AND release many authentic, indigenous apostolic stories in the countries and contexts in which we minister. When we have achieved this in a country, like Paul says in Romans 15, our task is done and we will move on to the next situation to repeat this assignment.
I have no desire to establish one single growing apostolic story. Rather the passion that grips our hearts is to multiply many apostolic households from this one [Like Terry Virgo has done with NF]. When M and I enter the twilight years, genesis as a family of churches will ride with us. Our prayer and faith is that we would have seen the emergence of many wonderfully unique, context specific, apostolic families, led in collaboration by the Ephesians 4 gifts, proclaiming the gospel, advancing the kingdom and preparing the way for His return. That is a glimpse of true multiplication through our lenses.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)