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Church
and Culture ... Tell us what you think here |
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We
are living in a multi-cultural, increasingly
post-modern culture that allows for near limitless
freedom of expression awkwardly married to
intolerance and dismissiveness. ALOVE’s
Julian Saunders wonders how on earth should
Jesus’ Church act in the melting pot
of modern life?
What should Church
look like in our generation and how should
it respond to the influences that surround
it?
There are a number of responses that might
be considered. One choice that much of the
Church has adopted for the past thirty years
is lockdown and isolation. This is where all
communication has stopped; the Church community
retreats within the four walls of its buildings
and remains silent.
Another is to be prescriptive; that is to
shout out messages. These messages can be
anything that the Church considers are the
things that others should do. In this scenario,
the Church can become simply a voice among
many as each group feels the need to shout
the loudest to be heard.
The reality is that our actions speak louder
than words. When we simply try to explain
what a Christian is and what Church community
is about to our culture it often sounds meaningless.
But instead describing what the Church does
we would be better demonstrating it. So instead
of having to argue people into understanding,
our friends will be able to say: ‘I
can see and have experienced what you live
for’.
It is a paradigm that has larger consequences.
If those around us are to rub shoulders with
the Church, so that they can experience something
of a new way of living, then the Church should
exist in part for those people.
How can that be?
The selflessness of Church (living for others)
is at the core of Jesus’ message. Jesus
demonstrated just this when he washed his
disciples feet (John 13:1-18), when he saved
a life (John 8:4), in the provocative parable
of exercising love to outcasts (Luke 10:25-37)
and ultimately his action on the cross (Hebrews
12:2). It is in this context that Jesus seemed
to have more in common with those outside
of the religious community. He reserved some
of the most damning criticism for those heading
the Jewish faith in his time, while whenever
he addressed those who did not claim to know
God in his culture, he spoke with kindness
and gentleness. He was only ever a moral compass
to those within the God community –
the opposite of how our Church thinks it should
act so often these days.
This also has profound implications for Church
and the supposed distinction between Christian
and non-Christian attitudes. Truth belongs
to God alone, that is, where there is truth
it is rooted in Jesus (John). It was plain
to Jesus that some of the religious leaders
had profoundly missed the point, yet others
outside the faith understood profoundly (Luke
7:1-10; John 4:4-26).
The Church could be described as a multi-faceted
organic community of people rooted in Jesus.
But this description means nothing, it is
the interaction and the living out of this
life with all who we connect with that displays
the profound life of the Church.
Those who have been profoundly changed by
Jesus meet together. Not because they are
the same, but out of the unity that Jesus
brings.
He said: “I
have given them the glory that you gave me,
that they may be as one as we are one: I in
them and you in me. May they be brought to
complete unity to let the world know that
you sent me and have loved them even as you
have loved me” John 17:22-23.
It is unity not uniformity that identifies
the community of Jesus. This realisation can
free us from the mistaken assumption that
we all are required to think the same, look
the same or even have exactly the same connections
with God. Individuals are different, they
are gifted differently (1Corinthians 12:12-31)
and God deals with his people not like machines
but as children (1John 3:1).
This becomes a massive opportunity when the
Church community interacts with culture. We
can be free to invite those around us not
just to experience God’s grace through
our individual lives but also to become part
of the larger community who seek to live a
counter culture that can often be subversive.
Will you describe
community or demonstrate community? |
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Further
Reading ...
Velvet Elvis
by Rob Bell ISBN-10: 0310 26701 3
Look up some of the verses
that give a feel for the community of believers:
Assembly of believers (Ps 89:7).
The upright (Ps 111:1). Body of Christ (1Co
12:27; Eph 1:22-23; 4:12; Col 1:24).
Branch of God's planting (Isa 60:21). Bride
(Gal 6:16). Bride of Christ (Rev 21:9). Christ's
body (Ro 12:5; 1Co 12:12,27; Eph 1:22-23;
4:12; Col 1:24).
Church of God (Ac 20:28). Church of the living
God (1Ti 3:15). Church of the firstborn (Heb
12:23).
Congregation of Believers (Ps 149:1).
Congregation of the Lord's Poor (Ps 74:19).
Family in heaven and earth (Eph 3:15). Flock
of God (Eze 34:15; 1Pe 5:2).
Fold of Christ (Jn 10:16). General Assembly
of the Firstborn (Heb 12:23).
God's building (1Co 3:9). God's field (1Co
3:9). God's heritage (Joel 3:2; 1Pe 5:3).
Habitation of God (Eph 2:22).
Heavenly Jerusalem (Gal 4:26; Heb 12:22).
Holy City (Rev 21:2).
Holy Mountain (Zec 8:3). Holy hill (Ps 2:6;
15:1). House (Heb 3:6).
House of God (1Ti 3:15; Heb 10:21). House
of Christ (Heb 3:6).
Household of God (Eph 2:19). Inheritance (Ps
28:9; Isa 19:25). Israel of God (Gal 6:16).
Joy of the whole earth (Ps 48:1-2,11-13).
Kingdom of God (Mt 6:33; 12:28; 19:24; 21:31).
Kingdom of heaven (Mt 3:2; 4:17; 5:3,10,19-20;
10:7).
His kingdom (Ps 103:19; 145:12; Mt 16:28;
Lk 1:33).
My kingdom (Jn 18:36). Your kingdom (Ps 45:6;
145:11,13; Mt 6:10; Lk 23:42). Lamb's bride
(Eph 5:22-32; Rev 22:17).
Lamb's wife (Rev 19:7-9; 21:9). The Lord's
portion (Dt 32:9
Temple of God (1Co 3:16-17).
Temple of the Living God (2Co 6:16). Vineyard
(Jer 12:10; Mt 21:41). |
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Youthwork -
The Partnership ...
ALOVE,
Youthwork Magazine, Youth For Christ, Spring Harvest and
Oasis are working together to equip and resource the Church
for effective youth work and ministry. |
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