By contrast, my pastoral setting is
solidly in the “traditional model” of church.
Yet, I have never believed that there was just one single way of “being
a church.” I believe, instead, that the organizational structure, forms of
worship, missional approach and methods of inviting others to Christ should be
tailored to the needs and particularities of a specific context. So, I have
been interested in learning more about the emergence church movement, hoping
that there were some idea and insights that we might adopt and adapt in our
solidly traditional model.
Some of this reading and reflecting
on emergence theology has raised an important question for me: “What are the essential characteristics of
any faithful church, regardless of whether it is “traditional” or “emergent”?
In my message last Sunday (November
9th), I identified four characteristics that are essential for every Christian
congregation:
1. A viable Christian congregation must provide
a safe and secure sanctuary where individual persons are free to be themselves
without shame or pretense. Further, a
Christian community of faith must provide opportunities for everyone to find a
place and meaning.
2. A viable Christian congregation must provide
spiritual nurture to all of its members.
This spiritual nurture should enable everyone to grow spiritually and to
mature in their faith.
3. A viable Christian congregation must create
missional opportunities so that its constituents can move out and make a real difference in their
neighborhoods, communities, and even in the global context.
4. A viable Christian congregation must be
willing to take risks for Christ, in order to advance the first three
characteristics. Instead of saying, “We’ve
never done it that way before,” the operative question should simply ask, “What
is God calling us to do next?”
In my sermon this Sunday (November 16th), I want to continue this
exploration of what it means to be a faithful Christian disciple in our
contemporary, American context. My
scripture this Sunday is one of my favorites:
Philippians 1: 3-11.
In reality this passage of scripture
is a love letter from the Apostle Paul to the churches of Philippi. Paul begins this passage with gratitude and
joy, “I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in
every one of my prayers for all of you…”
(Philippians 1: 3-4).
Paul’s joy and thanksgiving for the
Philippian Christians is grounded in their history together because the
Philippians have shared “in the gospel
from the first day until now.” Incidentally,
some biblical scholars believe that at least part of this “sharing in the
gospel,” refers to the Philippians willingness to provide financial assistance to
the Apostle Paul, especially during his time in prison.
At the same time, Paul is well aware
that the Philippian Christians are still very much “a work in progress.” God is not done with the Philippian church
just yet. As Paul writes, “I am
confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it
to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.” (v. 6) God is still working within the Philippian
church, helping them to grow spiritually and mature in their understanding of
faith.
Paul is supremely confident that the
Philippian Christians will continue to grow spiritually and mature in their
faith because he sees the Philippian Christians as forming a special,
spiritual, Christian partnership with him.
This spiritual partnership includes not just Paul and the Philippians,
but it also includes God. In this
partnership, Paul and the Philippians experience both joy and tribulations, as
they work with God to establish God’s Reign on Earth. Paul describes their partnership with these
words, “For all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment
and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.” (v. 7b)
At the same time, there is a hint of
bittersweetness in this love letter to the Philippian Christians. This letter is written at a time when Paul is
in prison, awaiting trial for his preaching.
Paul suspects that they must continue in the partnership of the Gospel without
his presence. So, Paul concludes this love
letter to the Philippians with a prayer and a blessing:
“And
this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and
full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of
Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of
righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.”
(vv. 9-11)
I think that when he
uses the term, “harvest of righteousness,” Paul is referring to the totality of
the life of discipleship and faith. For
each individual disciple, it includes growing spiritually, as well as reaching
out in ministry to heal a broken, conflicted, hurting world. For individual churches, it also includes
providing a safe and secure place where everyone can be themselves and find
place and meaning. For both individual
disciples as well as congregations, this harvest of righteousness can only be
produced when we are willing to reach out beyond our comfort zones and take
risks in order to live faithfully as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Come, join us this Sunday, November 16th, as we explore the
implications within our own specific context for sharing in the gospel and
producing this “harvest of righteousness.”
Our church is located at the corner of Main and Dawson Streets in
Meriden, Kansas. Our classic worship
service starts at 10 am on Sunday mornings.
Everyone is welcome and accepted because God loves us all.
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