Please be patient with me while I "build" my response to some issues often raised with simple church. Please remember that we have only recently transitioned from our institutional church to autonomous simple churches. Over the last year, we have only started to realize how "addicted" we were/are to our western church culture. We have developed a whole "system" of church that in no way resembles the church of scripture/history. We have generally replaced the voice of the Holy Spirit with programs, we have viewed Jesus as a welcomed guest rather than the true "master of ceremonies", we have replaced spiritual mothers and fathers with paid professionals, we have embraced performance of a few over participation by all, we have poured our resources into buildings while neglecting people. Please notice my use of "WE" which chiefly includes me. Yet we have marched on, (much like the story "The Emperors New Clothes") while no one challenges why we do what we do.
We have also developed a "meeting" mentality that does not reflect the Hebrew concept of eklesia (gathering). When growing up, my parents had a lot of friends that visited regularly. Sometimes they would cookout, play cards, sit on the porch and talk, etc. We, as children, were just "there". Yet, somehow, we picked up the values, characteristics, and mannerisms of our parents. Those gatherings were "life" rather than "meetings". Jesus, when explaining spiritual concepts, would pick up a child and sit it on His lap as a illustration of the truth He was communicating. The children were simply "there". They were not interrupting the meeting because there was not a meeting (in terms of our western thinking). They were all together sharing life and the things most important to them in a natural organic way.
We have grown up with the concept of "children's church", committees, boards, organizations, etc. The gravity to escape what WE have created is strong. BUT God is previently leading a return to basic, simple eklesia. The journey will be difficult at best because we will constantly judge "where we are" by the only frame of reference we have (which is what we have known). The true compass for the journey is the Holy Spirit's leadership. Fortunately, God is very patient with us "simple" humans and extends great grace to us during seasons of change. Not everyone steps out at the same time. If we all simply follow His voice and get on board when He calls, it will all work out perfectly! I have heard it said "One step ahead - a leader, two steps ahead - a pioneer, three steps ahead - a martar"!Keep in mind, I am very thankful for the institutional churchs' role in my life and would never want to minimize what God continues to do both in /thru the traditional model. He is responsible for building "HIS" church and He doesn't need my intellectual input! I can only speak to the journey He has called me to. Godspeed on YOUR journey!
We have also developed a "meeting" mentality that does not reflect the Hebrew concept of eklesia (gathering). When growing up, my parents had a lot of friends that visited regularly. Sometimes they would cookout, play cards, sit on the porch and talk, etc. We, as children, were just "there". Yet, somehow, we picked up the values, characteristics, and mannerisms of our parents. Those gatherings were "life" rather than "meetings". Jesus, when explaining spiritual concepts, would pick up a child and sit it on His lap as a illustration of the truth He was communicating. The children were simply "there". They were not interrupting the meeting because there was not a meeting (in terms of our western thinking). They were all together sharing life and the things most important to them in a natural organic way.
We have grown up with the concept of "children's church", committees, boards, organizations, etc. The gravity to escape what WE have created is strong. BUT God is previently leading a return to basic, simple eklesia. The journey will be difficult at best because we will constantly judge "where we are" by the only frame of reference we have (which is what we have known). The true compass for the journey is the Holy Spirit's leadership. Fortunately, God is very patient with us "simple" humans and extends great grace to us during seasons of change. Not everyone steps out at the same time. If we all simply follow His voice and get on board when He calls, it will all work out perfectly! I have heard it said "One step ahead - a leader, two steps ahead - a pioneer, three steps ahead - a martar"!Keep in mind, I am very thankful for the institutional churchs' role in my life and would never want to minimize what God continues to do both in /thru the traditional model. He is responsible for building "HIS" church and He doesn't need my intellectual input! I can only speak to the journey He has called me to. Godspeed on YOUR journey!
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