Backwards Motion
Welcome back to LIFE Nuggets. It has been a while since I have blogged about much of anything other than the building. For that I am sorry. The details of s project like that can become rather consuming. I have been thinking a lot lately about church stuff. Figures huh?
I know that may sound rather strange, but what I have been noticing is all work that goes into pulling a Sunday service off. It almost seems like that is a badge of honor for a church plant. Go with me on this, since we have had our first monthly gathering, it seems like a lot of well meaning Christians that I know look at me differently. Now all of a sudden it is no longer "Justin" (which I prefer), but it is "Pastor Justin." As if one church service has altered the very fabric of who I am. It is not that I am complaining, I just find it kind of funny.
It seems to me that we have created some "backwards motion." To me, backwards motion is like misdirected focus. We become so consumed with the wrong things that all of our energy is directed inward rather to where it is needed. A lot of people have spoken on this subject so I will not claim exclusive rights to these thoughts, (read "The Secret Message of Jesus" by Brian McLaren) it is just funny how quickly the tendency to become inward focused can grab you.
You see, I believe firmly that our gathering must be done well, they must be done to the best of our ability. The danger is that we focus so much on the gathering that we have no more energy for the rest of the work that God has called us to do. As I sit in my office here at LHW I find myself thinking that the service part of the equation is easy. It is the serving part that is the challenge.........
Jesus once talked about salt and light. They are change agents. Light dispels darkness and salt changes what it touches. We cannot be concentrated in one place but rather we must be sent in to the areas where the salt and the light are needed the most. I feel strongly that I must model and teach that. Our gathering must become a place where we celebrate the victories won during the week as well as encourage each other in our struggles. Our gatherings should provide us with a principle that we can apply to our lives and pass on to others. They should provide some corporate time to worship in the context of community, To remember that we are not in this Journey with God alone. I for one think that can be done smarter, not in a lazy manner, just more efficiently.
It is the radical love for people outside of our walls that is the challenge. How to serve our community, to pastor a community, to see a church show it's community a tangible example of the love of Jesus that it important. That is where our energy is best spent. The other stuff comes naturally.
Blessings
PJ
I know that may sound rather strange, but what I have been noticing is all work that goes into pulling a Sunday service off. It almost seems like that is a badge of honor for a church plant. Go with me on this, since we have had our first monthly gathering, it seems like a lot of well meaning Christians that I know look at me differently. Now all of a sudden it is no longer "Justin" (which I prefer), but it is "Pastor Justin." As if one church service has altered the very fabric of who I am. It is not that I am complaining, I just find it kind of funny.
It seems to me that we have created some "backwards motion." To me, backwards motion is like misdirected focus. We become so consumed with the wrong things that all of our energy is directed inward rather to where it is needed. A lot of people have spoken on this subject so I will not claim exclusive rights to these thoughts, (read "The Secret Message of Jesus" by Brian McLaren) it is just funny how quickly the tendency to become inward focused can grab you.
You see, I believe firmly that our gathering must be done well, they must be done to the best of our ability. The danger is that we focus so much on the gathering that we have no more energy for the rest of the work that God has called us to do. As I sit in my office here at LHW I find myself thinking that the service part of the equation is easy. It is the serving part that is the challenge.........
Jesus once talked about salt and light. They are change agents. Light dispels darkness and salt changes what it touches. We cannot be concentrated in one place but rather we must be sent in to the areas where the salt and the light are needed the most. I feel strongly that I must model and teach that. Our gathering must become a place where we celebrate the victories won during the week as well as encourage each other in our struggles. Our gatherings should provide us with a principle that we can apply to our lives and pass on to others. They should provide some corporate time to worship in the context of community, To remember that we are not in this Journey with God alone. I for one think that can be done smarter, not in a lazy manner, just more efficiently.
It is the radical love for people outside of our walls that is the challenge. How to serve our community, to pastor a community, to see a church show it's community a tangible example of the love of Jesus that it important. That is where our energy is best spent. The other stuff comes naturally.
Blessings
PJ
posted by PJ | 5:40 AM
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