brackets and blogs (cont.)
ok... so there are even more things i'd like to share, more thoughts that i need to get out, but i have this somewhat strange feeling of duty to finish up the thoughts from the last post. maybe i shouldn't say "finish the thoughts" as much as i should say "finish the quotes". so here is the next few paragraphs..."the one holy church of the creed is also "apostolic", which for some refers to a belief that they alone can trace their lineage back to one of the original 12 apostles. this belief has often fueled yet another kind of elitism that has undermined the one and catholic ideals of the creed in a way that is hardly holy in any sense of the word. but there is a more catholic understanding of the term apostolic: it means missional. the apostles were those called together to learn (as disciples) so they could be sent out on a mission (which is what both the greek root for apostle and the latin root for mission mean)."
ok... ok... don't stop reading yet. i know that is a mouthful of wordy words, but what it is saying is that the words of this creed call us all, (all churches, all denominations, all believers) to believe in and to be unified with a purpose. to be one. but we in our puruit of being right and elite have turned it all around. we have become fragmented and known for the different ways we believe. (we believe in infant baptism, we believe once saved always saved, we believe dancing is sin, we believe that john the baptist wore an earring) not only have we twisted the unity, but the missional part if the church is almost non-existent. we get together in our holy huddles so we can be safe from the world, away from the evil influences that it may spring apon us. that is wack!! the world should be preparing for God's holy people to unleash the goodness and love of our Creator on it. but we don't think this way or believe this way. here is the final paragraph...
"from this vantage point, disciples are apostles-in-training; christian discipleship (or spiritual formation) is training for apostleship, training for a mission. from this understanding we place less emphasis on whose lineage, rites, doctrines, structures, and terminology are right and more emphasis on whose actions, service, outreach, kindness, and effectiveness are good.
in a missional/apostolic approach to christianity, every component of our faith (worship, liturgy, creeds, theology, fellowship, spiritual formation, religious education, publishing, etc.) though in itself valid and valuable, must lead to good works, good lives, good creativity, and goodness to help our world get back on the road to being truly and wholly good again, the way God created it to be."
i believe in that kind of church. i want to be that kind of church. i know the church is splintered by beliefs and practices but the aren't things that should splinter us. the love and mission of God to bring wholeness back to His creation is way more powerful than what we think about dancing or drinking. we must be defined by God's character in us and our practices in the world, not by our unique interpretations or confidence in being right.
this is something that hits hard on my heart. the genmark team is in dialogue right now with another community of believers about "teaming up" to do ministry to middle school students. on the surface it looks like a "i'll scratch your back, you scratch mine" kind of deal. but to me...there is something greater going on. i feel like we have an opportunity to begin seeing this type of apostolic/missional community of faith.
two different denominations, coming together under Christ's call, to usher in God's goodness to the middle school students of grand haven. this is the church.
this is the church that i would die for.
in some ways it makes me sad that we find unifying two youth groups an ok risk to take, when we are to scared and lack the courage to see this happen in our adult communities. can you imagine what would happen if two churches in grand haven united not just in words but in heart, not just in theory but in practice for the sole purpose of ushering in the goodness of God? grand haven would notice. but one step at a time... i guess.
sorry for the long rant but this has been consuming my heart for a long time.
in His grip.
n8
posted by nathan sean @ Wednesday, September 21, 2005
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