Forming a core
I am not one who follows convention without questions. I question pretty much everything as opposed to accepting the status quo. Going into a church plant there are a lot of conventions that are accepted. I have read some of the play books and feel most of them fail to account for the least of these. I am not sure, for instance, that an 80 year old man who claims God spoke to him in a burning bush would be qualified to start a church according to the WCA play book. I know that Jesus and Paul and Peter would not pass their standards or accept their assumptions or measure of success.
When I talk to non Christians or Christians who are not hep cats to the Evangelical lingo, they always say that it is cool and then they ask me what the church will do and look like and feel like. When I speak with Evangelicals, they say it is cool, but their first question is always the same. "Have you got your core?"
Now, for those of you who do not speak Christian-ese, the core is a core group of people who you meet with before starting the church. These people are supposed to share your vision and take some role in its beginnings. Elders, deacons, worship leader, greeter, that sort of thing.
Now, this is a church that is meant for people who have given up on church or been wounded/ignored by the church. Someone needs to apologize to these people and help them through this journey of life and not only accept and embrace unconditional love and grace, but know what that means to your life. Frankly, I am great at talking to those people. I KNOW those people. I love those people.
I have been in a panic, because I am not really that good at talking to Christians who have their s### together. It is also hard for me, admittedly, to ask people to be a part of this vision. I can tell them about the vision and minister to people with ease…asking you to follow me on this quest is hard for me. I am still trying to work out why. Maybe I lack confidence, faith, or whatever.
In my Tuesday meeting with Fran we have spent the last two weeks with me trying to work this out. Today, Fran helped shape my vision and my perception on this and take the sting out of it. It seems changing perception takes me back to the core of what this vision is about.
I am looking at the people wrong and trying to fit them into categories. What needs to happen is to just invite people to meet with me over the summer. We have some bbq once every other week and start talking about what it means to be a follower of Jesus and a church and explore this together and let the "core" organically develop from there.
This church is driven by a desire for a real community that changes lives and improives lives and the core needs to reflect that. So, the convention of a core is a good one, but the execution of the core cannot be formula driven.
quote:
“We have some bbq once every other week and start talking about what it means to be a follower of Jesus and a church and explore this together and let the “core” organically develop from there.”
Perhaps to “follow Jesus” persons are the best core persons, but why exclude those that - ‘follow the ways of Jesus’. There are many social Christians who are not religious Christians; those who while believing Jesus as a Prophet do not accept him as a son of God and even those who do not believe in God (agnostics - even atheists) but accept that social Christianity is one desirable way of life.
quote:
“This church is driven by a desire for a real community that changes lives and improves lives and the core needs to reflect that. So, the convention of a core is a good one, but the execution of the core cannot be formula driven.”
Why not let the core of the core be solid believers but also openly encourage/attract those who are social believers to be part of the core and hope that peer pressure does not preclude them from openly stating (and debating) their position.
Eric T
Comment by Eric T — April 24, 2008 @ 12:03 pm
Do not miss the fringe Christians, those that I call social Christians. There are many who follow the teachings of Jesus while not believing that he is the Son of God or even believe in God. These people might be part of a fringe core who will help fulfill your ambitions as outlined:
QUOTE “This church is driven by a desire for a real community that changes lives and improives lives and the core needs to reflect that.”
Let those that are social Christians not be under peer pressure to hide their beliefs, get them to openly state their position/stance and carry on with the works of Jesus - participating in living a good Christian life even while not participating in Your Churches full Beliefs. I suggest you even go so far as to openly try to attract thes fringe Christians.
Eric T
Comment by Eric T — April 25, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
I am by no means ignoring the fringe. In many ways, this church will be a safe harbor for them and all people will be welcome regardless of race, gender, or lifestyle. The core that will help form this church in some ways have to be cherry picked…not by me per se, but by God. They will help form and shape the way the church will ultimately look, but there are some things at the foundation of what God has called me to do that has to be in synch. I am not saying anyone in the fringe would not be welcome to the core. I am telling you that the choice is not mine as to who comes to the core meetings…and at some point…some will want to follow when it is go time and others will not.
Thanks for the comments.
Cheers
Comment by CaptainTux — April 27, 2008 @ 8:33 pm
Have you read Pagen Christianity? I would read that as you make discions about what elements will be included in your church. It will make you question everything again!
Comment by Allison — May 2, 2008 @ 8:43 am
I have been in a panic, because I am not really that good at talking to Christians who have their s### together.
I gently suggest that perhaps those who have their stuff together but can’t accept others perhaps aren’t so together as they want you to think…
Comment by Brian — May 24, 2008 @ 1:53 pm
I have been in a panic, because I am not really that good at talking to Christians who have their s### together.
I gently suggest that Christians who can’t accept others perhaps don’t have their stuff together as much as they may think…
Comment by Brian — May 24, 2008 @ 2:07 pm