Rethinking Church: an update

I have decided that our job is to live as though God's Kingdom is already here on earth-- which it is, at least in part and sometimes. For the time being this means being a Disciple and a member of the Body of Christ. I choose to see that Body, the Church, as it really is/will be. Sometimes this is hard (no, don't go there!)

We say that by his death and resurrection Jesus both made possible and inaugurated the Kingdom of God. We talk about the “here but not yet” of the Kingdom.

How to explain the Kingdom of God? In Star Trek terms, perhaps it is like a rent in time-space which we may step through from time to time. Eventually the Kingdom will grow to totally crowd out the flawed old creation. This is sometimes referred to as “the second coming.”

Or it may be something like what Garrison Keillor once said—having the ability to look reality in the face and deny its existence.*

We know that the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed: it may start small but it grows BIG. We also know that whatever I/we have to offer, no matter how small, is important to God; he will take it and use it for his Kingdom. He will multiply it, and he tends to be generous, not to say extravagant.

In practical terms, at the present time I am worshiping with 5 different congregations (and hanging out with God’s people wherever I find them). Each has a “piece of the puzzle,” so to speak. One is especially good with the “we”/corporate part, something that our culture has problems with. Others are welcoming, or value the hymns of the church and music, or celebrate the Lord’s Supper each week, or have a heart for service, or value learning and education.

The Scriptures are at the heart of their worship and practice, and they all use the Revised Common Lectionary. (Which means, in case you are not familiar with the practice, that Christians around the world are reading the same scriptures each week and the entire Bible is read in a three-year cycle—you can find the daily readings on my website.)

In general we seem to be pretty bad about seeing ourselves as part of One Church and “pouring ourselves out” for the benefit of the world. Unfortunately these are key issues.

But no more complaining about doctrines or bureaucracies or individuals. (Don’t sweat the small stuff?) We must be faithful to the Scriptures and they tell us that God is in charge of this outfit. He will make sure that the Gospel is preached, the hungry are fed, the sick and broken-hearted are healed, freedom is proclaimed to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind. We all just need to do our part, both corporately and individually.

If anybody asks you who I am, tell them I’m a child of God and a citizen of his Kingdom.

*Like the time in high school when my best friend decided she was not speaking to me any more. I decided, for some reason, to act like nothing was wrong, just continue to hang out and speak to her as usual. This must have gone on for days, maybe weeks, but eventually the pretense became fact and we were friends again. (Presumably she forgave me whatever dumb thing I had done or said, either that or I just wore her down.)