tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772756180602241823.post5072914565457362343..comments2023-07-23T10:58:49.430-05:00Comments on Ancient Journey: Missional & Incarnational Life part 1Bret Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933637354786432641noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772756180602241823.post-36760681407803088312009-10-20T15:37:03.833-05:002009-10-20T15:37:03.833-05:00sorry for the typos...I scrambled to respond durin...sorry for the typos...I scrambled to respond during my break in class.Bret Wellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09933637354786432641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772756180602241823.post-76784631169095192972009-10-20T15:35:42.974-05:002009-10-20T15:35:42.974-05:00Chris,
1) I do a little of that in the next coupl...Chris,<br /><br />1) I do a little of that in the next couple posts, let's see if they draw out the example enough.<br /><br />2) I think the most obvious example here has been the decision to leave a "stable" (nothing is ever really stable) and well paid position, without a full salary and relocate my family to a context where we'd be working with folks who couldn't pay us - because we are convicted that the gospel should be breaking into new places. <br /><br />Before that I could point to moving to New Orleans to help people struggling to recover from Katrina and the incredible darkness that engulfed our first year there - a period that I didn't know if I'd survive. I have still not fully processed some of the stuff we went through.<br /><br />I think however it has been the apathetic response of some Christians (not all, to be sure, but a surprising number) in the midst of these struggles that has caused the most pain. Those who have failed to fulfill promises and even worse, those who have said, "Yes! This is what we need to be about! No, I will not help you."<br /><br />3) I think we can see these on the level of expectation of "what church is" and on cultural expectations. The expectation that church is about a program or service that is provided; a place where professional ministers/leaders put together a package and sell it. People I've encountered who've never been to a Christian worship service have had this assumption. Of course this is not purely a Church message, it is one that has been co-opted by the concept of the competitive market...<br /><br />However there's also the expectation that church has a voice. The presence of FCA, Young Life and Youth For Christ in our schools; the number of football games that still begin with a prayer (yes it still happens). The fact that we get up in arms about the Ten Commandments being taken down from a courthouse suggests that we still expect the church to have a place in society. Club sports still mostly avoiding Sunday morning as a time for games - its happening more and more, but still significantly less than in places that are more secularized.<br /><br />4) I think this is really the key question, isn't it. To a certain degree, each family and each community must answer these questions for themselves. I think that our sharing a meal a Rosa's with our friends from harvest house is a great step, so is the volunteer work that we do as a body and as individuals. <br /><br />Our experiences with The Tangible Kingdom Primer this summer challenged us to begin considering this question to, right? Go across the yard or across the street. If that was all we did and did it with a serious commitment, I think we'd witness and experience something powerful.<br /><br />What other opportunities are there? What would your responses be to your own questions?Bret Wellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09933637354786432641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5772756180602241823.post-1683287336798292602009-10-20T13:57:19.337-05:002009-10-20T13:57:19.337-05:00Great primer.
1) Could you share a couple express...Great primer.<br /><br />1) Could you share a couple expressions of the "advancing Kingdom of God" from the Bible?<br /><br />2) Share an experience in which following Jesus became "painful, terrifying, and dangerous."<br /><br />3) Can you share an example or two of church ideals having significant culture impact in the Southwest?<br /><br />4) How can we join God's ministry of reconciliation in non-church program ways?<br /><br />5) In response to the apex of your piece (paragraphs 29 & 30): "Me either."<br /><br />Thank you for introducing this conversation.Chris Chappotinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05600759457236379327noreply@blogger.com