One of the things that’s been troubling me about this project is telling my church members about it (for various reasons). However, they each have friends, and it would be instant access to people through them. On the other hand, if they don’t get the whole idea of emerging church, I don’t want them just to see it as a way of bringing new people into our existing fellowship, as that’s not my purpose. But I’m not sure if they’ll understand the idea of a self-sustaining community that isn’t ‘church as they know it’.
Anyway, Steve Chalke wrote an article in Christianity magazine in January 2009 that featured (in brief) a story about a young man setting out to find the source of the river that flowed through his town. He sets off and goes missing for a year until the annual river worship time comes round, when the young man re-appears and discloses that he’s actually found the source of the river. Maps are drawn of how to get there, books are written about it and other paraphernalia produced, yet no-one goes and does the same. After a while everything reverts back to normal – no-one ventures out on their own adventure to discover the source for themselves because it is still considered too dangerous a journey to make.
The point of the story was that Jesus gathered followers (apprentices to his style of living) to journey with him, to live alongside him and learn through practice. As a rabbi He taught on the move. So life for every rabbi’s apprentice became a literal journey of learning (i.e. not book learning or knowledge gaining). With a rabbi, the whole of life became a risk-taking, ‘village leaving’, active, experience. Somehow, this is what I need to show to people through this new emerging church – a journey through life, making mistakes, getting it right, reflecting on experiences and trying alternatives, all in the manner of our true rabbi, Jesus. If you know the Rob Bell Nooma DVD 'Dust', it's time to get dusty!
I’d pondered how to use this article in a sermon for my congregation, and then one day, when I was re-reading it, it dawned on me – I could tell them that this is what I’m going to be trying to do with my emerging church project. So last Sunday I cast my doubts to the wind, and told my congregation Steve’s story and something about my project. Luckily, I didn’t hold my breath expecting a barrage of eager questions, as absolutely none were forthcoming! Nor did I get anyone asking if they could join in. …. Which leads me to wonder:
Anyway, Steve Chalke wrote an article in Christianity magazine in January 2009 that featured (in brief) a story about a young man setting out to find the source of the river that flowed through his town. He sets off and goes missing for a year until the annual river worship time comes round, when the young man re-appears and discloses that he’s actually found the source of the river. Maps are drawn of how to get there, books are written about it and other paraphernalia produced, yet no-one goes and does the same. After a while everything reverts back to normal – no-one ventures out on their own adventure to discover the source for themselves because it is still considered too dangerous a journey to make.
The point of the story was that Jesus gathered followers (apprentices to his style of living) to journey with him, to live alongside him and learn through practice. As a rabbi He taught on the move. So life for every rabbi’s apprentice became a literal journey of learning (i.e. not book learning or knowledge gaining). With a rabbi, the whole of life became a risk-taking, ‘village leaving’, active, experience. Somehow, this is what I need to show to people through this new emerging church – a journey through life, making mistakes, getting it right, reflecting on experiences and trying alternatives, all in the manner of our true rabbi, Jesus. If you know the Rob Bell Nooma DVD 'Dust', it's time to get dusty!
I’d pondered how to use this article in a sermon for my congregation, and then one day, when I was re-reading it, it dawned on me – I could tell them that this is what I’m going to be trying to do with my emerging church project. So last Sunday I cast my doubts to the wind, and told my congregation Steve’s story and something about my project. Luckily, I didn’t hold my breath expecting a barrage of eager questions, as absolutely none were forthcoming! Nor did I get anyone asking if they could join in. …. Which leads me to wonder:
(i) Is a travelling dialogue better than just preaching at people?
(ii) Will I ever manage to get anyone to come with me?
(iii) Were they all asleep anyway?
(iv) Why was I so worried?
Back to the drawing board…..
Very thought provoking. In my experience journeying into the unknown with a congregation often gets the initial response of silence - be it stunned or otherwise! But you might be surprised, as your words and concepts start talking back at you from them
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