the living church

I am getting back into reading books again. I just received a shipment of new books and John Stott's The Living Church: Convictions of a Lifelong Pastor is a breath of fresh air.

Stott, I think, lays out a basis for common ground moving forward as a Church in an ever-changing post-Christian culture. The respect for the institutional Church, and the heart for the authentic Church would be hard for anyone to argue with.

While Stott dives into reflections on the elements in any church (Worship, Evangelism, Ministry, Fellowship, Preaching, Giving, and Impact) that will certainly be challenging to many, I loved his picture of "God's Vision for His Church." He argues that the characteristics that are essential for a living church are:

A Learning Church: a church submissive to the teachings of the apostles (Scripture)...relating to the apostles.

A Caring Church: a church characterized by generosity...relating to each other.

A Worshiping Church: a church that rejoices and reveres God both in private and corporately...relating to God.

An Evangelizing Church: a church with compassionate outreach (led by Jesus, spreading salvation, and part of every day life)...relating to the world.

Stott also invested time affirming the strengths of the "emerging" church, as he sees them:

1. Identifying the life (or way) of Jesus as their example and teaching.

2. Transforming secular space by rejecting the sacred-secular divide promoted by modernism.

3. Living as community as kingdom or family community.

I commend this book to those of you who are passionate about Christ's Bride, the Church.

rumors

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. – Matthew 24:6

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts. – Proverbs 26:22

how is your yahdaw?

"The church is the only cooperative society in the world which exists for the benefit of its non-members." - Archbishop William Temple

genius?

What's your blog reading level? I am sort of embarrassed because it probably got this rating because I quote smart people . . .

yahdaw

Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the LORD has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore. – Psalm 133 (ESV)

Unity . . . Wholly Together . . . Joined . . . Harmony . . . Assembly . . . Undivided . . . One Mind . . . Peace . . . Community . . . YAHDAW in Hebrew.

How good and pleasant when the people of God are YAHDAW. It is like precious oil (an image of the presence of God's Spirit) overflowing on those as a crowning moment of relationship with one another and God. It is refreshing like the morning which brings new mercies and all the provisional grace we need. Living in YAHDAW is where God's blessing is commanded!

Commanded. That's a huge statement.

Do you feel on the outs? Do you feel alone? Do you feel that God is distant? Run to his people! Run and enter into YAHDAW. There his blessing is commanded. There he will be (I seem to remember something about "where two or more are gathered . . .")! There you will discover a place where his will is done. A place where his kingdom is manifest, present, tangible, experiential. There in YAHDAW.

No wonder the author of Hebrews (who I think is Paul) believed that the community of believers was so important for drawing near to God and holding on to hope:

. . . and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. – Hebrews 10:21-25 (ESV)

The author is so aware of our need to be cleansed as imperfect people, but still "requires" the pursuit of "togetherness." YAHDAW.

I find myself in a new community of believers. Initially I share nothing with them but location and the bond of Christ. Do I believe this is enough? Do I believe this is powerful enough to command God's presence, blessing, and eternal life? Will I dive in to these relationships knowing that I, along with everyone else, need cleansing and will likely hurt one another? Will I risk being uncomfortable, lonely, misunderstood, and more for the reward and promise of YAHDAW?

I wonder what stories of YAHDAW you have? When was it beautiful? When was it hard? When did you want to quit? When did God's presence cover you like oil? When did the common become a sacred moment?

Help. Your stories will sharpen and spur others and me on to pursue YAHDAW?

the song of sin

So goes the song of sin;
with suttle tones and
whispers of suggestion.
The lure of thoughts not your own.
The tug of habits long been home.
The song of selfishness has been
the only tune I've known.

remedy

After long awaiting the release of David Crowder Band's new album its been on my iPod for a few weeks now.

I was slightly disappointed to see it was only 10 tracks. After Illuminate and A Collision I had hoped for the many interludes, reprises, and randomness that I enjoyed previously. I was also disappointed to find a number of repeats (even "Everything Glorious" was already released as the title track on the Passion CD for 2007).

I was a bit hesitant about my purchase at first . . . but I found that the tracks "Remedy" and "Surely We Can Change" are well worth the cost of the whole album (and since I am not yet quite use to only purchasing a few tracks with the whole digital music phenomenon, I still do buy the entire album of artists I like).

I love the comparison of the lyrics to "Surely We Can Change" and the Prayer of St. Francis . . .

First St. Francis:

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

Then "Surely We Can Change":

And the problem is this
We were bought with a kiss
But the cheek still turned
Even when it wasn’t hit

And I don’t know
What to do with a love like that
And I don’t know
How to be a love like that

When all the love in the world
Is right here among us
And hatred too
And so we must choose
What our hands will do

Where there is pain
Let there be grace
Where there is suffering
Bring serenity
For those afraid
Help them be brave
Where there is misery
Bring expectancy
And surely we can change
Surely we can change
Something

And the problem it seems
Is with you and me
Not the Love who came
To repair everything

Where there is pain
Let us bring grace
Where there is suffering
Bring serenity
For those afraid
Let us be brave
Where there is misery
Let us bring them relief
And surely we can change
Surely we can change
Oh surely we can change
Something

Oh, the world’s about to change
The whole world’s about to change

I am partial to Francis, but that's just because he's older. Old guys rule, or so I have heard. But I love the modernized sense of Crowder's lyrics and the music that accompanies this haunting prayer . . . "and hatred too."