Church, Re-thought...

It seems that in today’s fast paced hectic lifestyle there is tremendous opportunity for people’s faith to move from a compartment in their life to a Way of life.  This Way of life is more than just a system of beliefs that we ascribe knowledge to, but rather it is a new Way to live.  When we look at the life of Jesus we see that following Him will change everything.  Living the Way of Jesus means that our faith in Him affects every other facet of our lives.  If it doesn’t, do we really know what it means to follow Jesus?

 

I don’t know about you but that doesn’t feel like the church I see today.  It seems like Church adds more stuff to our schedule and demands that we attend this event or that conference and if we don’t then somehow we are less spiritual.  Jesus said that He came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.  Doesn’t that mean that if we are imitating Him then we will serve and give our lives for others?  Jesus also said that it isn’t the healthy who need a doctor but the sick; I have come to seek and to save the lost.  So clearly Jesus was here on earth to seek out and serve the lost and He gave His life to see that happen.  So wouldn’t a movement based on His life do the same thing?  When did the church become all about us and meeting our needs and making sure we are comfortable?  It seems to me that a Jesus movement is a movement of servants who sacrifice their comfort so that others may come to know the Love of Christ that compels us.  

 

Our hope is to start a movement of people who are on a journey together, striving to live the Way of Jesus.  Historically we call this a church, and for all practical purposes that is what this is, but hopefully a church re-thought, re-focused, and re-commissioned.  Our hope is that the structures we put in place will compliment people’s lifestyles leaving them the opportunity to live every part of their lives on mission.  The plan is that there will be large worship gatherings with teaching, and small group gatherings where true community can take place, communities that live to serve others.  There is much room for diversity within these small groups, but all groups run at core values together.