What Do You Think?
Give these 11 characteristics a read and let me know if you think they describe you, me, Christ’s Church, some other church, a desirable church, a denomination, a cult, or something else. After we get a few opinions then I’ll tell you where the list actually comes from and is intended to describe.
1. Embodies a Kingdom of God focus – joining in where God is evident.
2. Pursues faithfulness to God through new practices, structures and understandings.
3. Tends to have a hopeful and positive view of God's engagement in the world – again, joining in where God is evident.
4. Committed to loving God, neighbor and even loving enemies in real ways in this world.
5. Deeply connected to the story of God and the Bible.
6. Living in the guidance of the Holy Spirit - not culture or understandings.
7. Theologically active - thinking deeply about these practices.
8. Openness to the "other" - outsider, foreigner, doesn't get freaked out.
9. Wants the good news of God to change the world and be good news for all creation.
10. Understands community to be an essential part of the Christian life.
11. More interested in the future than fighting the battles of the past - people who are trying to live the story of Jesus in our world in ways consistent to where we have come from.
1. Embodies a Kingdom of God focus – joining in where God is evident.
2. Pursues faithfulness to God through new practices, structures and understandings.
3. Tends to have a hopeful and positive view of God's engagement in the world – again, joining in where God is evident.
4. Committed to loving God, neighbor and even loving enemies in real ways in this world.
5. Deeply connected to the story of God and the Bible.
6. Living in the guidance of the Holy Spirit - not culture or understandings.
7. Theologically active - thinking deeply about these practices.
8. Openness to the "other" - outsider, foreigner, doesn't get freaked out.
9. Wants the good news of God to change the world and be good news for all creation.
10. Understands community to be an essential part of the Christian life.
11. More interested in the future than fighting the battles of the past - people who are trying to live the story of Jesus in our world in ways consistent to where we have come from.
17 Comments:
What does " joining in where God is evident" mean?
By Lisa Andreasen, at 4/25/2006 11:17 AM
i feel like it's a trick... it all sounds good in practice I guess, but so do a lot of things... I don't know. Numbers 2 and 6 really bother me... especially number 6... it seems to be in conflict with #11.
God is evident everywhere... that's also a weird statement...
I don' t know... don't keep us in suspense long... :)
By LeAnne, at 4/25/2006 4:06 PM
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By Dennis Swanberg, at 4/25/2006 11:21 PM
I did not like number 2 .
“New practices”, structures sounds like a cult to me.
Or did I miss something
By Dennis Swanberg, at 4/25/2006 11:57 PM
It sounds good to me. I hope it discribes CCA. I think the "new practices" just means not being bogged down in traditions of men and the way we are too accustomed to doing Christianity. I agree that I am suspicious of the question, but the way I read it, it sounds good.
By Nancy Townsend, at 4/26/2006 7:47 AM
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By Nancy Townsend, at 4/26/2006 7:47 AM
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By Nancy Townsend, at 4/26/2006 7:47 AM
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By Nancy Townsend, at 4/26/2006 7:47 AM
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By Nancy Townsend, at 4/26/2006 7:47 AM
Ok how do I delete all those duplicates? Sorry.
By Nancy Townsend, at 4/26/2006 7:51 AM
Just vague enough to be a listing of goals for a new age church, a cult, or a group of just really nice people seeking a warm hug.
Still, the list is just a bit scary in a couple of places. Leaves a LOT open to interpretation and disagreement as to what's your definition versus mine. (Oh, we decided to wear black robes and white face paint, chant, eat nothing but Jello and burn incense during our service because it's the latest practice and a new understanding of how to get closer to God.)
By Jeffro, at 4/26/2006 8:04 AM
Getting closer to telling you where this list comes from... in the meantime, let me try to weigh in on a couple things. I think Nancy is on to something with the contrast of traditions of men with new practices. It is interesting how quickly the words 'new practices' has us activate our cult and new age radar as Christians. Secondly, I think the references to 'where God is evident' are similar to the ideas Henry Blackaby made popular a few years back in books like "Experiencing God". The idea is that as believers we should be keen to where God is already at work and place ourselves in that flow.
Good comments so far. I'll let you in on the source soon.
By Darin, at 4/26/2006 9:51 AM
If I don't over-analyze it or try to read between the lines, it's a great list of characterizations of the person I want to be in my walk with Christ. Faithful, hopeful, committed, connected, active....I'm working on it!
By Jackie, at 4/26/2006 10:00 AM
But over-analyzing is part of the fun :)
By LeAnne, at 4/26/2006 12:29 PM
And that's what drives me crazy....all of the debating and controversies. Maybe I'm just too serious. I like things simple and pure....and fun!
By Jackie, at 4/26/2006 2:53 PM
I like debate and controversy... I also like conflict (when it's done well), but I guess I'm an odd breed. I learn the best in debate and contorversy and conflict. I like to be challenged and forced to think beyond my beliefs. For me if something is pure and simple, I don' t know, I get nervous. I feel like I'm missing something. And I know that's technically not true. There are things that are pure and simple... I just think that I'm so cynical and the world so corrupt they are few and far between.
The "joining in where God is evident" is still getting me for some reason. On one had I understand it, but i think I'm looking at it in regards to missions... there are lots of places in the world where God may not be evident... but isn't that why we go there?? I may just be going down the wrong path with that... I know you don't like to get off track.
I still don't like #6...
As in regards to where it's from. I have no idea... Could be any of the options you gave. Could be a profile from a psychotic killer. I have GOT to stop watcing CSI...
By LeAnne, at 4/26/2006 3:28 PM
I didn't mean to stir up controversy or exagerate an issue... I just find it fascinating how putting labels on things, or making lists of "who we are", can be deceiving or misleading, depending on the viewpoint of the reader.
Question: Why limit yourself to "where God is evident"? How do you know where that place is? Is your idea of that place the same as mine? By that very definition, was God evident in the places and people that Jesus interacted with? If so, then why was He persecuted by the religious leaders of the time? Hmmmm.....
By Jeffro, at 4/27/2006 12:10 PM
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