AUTHOR: Robin Dugall
DATE: 4:24:00 PM
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BODY:
I'm sitting in a doctoral class this very moment...listening to a room full of pastors and ministry leaders say that they cannot be honest in the context of ministry. One man, an African-American gentle giant, told our group that he would rather do life with gang-bangers than with people in the body of Christ. In his own words, "I trust the gang-bangers more...at least I know where they stand in our relationship". Now, there is something dynamic about that comment that merits another blog entry. Even so, the sadness that washed over me was as real as any emotion I have felt in a long time as I heard those words. Why can't we imagine community differently? While we (as "Christians" in America) are busy talking about the success of our ministries, pushing our books and programs, publicizing our conferences, and raising money to do the quote/unquote "ministry of the Church", the reality is that few, if any, are seeing the vitality and power of the Kingdom in and through our relationships. What happened to Jesus' words that people will know we are Christ-followers by the love we have with each other? What happened to the deep sense of community where we not only weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who are filled with joy but where we also are authentic in our relationships? There is a great masquerade that is active and alive in our time...because of it, posing and pretending and false fronts and stand-off-ishness and judgmentalism are the rules of the game NOT the way of Jesus. No matter how many times I hear another leader pour out their heart that is filled with loneliness, passive-aggressive anger, and resentment, the more my heart not only breaks but also the more a dream is stoked in the deepest part of my soul for something different. Don't you dream of a different reality? Don't you want to see community as it was defined in the Kingdom vision of Jesus (e.g. honesty, gracefilled words, love, understanding, gossip/slander free, etc.)? I know I do. All I know is that I'm trying to experience those realities in a small community and even in my family...every time I taste it, it not only is more than satisfying but also activates my appetite for more. Yeah, it is difficult...but I can't take the brokenness, loneliness and falsity that is so typical and too readily accepted and excused. It's time..in fact, past the time for a joining a revolution of community! What are YOU doing to make that happen?
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COMMENT-AUTHOR: wellis68
COMMENT-DATE:9:27 PM
COMMENT-BODY:Great post Rob. I have had some of these same thoughts. It seems that in the Church we all have to hide behind a mask of stability. We put on a show to hide our fragility.
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COMMENT-AUTHOR: wellis68
COMMENT-DATE:10:45 PM
COMMENT-BODY:I heard about Lexy. I'm prayin'.
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COMMENT-AUTHOR:
COMMENT-DATE:9:49 PM
COMMENT-BODY:Wow, i like the fact that you mention the vision of this community includes companionship. So often in the current christian community if one is open and honest about feeling of loneliness or discontentment he/she is merely told to "rely on God, and lean on Him". Instead of the church stepping up and letting the person feel loved and supported; we leave them wallowing in their discontentment. I Like it
- Gold Star Robin
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wellis68
COMMENT-DATE:9:27 PM
COMMENT-BODY:Great post Rob. I have had some of these same thoughts. It seems that in the Church we all have to hide behind a mask of stability. We put on a show to hide our fragility.
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COMMENT-AUTHOR:
COMMENT-DATE:9:49 PM
COMMENT-BODY:Wow, i like the fact that you mention the vision of this community includes companionship. So often in the current christian community if one is open and honest about feeling of loneliness or discontentment he/she is merely told to "rely on God, and lean on Him". Instead of the church stepping up and letting the person feel loved and supported; we leave them wallowing in their discontentment. I Like it