Could we start a discussion . . .
I have been doing some reading of the blogs of a couple of friends (one of whom is a contributor to this blog) and I would hopefully encourage us to enter into a discussion about the nature of church.
Then, our friend, Mike Kear, has been writing about the church on his blog, Imagining the House of God. I have really enjoyed reading his thoughts on this site.
Let's start a discussion!!
The suspects - my friend Tim Youmans has written an insightful post on his blog, Anabaptist Monk, about a recent visit to a church. I like some of the things he says, especially his five points about the purpose of the church.
Then, our friend, Mike Kear, has been writing about the church on his blog, Imagining the House of God. I have really enjoyed reading his thoughts on this site.
Let's start a discussion!!
posted by the sojourning pilgrim at
11:26 AM
4 Comments:
So what exactly is the question?
Not sure I've asked a question at this point. Let's see - I could jump right in with the 900 lb. gorilla in the room - Music style. But I'm more interested in discussing the five points he characterized as components of "church" - kergyma (proclaming the truth of God), liturgia (the work of worshiping God), diakonas (service of the needy and one another), didache (spiritual formation), and koinonia (spiritual friendship and community). I'll pose the question, if one is needed - is a group that meets really church unless these five elements are present? Can a church be lacking in any of the elements and still be "church?"
Maybe that will get the ball rolling.
I don't see how "church" can exsist without each of these. I've been in a church where we went weeks without a preacher, but we still had people proclaming the truth of God.
Worship, to me, acts as a way to prepare my heart to recieve the Word. If I do not worship can I still recieve the Word? And we could go into my opinion on worship anytime you want.
Service of the needy and one another and Spiritual friendship and community seem to go together. I know that as good as the preaching is, its the friendship bonds that I've formed that keep me coming. We seem to give and take where our spiritual lives are concerned. I know there have been times when I was "needy" and was helped by those around me.
Spiritual formation should come with the other four.
There's my 2 cents. Now someone more educated can jump in.
More educated...doubt that any of us can articulate more clearly or with more insight...so don't play that "more educated" card with us...or as they say in western Oklahoma...that dog will not hunt...grin
I also see the role of church as giving each of us a calm place to pause on our individual pilgrimage. Whether that pause is to learn, or to recharge or even heal the battle wounds from our walk, the church should work to provide the type of environment.
In my own life, the church also allows me to train up my children in a path that was given to me as a child. It offers an environment where the child sees others and understands that the message and Christ's teaching have a larger audience.
The social ministry is something that we "Baptists" have stumbled to include in our recent traditions. I sense that this is one of the reasons that we have such dissention in the ranks at present. Without trying to be cynical, if it can get us some press, we will reach out and try it, but a steady diet just doesn't fly.
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