The current craze in contemporary spiritual literature is to embrace a Churchless Christianity. I realize that this is often done out of frustration. But the church that Christ loves is not a supermodel, but rather, a flawed and broken bride. Like Christ, we must regain a love for the church as it really is - warts and all - and not as we imagine it should be. »more
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The current craze in contemporary spiritual literature is to embrace a Churchless Christianity. I realize that this is often done out of frustration. But the church that Christ loves is not a supermodel, but rather, a flawed and broken bride. Like Christ, we must regain a love for the church as it really is - warts and all - and not as we imagine it should be. »more
Ministry to others is a source of great joy and of frustration. Our benevolent actions are not always appreciated. Our good intentions are sometimes misunderstood. Our personal sacrifices may go unrecognized and unrewarded. This is the reason we need a tough hide and a tender heart: that we might practice patient ministry for the good of others. »more
The birth of church at Pentecost is accompanied by strange events: a violent rushing wind that produces a deafening sound, floating tongues of fire that alight on people's heads and yet do not burn their hair, and the miraculous ability to speak in different languages. Strange events indeed! "What does this mean?" and "What should we do?" »more
Imagine you are a teenager in a new high school on the first day of school and it is lunchtime. Who do you sit with? The jocks, cheerleaders, academics, nerds, troublemakers, or losers? These divisions do not go away when we grow up. The world continues to look like one gigantic high-school lunchroom. Radical Hospitality is God's countercultural solution. »more
In a world sanctified by Christ, people, places, and things become means of grace. The world is sacramental (matter with meaning) and not merely spiritual (matter that has no meaning, but is perceived as an obstacle to true spirituality). The difference between an authentic Christian spirituality and our culture's current craze could not be greater. »more
The metaphor of family is applied to the entire life and mission of the faith community. It speaks of a shared commitment, mutual responsibility, and common identity. In our self-absorbed, fragmented culture, we need this metaphor to expand the horizon of our care and compassion. After all, most of us would do anything for our families. »more
The church is a forgiven and forgiving community. We must never separate these two. Our experience of the first (divine forgiveness) should quite naturally lead to the second (forgiving others). Having been graced by God, we must be gracious to one another. For this reason, we daily pray as our Lord Jesus taught: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” »more
The key question for communities that embrace the gospel is this: Does our church practice what it preaches? Do we perform "grace"? Whether we like it or not - and the truth is often hard to bear - it is the life of the church that truly manifests (or fundamentally denies) the gospel we embrace. »more
"God is one; but God is not alone." No matter how powerful and fulfilling our personal experience of God is, we can never fully reflect God's life and love as an isolated individual. Only in community do we mirror the trinitarian glory. We must reflect the us-ness of God. »more
"One of the grave errors churches make is to view children simply as consumers of church services rather than as valued members of the community." By participating in the faith community, children participate in that which has the most influence in their lives - the people of their community who embody God's truth and the ancient tradition. »more
We pretend we are smarter and tougher than others. Over time, the "false self" we create appears more real than the "true self" - who we really are. This leads to fragmentation and division of the soul. We lose wholeness and integrity. How can we unite our inner and outer lives? »more
By sharing in the life of God through healthy community, the church possesses extraordinary resources to help others. Could it be possible that the deep, intimate, and transforming relationships fostered in a healthy church have more power to transform a person than expert counseling? »more
Unwittingly, we have fashioned our churches to conform to the two most dominant social realities in America -- corporate America and entertainment USA. We simply have to be consumers and spectators rather than holy priests, living sacrifices, devoted family members, and active body parts. »more
The church is the continued incarnation of Christ in the world - his hands and feet to a broken and dying people. The body can only function properly when there is great diversity of gifts. But this diversity is not easy to sustain. Cookie-cutter, clone-making Christianity is much easier! »more
It is the "small" acts and words of love that make a family strong. Families are knit together, not by great events or great deeds, but routine, continual, faithful demonstrations of tender love and warm regard. »more
Priesthood is not the exclusive possession of a group within the church, but the possession of the entire community of God's people. We are a kingdom of priests sharing the same vocation - to be holy representatives of God to others and others to God. »more
Truth be told, even in the best "small-group"-centered churches, only about 30 - 35% of the congregation participates. We are going in the wrong direction when we pressure everyone to have a "small-group" experience. Small groups are good, but they are not the only or best solution to creating community. »more
Why was it, that within the space of only three years, the Corinthian community was unable to address internal and external concerns without Paul's aid? »more
We loosely, but lovingly, embrace the culture in order that we may engage with
unbelievers on common ground. »more
It is time to recognize that our attempts to foster unity through homogeneity have backfired »more
Too much idealism can be hazardous to your health. And,
even worse, detrimental to your duty to love -- especially
those within the church! »more
