I continue to be struck by how we live in in between times; in between modern and after-modern worlds, in between Christendom and after-Christendom worlds, in between Gutenberg and after-Gutenberg worlds, these are a few of the in betweens we are navigating.
The church is in between these and other things as well. What kind of leadership is called for in in between times? What kind of spirituality will nourish this new leadership? What kind of user generated content will change the outcome of the experience for those involved in meeting we call “church?” What will the navigation of these in betweens mean to how we architect new meeting spaces for the new ways of gathering as the people of God.
I have been a part of conversations over the last month where we have probed and discussed all of these in depth. In 61 different sessions over nearly 30 days we have bumped up against these questions and more. But I wonder if all of these things will only be answered when a key shift within the church’s self understanding happens…the shift from belonging to transformation.
For a long time we have trumpeted the need for the church to be a place of belonging, and while that is true I am not convinced that is the biggest need, calling or commission we have. The church has people belonging but not being, people being informed but not transformed.
I am willing to admit I might be wrong and maybe I don’t have the best vantage point. But I wonder what might happen if we in the church started shifting the questions we are asking from how people connect, to how they change, from how they belong to how they become.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Ron, I’ve taken your recommendation to read “The answer to How? is Yes”, so it occurs to me that even while you raise excellent “how” questions, I wonder if there aren’t deeper “why” questions. Anyways, that’s slightly tongue in cheek. I really appreciate your thoughts here and believe, too, that the primary task of the church is transformation; ‘belonging’ is likely a step along the journey towards life change.
Hi Ron,
This is a challenging question indeed!
I think that part of what has made the Church such a significant place of community is the reality of life’s diversity. Joy, sorrow, life and death. When I was still a pastor of a local church I often used to stand in front of the communion table in the sacramental area and marvel at all of the stages of life that are marked in that space.
I would celebrate life and baptise the children of my members there, I would confirm the faith of young people who had discovered Christ since their baptism, I married many of those young people in that same space, and I even had occasion to bury one or two who had passed away at far too young an age.
However, the gravity of that sacred space was seldom recognised. I certainly overlooked it frequently, and I think the members of our congregation (much less the members of our city) hardly ever saw its significance!
In Africa there is a wonderful saying ‘umuntu ngumuntu ngamantu’ [roughly translated it says 'a person becomes more fully human through other people', or 'I am who I am because of who you are']. I have written about the African philosophy of ubuntu extensively (see this link for an introductory article http://www.dionforster.com/blog/2009/7/17/peace-and-belonging.html ). I think there is a critical link between relationships and true identity. We can only become more fully human when we live our lives with others.
In this light I have found the following quotes encouraging and challenging:
- ‘My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.’ – Desmond Tutu
- ‘The holy task is not about becoming “spiritual” nearly as much as becoming human.’ – Richard Rohr
I agree that congregations are often bad at creating community – a lot of contemporary Christianity tends to present Jesus as a combination of my personal therapist and a stock broker… This is a common thread in just about every country I have visited in the world! Christians tend to seek entertainment rather than truth, we want comfort rather than companionship.
However, what is certain is that we need some form of community to tie our lives to the lives of others. Such ‘intersubjective’ interactions make us more fully human, and in so doing help us to become more like the archetypical person, Jesus.
I suppose that like you I am more committed to helping people connect meaningfully than I am about getting people to join churches. But, I am still committed to a local church.
Your insights are challenging as always!
Dion
Buddy…
That’s exactly the shift that we need to take. It’s at the heart of all our issues.
Once you belong, it helps you create a false identity. This false identity needs to be defended by being right, and therefore by attaching the lie of ‘we are right, you are wrong’. This all leads to inflated egos, fighting with other groups, and dualistic thinking.
If it was all about transformation, we’d have none of these issues. There would be an open spirituality, non-dualistic thinking and the healing that comes from living out of your true identity.
thanks for that, i guess i just needed a reminder today, about why I do what I do.
Dion what a great time with you. And Bro thanks for the comments by Tutu, we need this voice we need this perspective we need this integration. I am so glad we are becoming conversation partners and co journey mates…. I need you friend
Dries your growth is pretty incredible thanks for sharing it with us and for helping us keep this non dual focus
isn’t that part of genius. Knowing the right question to ask? Your comment on church transformation resonates. Is seems oxymoronic that if you want to change you need to start with changing the question?