Comments on: Spirituality, Best Practice, What People Want: Three Things….

By: Three things… final part - Velocity Culture

Three things… final part - Velocity Culture — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 11:51:41 +0000

[...] This is the last part of a post introduced here [...]

By: Three things… part deux - Velocity Culture

Three things… part deux - Velocity Culture — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:54:49 +0000

[...] continues the March 8th post on 3 things I remain convinced [...]

By: Harry Daniels

Harry Daniels — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:10:19 +0000

I’ll echo Jan, Looking forward to the unpacking!
Especially Point Number 3! This is something that is very close to my heart!
can’t wait.

By: Jan Venter

Jan Venter — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:03:22 +0000

Ron, I told you the other day, you have a clarity of thought that is mindblasting…again you speak the words for the whisperings and stirrings I struggle to define. Looking forward to the unpacking…

By: Dion Forster

Dion Forster — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:18:53 +0000

I agree wholeheartedly. I too love reading the scriptures, but always as a means towards a deeper connection with God and a more informed and sincere connection with others. In fact I have come to discover, as an African, that some of my most significant experiences of God in the scriptures have come through interaction in small communities. The framing narrative of the community is what ‘breathes’ new life into my understanding of the text.

I used to explain to my students that understanding the Bible is like understanding a pair of scissors. One blade is the text (inspired by God, filled with wisdom, guidance and God’s challenge to a deeper more intentional life), the other blade is the context of the interpreter, or the interpreting community. It is only when the two work together that the instrument works as it should. Any attempt to suspend either renders the instrument ineffective.

I also agree with your second and third points. I am excited about what is being discovered about ministry and faithfully living with Christ in community from the most unexpected contexts (some of what we’re seeing in Africa, Asia etc. ‘The Next Christendom’ (Philip Jenkins), makes for fascinating reading in this regard.

As for the third point, it is true! My daughter was once asked what Church she attends (this was shortly after we moved into a new town). She thought for a moment and replied ‘I’m being home-churched’! A great insight! Sometimes the Church doesn’t have much to do with true community. I’m grateful for the community that we have found within our current congregation.

Regards from Cape Town!