Now but not yet (2)

Understanding the kingdom of God is a life time occupation. And rightly so! There is no way we will ever be able the grasp the reality of what it means for the kingdom of God to be present but not yet complete. If we don’t understand it as an everyday Christian what chance do we have in helping others come to an understanding and relationship of this cosmic sized idea? Yet we are assured that the kingdom of God is at hand, its close by and it’s personal. How do we begin to communicate this concept to those in our communities who have no understanding of God? I don’t have the answers but would like to stimulate you in thinking about what question we can ask to start discovering some solutions.

First of all we need to get to the heart of the purpose of the church. What is the reason for the existence of the church? Maybe a better question is what is the motivation of my church and how is that motivation expressed? Is it that we see the church as God’s mission agency or as a residential home, preparing us for heaven. Do we see the church as a movement that mobilises it’s people or a place that keeps us contained. The kingdom of God is unable to be contained and therefore neither should its citizens.

That then requires the church to release and free its people to live as citizens in the world they inhabit. The question is; are we prepared for the mess that may ensue? The boundaries of the kingdom of God are obviously not as clear cut as they are when we travel through passport control. We are citizens of heaven on earth and therefore our instinct should be to shine as such. Paul instructs us a number of times to “put into practice, that which you have learned” and the church today needs to do likewise. It isn’t even about getting it right but seeking to discover what the kingdom looks like in our individual context.

Finally (for this blog) it is about seeking first the kingdom of God and joining in. This week I have once again been reassured that God is at work in Aspley, God is at work behind the various unopened doors of our community and in the lives that we seek to see transformed. God is always at work creating and transforming people in more ways that the church can ever put into a programme or project. There is a sense of relieve in my heart that all God requires of me is to unveil the kingdom that already exists in Aspley rather than trying to construct a kingdom from scratch.

The kingdom of God is not yet, so let’s unveil it.

The kingdom of God is now, so let’s live in it.

Matt

Leading Evangelism 1 - why?

One of the biggest impacts the Arrow Leadership process has had on me is my attitude towards leading evangelism in the church I am appointed to currently (and beyond). I have often seen ministers who can clearly lead others in evangelism but then opt out of doing it themselves. I would like to think I have always been open and willing in leading by example but know I have not always been effective or intentional about this. I know that I have a strong missional heart and am willing to go into situations that require me to show faith without necessary having or seeking the opportunity to speak about my faith.

However, I do wonder if I don't say enough! Evangelism is more than deed, it is about what we share verbally with others. As this point I acknowledge that the language we use is part of the issues but Evangelism isn't mission just very closely related and complementary too. People have become scared of the "e" word but it is crucial to our mission and purpose as the voice of God in our world. Maybe many of the issues surrounding the suppression of Christianity stem from the churches silence rather than supposedly being gagged. Whatever the cause, we are fearful of speaking about Jesus to our world today for fear of ridicule, losing friends or being seen as weird.

What I have discovered recently is that when you mention Jesus, people are intriged, respectful and open to knowing more. So lets tell them!

Matt

If your happy and you know it.

One of Katherine's favourite songs for us to sing is "if your happy and you know it." She can only do the clap your hands bit as she hasn't worked out the bit about nodding your head or stamping your feet but loves the song. I came across this article on the BBC news page about an organisation that is dedicated in spreading happiness.

"The world's first membership organisation dedicated to spreading happiness is being officially launched. Action for Happiness, which claims to have 4,500 members in more than 60 countries, says it prioritises healthy relationships and meaningful activities as a means to happier living."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13046148

It got me thinking about the role of the church in the general well being and happiness of our society/local communities. I don't believe the churches main role/purpose is to make people happy(ier) yet it's ministry should make people feel better about life, themselves and God. Any organisation can do something just to help people but the churches mandate is deeper, it is to bring about salvation and freedom in peoples lives. This should naturally, if we do it correctly, impact the physical and emotional aspects of peoples lives but can't be what we simply measure our success and effectiveness on. Numbers attending and accessing our programme must never be the sole source of justification to running them.

As it states in the article, Action for happiness focuses on "healthy relationships and meaningful activities", which poses the question; If we are to be the church God craves, why isn't the church addressing these needs already? This is not about providing programme to fill the gaps or having programme for programmes sake but the very nature of the church expressing the relational heart of God. We need to ensure that our mission doesn't become a service we provide that makes us look good or make/keep people happy but as a way of exposing people to the fulfilling love of God.

If your happy and you know it clap your hands.

If your happy and you know God, reach out your hands.

Matt

A lot to do!

In our church this year we have had an underlying theme of "mobilising for mission." At the beginning of the year I encouraged/challenged our church to get out more. It is easy for any church to become inward looking and isolated from the reality of what is going on around us. Not interacting and engaging with our communities is probably the greatest danger to the survival of the church in the UK. I am passionate about the church response, through mission, as to how we become a creditable partner in the places we seek to serve. A number of people have had to ask me over the past year " so where is the Salvation Army in Aspley?" Hoping people will come to us is not a viable solution to resolving the question.

A few weeks ago, whilst I was away, God presented us with an exciting mission opportunity. We were offered (and agreed to take on) an Allotment in our local area (only a ten min walk from the church). Its 600sq yards (very big) that has a small shack, concrete paths, a few trees, compost bin next to 94 other plots. It was over grown but the probation Pay Back team have been in to help begin clearing it up for us. It's a really exciting project for us to undertake and use as a way of expressing our faith and love for God to the local community. The Mustard Tree Allotment will be run as a community allotment where groups from the church (i.e Parents and Toddlers and After School Club) can use but also groups and individuals from the local area can get involved. The produce that we grow will be used in a variety of ways; used in our Drop In, given in food parcels and given to a local community market (Aspley's Miles Better).

There is a lot to do but such is the opportunity and potential for our church to be involved in it's community, how can re resist. As one of our members prayer "Lord, help us to grasp this opportunity with both hands." This is just one way I believe we can use to engage in mission, with significant practical and spiritual impacts on our church and the community we are seeking to serve.

Matt

It is a lot safer in here

Have been reading a book called "Breakout" recently (Thanks James and Amy) . It the story of St Andrews, Chorleywood transitioning their church into Mission Shaped Communities with a central resourcing church. It has been really helpful for me in thinking about the life of Aspley SA but also in my thinking about the Salvation Army at large. One quote caught my eye: "This (today's) culture tends to keep the army in the barracks, and of course if the army is in the barracks the enemy has got the rest of the world" (Stibbe and Williams,2008 :Page 211).

It pretty obvious what is coming but it is something that has been bugging me a lot recently. How do engage with our community outside our church buildings? How do we move from maintenance to mission? How do we do church that makes sense to different groups of people of all ages? How do we make Christians confident in their faith enough to share it in the normal everyday?

I don't have many if any answers but I do know that the "come to us" model of church is no longer effective. We can't continue to wait for people to turn up on a Sunday, Alpha or Special services. We (the church) have to make the more out into our communities, in the reality of life. The problem is we feel safe in the barracks, protected by those we know and reassured by the familiar. yet, whilst we sit in our barracks we allow those people to continue to get lost, to miss out on the joy of being in a relationship with Jesus. It doesn't matter what model we use whether its cells, MSC, Alpha or planting (to name just a few), all I know is that we need to be creative and we need for it to make sense in our local communities first and foremost.

Still thinking this through but know that God wants more from his church, lets breakout and see what happens.

Matt

I can't get no satisfaction!!!

Do not worry I am not going to break into song! At the East Midlands Youth gathering in Grantham (25/10/09), Andy Whitehouse challenged us about our attitude to our churches to "not to become satisfied with what we have." An interesting thought that I felt was worth a blog.

On one level I disagree with him. Dis-satisfaction can lead to discontent which could in turn lead to a destruction of hope. This may sound extreme but I have seen many Christians get dis-satisfied and move on. Also there is a danger you can drag others down with you which will be damaging for a church community.

On the other hand Andy is right, if we become satisfied with our churches we will simple seek to maintain our churches rather than see that they are places of purpose and mission. I believe that God needs a church that is willing to question itself, be willing to be honest enough to see what is going on around us and change if necessary. Being dis-satisfied as a church should bread hope and mission because we are willing to evaluate our effectiveness and purpose.

I prayer I will never be satisfied with which ever church I find myself apart of but only because I want God to have the glory not because It doesn't suit my style or needs.

Matt

Back to church - Part 2

Following on from comment on facebook regarding my blog on the 30th September, I thought it only right to deepen the discussion. Thanks to David for his helpful challenge (see below).

"ok - another little thought..."Isn't it about time we went back into our local pubs, shops, barbers, sports teams, schools, library, sheltered housing, council offices and many other places and take the message of Jesus with us for all to see." (This extract comes from my Blog 30/09/09)

"isn't that what everyone goes every day??so- i suggest (for chewing over) - we don't need any more calls to go - but rather a call to be effective in our demonstration of the gospel.... the "problem" may be that we Christians too often are living dualistic lives - we can be "all evangelical" on Sunday but on Monday be affronted that we would ever think of speaking of Jesus (after all everyone is entitled to their views)." (This is David Robertson's comment on my facebook page 02/10/09)

The questions that rang to mind as I read the comments were; is Sunday the most relevant day for a gathering? Are we stuck in a rut? What is church? Have we got it wrong? How do we aid our communities to inherit the kingdom of heaven on earth on Monday morning?

I think there is only one answer; Live it. We can have the best, well intentioned programmes or projects but unless our daily lives match up with our words we are useless. My firm belief is that people need to experience the goodness of God once again. We have left him out of so much of our lives that the world can no longer see His impact. Of course I know God doesn't need us for his mission to be effective but He wants us to be involved with His mission because it brings Him glory and honour. Maybe it's just me, but I think it requires us to redefine our understand of what church is or in fact what church should be.

Matt

Are the blessings ours alone?

Recently, went to see U2 live at the Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield. They were out of this world as they went through their latest album with many of the hits added in for good measure.

One line still rings in my head loud and clear; "Blessing are not just for the ones who kneel, luckily." It has made me think about the experience of God that non-christians can have with out asking for it. It could seem unfair for all the life long Christians who do the right things, say the right things etc and then someone who doesn't even ask or maybe want God's blessing can receive it.

However, I have been excited that God can speak to and bless anyone and everyone. So often I have reduced God, restricted Him to the churches property. I am beginning to understand what this mean (but have some way to go) and how differently it means are approach to church should be. If we keep God inside our churches, is it any wonder that the Salvation Army (as well as other churches) is in decline.

Jesus didn't bless his followers all that often, it was the poor, the sick and the oppressed to whom the whom the blessings were given!

Matt

Christian Mission

On Tuesday as part of the Mission Week we had a discussion evening about mission. One comment really challenged all of us. What would we be like if the Salvation Army had kept it's name as the Christian Mission? Obviously it is a bit of a "what if" question where we will never know and can't do anything about it.

But for me, It raised a whole host of question about the current state of the SA and it's mission. Have we become a irrelevant/cumbersome organisation? Are we more concerned with being an Army in our barracks rather than a group of missionaries? Are we now deeply bound by the trappings of the past that we will never break free to be the radical, passionate and transformational people that William Booth raised up?

I have been encourage this week by the 4 young people that have come on Mission Week. They have restored my hope for the future of the SA in Aspley and in Northampton. Ultimately, there is nothing in a name, it is up to it's members to discern the heart and desire of God for it and get on with it, which is what they have done.

I pray that I keep learning how to be a missionary in all I do.

Matt

Statistics

Earlier today whilst sitting out side I attempted to write an entry on my blog. I got half way through and deleted it because it was rubbish. Once I had finished my sermon for Sunday morning, I had a little read of my book (The last word and the word after that by Brian Mclaren) and came across this little gem of a quote.

"The success of a church isn't measured by the numbers who attend but by the formation of people as agents of God" (Mclaren, 2005:196).

Yes, Yes, Yes...... I thought to myself. I have blogged about being agents before but this has renewed my thinking regarding "church growth" not being numerical but about the development of the people engaged in a relationship with God as missionaries and agents in there own home, neighbourhood and community. The church doesn't need programme or projects to be successful but people who will be disciples and missionaries in the own back garden.

Having just gone through the process of recording statistics for our activities, I have been wonder if it really matters (I have done them and with time to spare). Do those numbers truly represent the movement of God or are they a way of justifying our existence.

My prayer for Aspley is that the numbers become irrelevant but the storeys they represent become the priority of the hearts of Gods agents.

Matt

Why do we do it!!

In the Salvation Army weekly paper "The Salvationist" was a small review from "The Times" newspaper regarding the bus adverts in London by the Christian Party. They put posters on buses saying "There is a God" in response to the British Humanist Associations poster that read "There is probably no God." The Christian Party's advert got 1045 complaints, the forth highest received by the Advertising Standards Authority. Two things popped into my mind;

Firstly, this is a reflection of peoples lack of interest in religion or desire to seek a relationship with God. It could be a sign that Christianity is (or has been for a while) on the back foot and people are fed up of the church. It also highlights to us that people want to be left alone o make up the mind about whether or not there is a God.

Secondly, I was left feeling that if we have to resort to putting adverts on buses, we really have lost the plot. I believe that news like this does nothing but harm to the church at all levels. People will look at us and think that we lack confidence in our faith and in our claims on the power of the God we worship. Our mission, if done effectively, should never need a publicity stunt or packaging.

My hope is that I can be confident in my faith and in the inspiration of the Holy Spirit for His people.

Matt

Carolling or Football

Today was the first carolling gig for the Aspley band indoors at Homebase. It was good fun and a few people were around but it didn't seem that busy. A few people stopped and listened and a few people chatted to our collectors. We raised some money for our corps work which is obvious one of the main reasons why we go out over the festive period.

At 1pm, I had leave early to go off to play football for my pub team. I hadn't played for a few weeks so was looking forward to seeing the guys and maybe get to play. It was a cold afternoon and I was sub so happily took the flag to keep warm on the line. I didn't get on but it was a close game which we came away 3-2 winners.

So which is more important? Do I have to put my role as Corps Officer over playing football? Should I not play football because I should support the band? Or, is my passion to play football and build relationships with guys in the team a good enough reason for leaving early?

Where would Jesus be?

Matt

Ice berg anyone......

As I was preparing to come back to the WBC college, I looked out of the window to see that snow was desending. I shouted to Lizzy "hey, it's snowing", but she seamed to ignore this until we stepped outside when she said "hey, it really is snowing."

In reflection to my question in my previous post, I have begun to realise that the church would benifit from a similar experience. It easy to hear from people what the world is like, we can pigeon hole people as modern, post-modern, new-age, townies etc but until we get out and amongst it we will never fully realise just what it all means.

That is all very well but how does that answer my question about the effect context has?

On the train the image of an iceberg popped in to my head. Usually only 10% of the beautiful Iceberg is visible and the rest is under the surface. The church is similar; we need to be in context (the 10%) but the rest of it underpins who we are and what makes us distinct. It is obvious to say that the church should not be submerged or top heavy but finely balanced between the needs of the world and the life that we are asked to live out but Jesus in it!



So how does that work? How can we be " in the world but not of the world"? (John 17)

Matt