On this topic of “The Failing Economy of Church,” I want to post another idea. The word “sustainable” gets used (and abused) in many ways. When we talk about creating a sustainable missional community, I wonder if our motives are pure. I think that many of us seem to have this ideal vision of community that is self-sufficient and is able to be sustained for the “long haul.”
I just don’t know if that’s the point. I don’t think that we are necessarily in the business of creating communities as much as we are working towards helping people live out kingdom lives. Now, I think that is sustainable, but not profitable.
I would also say that our aim must not be to sustain one ideal of community, as much as it is to sustain a “way” of being a jesus person IN community. A local group of people will change and will die, naturally and we must have the ability not to tie our ego’s into this change, yet somehow become humble enough to allow death of community as a part of the ongoing, life-giving kingdom of God.
So when I talk about creating a sustainable community, what I mean is that we must help nurture a sustainable missional order that can help people live in an authentic Kingdom way.
5 responses so far ↓
j evans // April 30, 2008 at 1:46 am |
yep
ak // April 30, 2008 at 9:38 am |
again with the yep.
Doug in Chicago // April 30, 2008 at 12:22 pm |
The Ascension story is one of the lectionary readings for this Sunday (and Thursday, Ascension Day). In the Acts 1 reading Jesus tells the disciples that after receiving the Spirt “you will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth.” He doesn’s say “you will build churches, convert thousands, build membership, etc.” So perhaps that’s an “Amen” for you from Luke, and maybe Jesus!
Ongoing Conversation>> church, money, and the future « aaron klinefelter // April 30, 2008 at 2:11 pm |
[...] Sustainability « Chad M. Farrand [...]
church, money, and sustainability « beauty and depravity // April 30, 2008 at 8:02 pm |
[...] Sustainability « Chad M. Farrand [...]