I had a great conversation with Anna the other night about church planting. I’m starting to see two waves (understandings) of church planting rise to the surface in my life, and maybe I am being to reductionist in my thinking, but bare with me (and my constant use of parenthesis) as I am sure there a lot of spin offs on this idea.

What we talked about has some to do with my previous post. But these thoughts are more about how we can affirm those who don’t necessarily connect with a formal church body, but in fact are active as a church community with their friends around them than some churches. My last post stemmed out of the consistent profile of Vancouverites that avoid commitment, specifically Christians (in churches), due to a lack of wanting to invest in people, a community, and are effectually selfish in their activities. I would be lying if I didn’t have some of my own tendencies in this area, but I digress.

What I am seeing is that there are those who due to deep friendships and connections, gather at various times to live life, share a meal, pray for each other and teach each other toward good works that are actually done together. I think of the road to Emmaus, where Jesus encounters these two men grieving Jesus death, but upon realizing that Jesus was alive they became alive (in their own sense) and created a community around this truth/ person of Jesus.

I thought of how I might plant a church different if I was to do it again (and of course because I am such a random guy, how could I ever do it the same way twice) and I thought about connecting with a number of good missional type friends of mine (with history) and all moving to a specific area of Canada, living life and shaping church around our friendship that is not only active in growing together, but becomes such a powerful alternative community that our attractiveness in the way we live life draws people into this Jesus way of life.

This understanding of church “happening” is actually quite exciting, but my pessimism suggests that this type of planted community is actually quite rare (at least in Canada). And if it occurs, it happens in the small groups, not in the church as a whole (and I think this has problems within itself). I think of my own friends I first experienced God with and how we are all so close in friendship, and in our relationship with God, but actually live in remote places from each other (Toronto, Calgary, Australia, Vancouver) and so we end up quite spread out. We still desire community and a true connection with God, but we have to start from scratch, and establish history all over again (if that is really possible). We have to form new friendships, start or join an existing community (church or otherwise) and with that comes much more messiness and uncertainty. And this is where I find myself.

I long for church planting experience #1, but I am placed in #2. In #2 we are now spread out, in a new city, with new people, and no history (yet). I have been sent out to start a church for exiles.

I’m not sure how to define exiles, especially when you feel like one and defining yourself is one of the hardest things to do (it’s like someone asking me what it’s like to be Canadian; not sure, I just am!), but I guess I think of it like being removed from all that was comfortable to a place that is different in all possible ways.

So then, my role as a church planter is about gathering exiles. Exiled Christians that are similar to me, looking to connect and exiled non-Christians that are drawn to the hope that Jesus brings to transforming their life and the community around them. It is my hope that the Christian exiles want to connect as I have noticed many of them are quite happy with being out of the “church” community for a while. And for the exile non-church people, there are a lot more obstacles to getting connected.

So in essence, I have been asked to start a church community amongst an exiled people. Gathering people that don’t know me or the person they are sitting beside takes a lot of effort. It takes humility and effort to take the time to create a history and story together. Sometimes we won’t can’t go through the growing pains to get there.

Sometimes I think it would be easier to quit, start over and aim for church planting type #1. But that entails a whole lot of assumptions. The truth is, we are not in that place and are amongst an exiled community and I believe that type #2 church planting is going to be the true test of perseverance for those of us that call ourselves church planters (in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary or Australia), and wherever you find yourself.

I have heard it said quite often from Christians (and some others), “I am not into church” or “I don’t do church well” or “I’m okay Jesus, but not church.” In fact as a church planter I think I hear it more than a lot of people. I want to say that for some people (as I understand their stories), I can buy that statement. But I am beginning to think we let way too many people get off the hook with that pat answer.

You see I think what people really mean is that they really don’t want to be a part of a real messy community because of how it affects them (the negative ways of course). It is far easier to be alone, or with the people you like and who affirm you, then to put yourself in that awkward place of connecting with people you don’t necessarily know as well, who actually talk about their problems, and may actually ask you if you are doing okay. Heaven forbid that someone inquire with how I am doing. That’s personal!

Perhaps that is more of the peculiar ways we live as Christians. (I appreciate some thoughts my friend Nick posted here from Bruxy Cavey). You see we get together to not simply cause its what we do, but instead to learn from each other, to challenge each other, and celebrate how Jesus actually lives and works in our lives to lead us toward being a community of people for the whole world. It takes humility to be willing to learn from each other, and effort to teach and challenge each other. But what a great place to grow as a human.

Tonight Cato put an amazing communion/ reflective service together that really inspired me. But you know what…It was awkward, I had to do some self awareness checks, and I had to work out some of these ideas with others… But I really wouldn’t have it any other way….

There are some interesting things I am realizing about my neighbourhood. People move here to be socially active and to have more “community.” Problem is, when they move here and realize that being socially active takes time, and that true community takes effort, they end up not getting involved and realizing their closest relationship consists of the barista they order their coffee from before they go and sit on their laptop and check facebook. This burdens me.

I want the open house to be a church that sees needs in the neighbourhood and engages them and puts time into their efforts and gives resources to help them bring hope. I never want to be too busy.

I want the open house to be a church that understands that there are a lot of people who desire real community; community that is messy, yet supportive and hopeful. I never want to stop asking big questions, and being asked the big questions.

There is a lot more that I have learned about real community from being a part of the open house, but today this stays with me. You may not connect with institutions and church services, but if we really asked ourselves, we need connection with real people, asking real questions, experiencing real community.

Today is Blog Action Day (thanks nick).

Today thousands of bloggers will unite to discuss a single issue – poverty. We aim to raise awareness, initiate action and to shake the web!

I wanted to let people know of two Vancouver groups fighting poverty.

Shalom Seekers:

Shalom Seekers is an associate Ministry of City In Focus formed in 2004 to network, train, and resource Metro Vancouver’s Christian Community to be fully engaged in seeking “the welfare of the city” where God has placed us (Jeremiah 29). We labour toward the day that Metro Vancouver lives up to its reputation as “the most livable city in the world” for all who call it home, especially our most vulnerable neighbours.

Shalom Seekers are putting on a great event this weekend coming up. Check it out here.

Streams of Justice:

Streams of Justice – the name is drawn from the biblical prophetic text of Amos 5:24 “Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream.” The stream envisioned in this passage is one that doesn’t dry up in the hot summer months, but flows constantly throughout the year. As such it nourishes and sustains the life of the community and its members. So too social justice is something that must be constantly practiced if communal life is to be nourished and sustained. The biblical notion of justice is centrally concerned with the protection, support and care of the most vulnerable members of the society, those who are particularly exposed to abuse, violence and exploitation, and susceptible to deprivation of basic resources. Consequently, it is not limited to fairness in legal and judicial matters, but entails equitable access to resources, sufficient economic means for meaningful social participation, valued input into collective decision-making, ensured personal dignity and mutual respect, and non-exclusionary community practises.

Rooted in the biblical prophetic tradition and the life and teaching of Jesus, Streams of Justice actively pursues a more just, equitable, inclusive, and compassionate society through 1) analysis, action and reflection that expose and challenge unjust social structures, and 2) creative initiatives that open up space for imagining and embodying alternative possibilities of human solidarity and communal life.

Rob Bell and Don Golden release a very important book for the church. The reason I say it is a very important book is because this book sums up much of where Rob Bell is coming from in his theology. There are a lot of people that I run into who question why I might follow a lot of what Rob Bell teaches or read a lot of his influences (brueggemann, wright, mclaren, rohr, etc.), they can be very cynical and I think this book gives a great overview of Bell’s ideas on the “new exodus” way of reading the bible and after reading it I think more people may be less cynical and consider this view of the bible as something to consider.

Rob also takes time to develop a way of seeing the bible that allows for more practical information later, when he brings in a number of stats concerning the current state of affairs in our world. It is amazing to me how Rob brings to light so many of the regular day to day activities that we take part in and how some of them are part of destructive systems in our empire, but we are quite blind to them.

To summarize then, I would say that basically the book is a walk from Egypt (the empire that enslaved) to Sinai (the covanent God made with Israel), to Jerusalem (which then became its own empire under Solomon) to Babylon (when the Israelites were exiled). And then everything flows from that as we engage the prophets, Jesus and the Eucharist. I will leave it at that and say that its a 4.5/5 on my CP rating and that it reads almost like poetry. Well done Rob.

Scot Mcknight has a great review here, if you care to read it.

Here is an exchange James and I had through facebook. And I gleaned an interesting thought from it…

If the economy goes into a recession because of citizens not consuming, then I wonder if Christians gave more of the their money away to those in need and consumed significantly less, would we actually cause a recession?

And then I wonder about how the USA claims to be 80% Christian and I am wondering why on earth the economy is sustained by over consumption.

My friend Don suggested that by giving our money away in order to help those in need sustain their own lifestyles we may balance the economy out by us and them consuming things we actually need, but who knows.

So there is my thought. Based on a world driven by consumerism. If Christians decided to only buy necessities and reduce spending significantly, could they actually cause an economic crises?

Would that be a good thing?

Hey friends,

I thought I would pass on the exciting news that we have found a place to gather on Sunday nights and so this Sunday October 5th @ 5pm we are going to meet at Choppers Diner at the corner of 1st Avenue and Rupert, in Vancouver (map). And I guess for now on.

The plan is to have our potluck at 5pm and then move into our discussion/ gathering time for 6pm, with the aim to be done around 7pm.

I am going to be speaking on Genesis 22, Abraham and Issac, and it’s entitled “Relying on old ladies with bling.” I am hoping to take then next month and speak/ discuss on how God interacts with us, and God’s character.

Be sure to invite a friend of two out, it’s somewhat of a monumental occasion for us as a church.

My buddy Nick did a good review of Bruxy Cavey from The Meeting House who came to Calgary to talk about his book The End of Religion.

I really appreciated this quote from Nick,

“The best thing he said, and I paraphrase, was that we are a peculiar people. We gather every week to remember that it is not a weekly gathering that defines us. We read the scriptures and they tell us that simply reading and studying the scriptures don’t makes us who we are. We sing songs of worship, which refresh us with the knowledge that singing songs of worship isn’t what this thing is all about. He also, in Peter Rollins’ style, pointed out the great irony in the church being the institution that has preserved and transmitted the very scriptures that insist an institutional church never have our ultimate allegiance.”

Great words. I hope Bruxy makes his way out here to Vancouver.