On creation: from 'Pagans and Christians in the Mediterranean World' by Robin Fox

God had taken clay and fashioned man: then he "breathed into his face the breath of life and man became a living soul..." By his very nature, each man possessed this personal puff of divinity. It resided in him and linked him potentially to God. This element had not been forgotten by its Jewish heirs. St. Paul's contemporary the Alexandrian Philo still maintained a lively sense of it in his many books on Scripture. A breath of divine Spirit, he believed, lived in all men from birth as their higher reason. It was allied to their inner conscience, the presence of which "accused" and "tested" them and made them aware of their own misdeeds.

I particularly like this line: "By his very nature, each man possessed this personal puff of divinity. It resided in him and linked him potentially to God."

It speaks of an intimacy of man and God, demonstrated then betrayed (but not obliterated) in Genesis 3:8.

The Better Church.

Following from a few recent posts on a church as a gathering where people are taught, edified and educated in the faith and its texts, rather than being the audience in a religious ritual, I thought this pattern might work.

Three times a year weekend conferences, teaching days, are held. They might be called 'Equips', 'Refreshs' or 'Recharges' (I hate the term 'Retreat').

These could work over a cycle of 5 years, so 15 weekend session that cover the Bible, theology, apologetics.

The first year of the cycle might go:

1. Bible: overview of the flow of the whole Bible and how it all fits together to the coming of the Kingdom of Christ.

2. The theology of redemption and salvation that also flows through the Bible.

3. The 7 basic questions of Christian faith.

In subsequent years the Bible Equip would cover the text, archeology, and life-application of transformed thought (Romans 12:2)

The theology cycle would discuss the theological themes in the Apostles creed and the discussion about them: a bit of historical theology thrown in.

Apologetics would include deeper looks at the 7 questions, but additionally the issues that come from Arian groups (Muslims, JWs, Mormons), atheists, and 'new-pagans'.

Year 6, we start again. Perhaps varied format, new presenters/facilitators, etc. There should also be continuing teaching in the basics of Christian life (say a 7 week course), and in practical skills for conducting small groups, evangelistic groups, ete.

Will this happen? Hope so, but not optimistic.

A Better TULIP

Talking to a relative, I suggested to him that whenever someone challenges his non-calvinism, he say something like:

"You know the biggest problem I have with Calvinism? It's signature acrostic TULIP makes no mention of Christ!"

Anyway, we came up with a better TULIP:

T: total grace

U: unlimited atonement

L: love for the world

I: irrepressible hope

P: provision for all

Growth by Slogan? Just...try harder, you lot.

I was invited to a meeting for 'Hope-25'; the dioceses latest slogan to get people gospelling.

I wrote back:

 

These frolics dreamed up by the diocese (Connect 09 was the previous one) concern me. Not that prayer is not a good idea nor is sharing the gospel.

But here's the point, IMO:

If we are getting a certain undesired outcome, let's examine our 'delivery system' to see why that outcome is being experienced.

Next work out how we need to change the system to avoid the undesired outcome. The 'Check--Plan--Do' cycle of industrial effectiveness can be a useful rubric.

The reason why Connect 09 was a resounding non-event, in my assessment, is that Peter didn't do this. He attempted the futile path of management by slogan. That is not management (let alone leadership) and amounts to an abrogation of responsibility.

So, why might people not be taking opportunities to discuss the gospel?

If my youth is any guide, it is because people are wary of being embarrassed because they cannot give cogent answers to common questions, or responses to common 'come-backs' given by non-believers/cult members/heretics/atheists/"I'm not religious, but I'm spiritual' types, etc.

They don't want to embarrass themselves, the church, the gospel or their Lord.

So the remedy for such system failure is twofold: practice and training., or Training then Practice.

Apart from small groups, the Western church largely has fallen into a mode of conduct that passivates its members. We are not used to talking in formal church gatherings, nor is there a rigorous culture of biblical/theological/apologetic training at the local church level (and sermons don't constitute the type of training that can activate people). This doesn't need to be at a high academic level, but it needs to entail lots of practice to communicate gospel content in a manner that makes sense to the hearer, and acknowledges their questions. Good training is highly interactive and trainees would be constantly discussing, and trialling their grasp of the content.

The other leg of the problem is a little harder to handle. Our Sunday gatherings are largely performances: a bunch up the front do all the 'worshiping' and we just look and listen; sometimes stand and sing, then back to look and listen. This itself creates a message that the ordinary person has nothing to say. As Marshall McLuhan has said 'the medium is the message'. The 'medium' is our way of doing church (I mean the West in general, not us at St Eric's necessarily), and the message is 'sit down and spectate'.

Anyway, a few thoughts, and I hope they are  not discouraging, as I think I've suggested a possible corrective approach.

What I have not explored is that 'gospelling' is hard work and not everyone's gift. We make it too big a thing. I like Greg Koukl's approach that encourages people to be gardeners, not harvesters. And he provides in his books and articles means of exploring people's views through conversational questioning.

Be Like a New Testament church

Tom Wadsworth, in a recent podcast, ran through his 9 points for change to echo the NT church in our modern practice.

Also see his full lecture on this.

I've added my comments here and there.

1. Change terminology.

'Worship services/time/pastor...order of worship, etc' That language is foreign to the NT. Paul sets out the core of worship in Romans 12:1, 2. But let's also use NT terminology for our gatherings/assemblies: gathering/ecclesea, assembly.

2. Make edification the purpose of our church gatherings: 'one anothering' each other.

Make edification the purpose of joining a church gathering. That is, to build up one another. Nor by the 'man at the front', but 'one-anothering' each other. No longer a consumer, but a maker (jointly).

3. Less concert more content.

'Worship' and 'worship music/bands/pastors' has come to dominate modern gatherings; and music made to mimic the entertainment attraction of a pop-concert. This is far from the 'one-another' songs mentioned in the NT.

4. More speakers, shorter speeches.

Not just one person doing the talking, but many do so; but in an orderly manner.

5. More dialogue, less monologue.

Conversations about living the faith, not lectures that amble around a single verse. The latter is for the teaching/study group (adult 'Sunday school').

6. Break big groups into small groups.

Up to about a dozen people. More than this imposes a limitation on individual participation and salience. This is where disciples are made and maturity is achieved. Without this, people are probably not growing and have no place to 'grow'.

7. Create edification 'rooms'.

The church I recently served at purchased, converted and extended a cottage for meeting rooms. One of them, and one in the older building, were fitted out like domestic sitting rooms, with sofas, easy chairs, coffee table, standard lamps. Not like office meeting/lecture rooms (which the others were), but homes.

Not only did young people relax more in them and feel at ease, but so too did adults.

In larger rooms, seating might be set out to allow people to see each other: in arcs if not full circles.

But also, let's really drop the usage 'church' when we refer to our buildings. In my church, apparently as one of the appointed ministers (that is, elected, but not paid) pointed out to me, the place where we gather on Sundays is 'The Church', not, as I had referred to it in a document as: "the main hall. Sheesh!!

8. Incorporate the meal: the Last Supper was a meal, not a shot of wine and a cracker.

Include full meals in the life of the church and use these to remember the Last Supper. Eating together brings people together: relaxed. But, be sure that talk about  Christian life  and concerns is the major conversation focus.

And 'shot' of wine? Who ever heard of such a thing!

9. Make love an assembly mandate (I Cor. 13).

Paul's discourse on love is in the context of assemblies! When the church comes together, with many speaking, etc. love is essential to trust in this as the way of the church, from which all learn and are known to each other.