The Lausanne Global Conversation is on the World Wide Open Network
المؤلف: Peter Houston
التاريخ: 23.05.2011
Category: خدمة السوق, الشهادة الشخصية
From my viewpoint (which may be skew I know) it seems that God is bringing the church back, through events like the Lausanne Conference, to two profound truths about (1) the Whole Gospel and (2) the Whole Church.
The first truth, in the words of Chris J. H. Wright, is that “the whole Bible needs to be used by the whole church to take the whole Gospel to the whole world” and in so doing, reflect the priorities and passions of God: for the lost (spiritually) as well as the last and the least (socially, culturally and economically); for those dying in their sins as well as those dying of hunger, disease and war; and for the landless, homeless, family-less and stateless as well as those who are without Christ, without God and without hope in the world.
The second truth concerns the “whole church”, that it is the priesthood of ALL believers engaged with the priorities and passions of God, not just an ordained class of believer or a select few. The church is GATHERED together on Sundays at services where a few ordained or recognised lay people fulfil a variety of functions and fill a limited number of roles. But the church is SCATTERED from Monday to Saturday in homes, schools and the workplace, involving all manner of believers in an unlimited number of roles.
These two truths are proportionally linked. Taking the whole gospel to the whole world requires the whole church to BE the priesthood of all believers in both the gathered and, more importantly, the scattered forms of church. While Sunday gatherings are the more typical, visible, tangible demonstration of the church existing in the world, greater emphasis needs to be placed on equipping, encouraging and empowering the scattered church to live and work out faith in situ in order to usher in the kingdom of God Monday to Saturday!
The church-gathered is limited in its impact by, for example, building size and budget size (and so the temptation is always to go bigger and better). The church-scattered has a much broader impact and is already tied into the systems, structures and social bodies that need the light of Christ in their midst.
The church-scattered emphasis takes us away from a predominant Sunday-centric model. Whether urban or rural, rich or poor, mega or minuscule, the church-scattered has the force to transcend the usual obstacles to taking the gospel into the world.
كلمات مفتاحية: Church scattered, The Whole Bible, The Whole Church, Truth, Gospel
مشاهدات: 6473
تعليقات: 15
توصيات: 2
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محاورة نشر تعليق
الولايات المتحدة
good point Pete,
I also believe that the church is scattered from sunday to monday in every corner of the community where Christians live. By being true and genuine believers, we will more effective by reaching and preaching the gospel every time we get a chance. It will also be exciting to see a great multitude of people to gather and celebrate the victory in Jesus who is the one and only who forgives our sins.
20.10.2011
الولايات المتحدة
I think that church scattering is linked to systems and structures and we must not let anything distract or deter us form doing Gods work and His will. Its all abouth God and not ourselves instead of the scattering in a negative manner lets scatter the word positively throughout our homes and jobs etc. It again is all about God.
20.07.2011
الولايات المتحدة
What do we think are some solutions to this issue? I think there is a lack of teaching as to who we are and what we are to be doing as the people of God. In additiond to a lack of teaching, there is also a lackof reading God’s. We have to study the word to get an understanding. The word of God tells us that we perish for the lack of knowledge.
15.07.2011
الولايات المتحدة
@ lmorrison:
Well put! If we don’t teach then they can’t learn. If we don’t read we and others will never understand. So we must put forth the effort so that we as well as others or infact for others will understand and pass it on.
15.07.2011
الولايات المتحدة
@ lmorrison:
Yes, we do have to study to get a better understanding of the word. I agree with the scripture "my people perish because of lack of knowledge," and John 8:32 says, " And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." So if you are serious about knowing the truth, you should study.
Rachel
17.07.2011
الولايات المتحدة
Harley thanks for your posting.
You used the word "accountable" this is a word hardly ever used in ministry. I believe this is where a lot of issues stem. Are we our brothers keeper? If we are then why do we sit back and watch our brother or sister in a fault and not try to help or aide in some way. When we confess Christ we are held to a different standard. We are to be a light in this dark world. Are we that light? Are we the hands , arms, and feet of Christ in the earth?
16.07.2011
الولايات المتحدة
Harley thanks for your comments,
They are timely and insightful. We have to examine ourselves. Are we about our Father’s bussiness? Are we the salt and the light? That word "accountable" is not even mentioned much any more. We all do as we please and come together on Sunday for worship. When our neighbor is hurting or living in lack, Are we living out the commandments of Christ? Are we the hands, arms
16.07.2011
الولايات المتحدة
I agree the church as a whole must be unified nopt just to come together on Sunday. But to live out the example of Christ throughout their normal routines. That’s what people who do not have Christ look at. They wonder if we live what we believe and if the whole chruch is scattered Monday through Saturday and only come together one day a week, what have we shown the rest of humanity? When we are once again unified in our faith journey then can we truly begin to heal in the other area that need our attention.
05.07.2011
الولايات المتحدة
@ MzBoom:
We as Christians as the saying goes, "are the only Bible some people see." This means by our lifestyles and behavior we are a walking Bible for a sinner. So our Monday-Saturday lives are an important example, along with Sunday.
Rachel
16.07.2011
الولايات المتحدة
Thanks for this posting. It is timely and goes straight to the reality of where the church is today. There is a disconnect in the body. I beleive the people of God do not know who there are. If they did , then they would be about their Father’s bussiness. They would not wait for certain people of position in the church to do. They woluld be moved to do as well. They would know that they too are priest and they are to go out into the world to spread the gospel. Are we reading the word?
13.07.2011
الولايات المتحدة
@ lmorrison:
I agree lmorrison that we have lost our purpose and identity. It is also evident that we are not being held accountable to the commands of Christ. We are looking to be served and not to serve. Our busy schedules and lifestyles make it impossible to do kingdom work. We have to evaluate what is important to us. If our faith is important we must live it out within the community. We cannot expect one or two people to carry the load for the whole. If we are to be the church, the church is a living organism!
14.07.2011
الولايات المتحدة
It is vey challenging to get the whole church to mobilze outside of the walls. From my perspective the Sunday morning is a time of performance by staff. It seems as though many individuals come to be served and not serve. So until we change the mentality that the church is not a place of entertainment but a place of empowerment to go back and make a difference, we will not become the true church.
20.06.2011
الولايات المتحدة
@ Harley:
So true Harley! It has been my experience and of late I am afraid that if one suggests anyone or all of the church find ways to go beyond the walls of the church or beyond one’s life to reach out to others, the person who suggests it is shunned or looked upon as strange. Many people including pastors are afraid of being taken advantage of, I don’t recall the early church think about that, does anyone esle?
10.07.2011
الولايات المتحدة
@ MzBoom:
Mz Boom thanks for the response. But how are we going to shift this mentality that has made its way into the church. What concerns me is that we seem to gravitate toward what is popular instead of what is biblical. When you look at the life of Jesus, He was willing to stand on the will of God and refused to adhere to the traditions and customs of mankind. We need some individuals who are willing to take a stand.
10.07.2011
أستراليا
Peter, thanks for your article. It seems that one of the biggest obstacles (at least in Sydney Anglican circles) is moving away from the Sunday-Service-as-an-event paradigm. A significant amount of time and resources goes into planning and executing the Sunday "event" and leaves little time for other more informal gatherings, living the intentional Christian life while doing "normal" life, etc.
01.06.2011
يتوجب عليك تسجيل الدخول أولاً لكي تتمكن من نشر تعليق. إذا لم يكن لديك حساب، يمكن التسجيل الآن (إنه مجاني وسهل!)