If I had to choose, church life today would primarily be described as an individual sport verses a team sport. There is that gatherings in the locker room (Worship Service) and there is some time spent in the weight room (Sunday School); but then everyone goes there own way to accomplish God's plan for their individual life. I contend that there is great validity to the above scenerio - we need to be inspired together and trained together so the church can go forth and join God where He is working in our day in and day out life.But I believe there is to be more!
I think that the church is to be more than a time of motivation. As Frances Chan said when comparing church to a college, "Church needs to function not as a lecture hall, but as a lab." In the lab setting, we don't only learn the knowledge, but we work together to figure it all out; a setting where Christians live authentically and genuially to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
I am excited that I have seen glimpses in this type of missional living over the last year or so at Ferris Hill. However, I look at the those coming in and I am concerned that we are not properly bringing them into the lab.
I remember my Anatomy and Physiology Lab in college where we had the privilege of disecting everything that didn't move. Fortunately, the Professor didn't just say, "start cutting," but rather directed us through the journey.
I have seen all too often that when a person begins to take their 1st steps in their Christian journey the church only communicates, "start trying ("cutting") and not "let's start training." For this to happen as Jesus modeled, we need people who will purposefully come alongside another and say as the Apostle Paul did, "Follow me a I follow Christ" or even, "Imitate me."
As I look over my Christian journey I often wander, "have I trained anyone or just encouraged people to try?"
What about you? Are you purposefully living for others to imitate your authenticity? Let's work on this together. Besides, the church is not about growing a great organization, but about building people.
BNall
