what I'm...
reading: kevin rains' blog. in his most recent post kevin briefly speaks about the disturbing results of a survey conducted by Fuller Seminary's department of psychology. my immediate response to this survey was to thank God that I have yet to become a statistic and to pray for my friends and colleagues who are in danger of becoming one. the post also made me wonder whether a survey of simple/relational/home church leaders would produce similar results.
i am trying to get my hands on the complete findings of the survey. if/when i find them, i'll make them available.
wondering: when is "anonymous" krista going to start a blog?
What a Beautiful Place to Call Home
2 weeks ago
10 comments:
Maybe these statistics are true, due in part, because the people who identify the problems with the "system" bail and start "new churches" or "house churches". Thus contributing to the problem instead of being part of the solution. Instead of patting ourselves on the back for "not being a statistic" maybe we should befriend a minister, babysit their kids (so they can have time together as a couple) and pray for the church.
dear anonymous,
i couldn't agree with you more about supporting our friends who are in traditional ministry. that is why i pray regularly for my friends who are in that position, provide pulpit supply for pastors who are out of town or churches who are between pastors and make sure that my home church supports more traditional ministries.
furthermore, i agree that those who "pull out" of congregational churches simply to avoid the complications within that system are often being irresponsible and often spiteful.
that being said, i would not count myself among those who have left the congregational model to avoid problems. and, to be completely honest, i find it downright presumptuous that someone would judge my motives for (a) sympathetically discussing the difficult circumstances many of my colleagues are facing and (b) serving God through the ministry of home churches.
finally, i have no respect for anonymous posters who take it upon themselves to critique my honest thoughts and reflections, yet do not have the courage to identify themselves.
if you really want to talk about this issue at length, send me a personal email and we can talk.
sorry about that anonymous comment. I re-read my post and realized that it could definately be read with an accusing tone. I apologize about that. I was simply stating my own fear. I genuinely meant "we" and not you. Feel free to delete my comment for fear that others might read it with an unintended tone. p.s. i'm sorry I don't have your e-mail or I would have just sent this to you.
your sister in christ
~Shannon Wentz
Shannon,
Thanks for your note. Blogs aren't always the best medium for nuanced discussion, are they?
I am so glad that you followed up your post with this comment. Please know that I have committed my life to the church, not to a particularly form of ministry, and am a committed advocate of the work you and John are doing.
Peace of Christ,
gentry
PS--Unfortunately this antiquated system will not allow me to delete your comments.
PSS--Please do not hesitate to comment in the future. Your thoughts, especially when they differ from my own, are more than welcome.
Shannon, thanks for taking the time to post... trying to separate "us" from "them" when it comes to house churches and more institutionalized churches is certainly not the goal, but it is a common downfall...
it is far too easy to see the places the institutional church that I left was lacking than to see what the house church I currently attend may be, simply because it fills the holes the institutional church left behind... for me that meant meaningful friendships, accountable and compassionate community, and a focus on breaking down the division between "us" (the churched) and "them" (our community regardless of beliefs, attitude, financial situation, or level of annoyance)...
I highly recommend reading "A New Kind of Christian" by Brian McLaren... it's basically his view on how the emerging church and the existing church need each other and shouldn't disassociate themselves from one another told in a parable-story form...
Also, our recent studies into Habakkuk (not just a name with a lot of "k"s) have been making me realize that just because we may not agree with the state of the church (Israel in Habakkuk's case) does not mean we should disassociate from it or stop praying for it...
Thanks for sharing your concerns... I look forward to hearing more from you...
I will get a blog going when...ah...when I am no longer at my current job? Or...next year? Summer? When I feel as though I can write without worrying what others think? Or how about when I learn not to put my heart on the line, or offend others? So many questions, so little blog. -krista
Jamie-you don't have a blog either? See, Jeff? Go bother Jamie for a bit, then get back to me. If Jamie does have a blog though, then I'm still content to sit back for awhile longer. I never get in on things on the ground floor-I always seem to catch their heyday and the inevitable downfall. -krista
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