Freedom: Gathering at HRBC through the Open Door

Today's lesson was challenging today, as you all know of my general disregard for the "institutional realities" of our modern church.  As I explored the ideas of church freedom I struggled to understand and ground my own freedom and responsibility to participate in the larger congregational polity of HRBC.  This was quite a stretch for me, as I tend much more towards individualized ministry goals. Below are the themes and ideas that I presented as we discussed. (for those of you who made it through the open door)

Church models:(membership)

• Parish model: geographically aligned, baptism upon birth, closely linked to local gov't historically
  
• Gathered church: choose to join, free will tradition

Church models:(governance)

• Episcopal: leadership drawn from apostolic tradition, bishop, clergy
• Presbyterian: leadership decision by council of elders, representatives, session
• Congregational: leadership by democratic process, consensus, each member is unique and voice is critical to the "body"

THEMES: 

• Church is constructed and organized around a shared purpose, mission, vision. 
• I believe that our purpose is to love and to model God's love for our community outside the church while embracing and inclusive approach to the world's diversity and the church's conflicts and messiness. 
  
• That purpose must be active and outward facing, and cannot become consumed by self sustaining objectives. 
• Church exists to support the congregation members as they perform ministry in community and in their communities.
• Mission should arise from/out of the congregation, not be dictated to the congregation.
• In dealing with conflict/dissent, polity and actions must NEVER cross the line to control, manipulation, or violence. individually, or collectively.
• Respect for the priesthood of the believer must remain paramount. 
• God empowers the called, he doesn't just call the empowered. 
  
• Casual engagement, lack of passion and fear of dissent are the enemy of a polity built on the supremacy of the individual's worth.
  

Interesting to review the sequencing instructional parallels between 1 Cor and Romans in these passages:

• 1 Corinthians moves from Gifts/Diversity to Love(Ch13), to Prayer/Orderly worship(Ch14) to Belief & Resurrection(Ch15)
• Romans moves from Gifts/Diversity/Entreaty to Submission to authority(Ch13), to Relationships(Ch14), to Imperative to help others(Ch15).
  

Scripture references:
Romans 12
1 Corinthians 12
Acts 5:38-39  Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

We need a faith community to sustain us and support us through the storms, and ambiguity of our daily lives.
We are needed within a faith community to ensure diversity of ideas, gifts, and blessings. A diverse community is capable of withstanding the onslaught.

The church must lead by example both inside and to a thirsty world.  Showing the Love of God in our actions. not just our words. as individuals and as a group... LOVE tells the success, not size of buildings, number of members, nor the depth of our financial reserves, nor the amount of giving.

Bible Freedom

What does freedom mean?  

• What is required to maintain it?
• Is it the easy path?
• What role does personal responsibility, accountability play in securing and maintaining freedom?
• How are individuals responsible and accountable for those same ideas when they are part of a group. How is freedom for the individual secured by the control, governance of a larger assembly/body?
  

What are the foundations of our "lens" for freely viewing the Bible.  (People, Time, Culture...)

• Others Views: history, scholars, commentaries, preachers, teachers...
• My View: Personal study, life experience, meditation, cross referencing with other sources
• Jesus Christ, our personal relationship
  
• Holy Spirit, working within us, individually and collectively.
  

What do we do with the Bible after we interpret it "freely". Can/Should our interpretations change over time?

• We control, and we choose to be prescriptive of actions or descriptive of actions. 
• Control is applied individually or collectively how?
  
• Do we use it to coerce others, under the guise of influence, manipulation, politics, leadership, and management? (Creeds)
  
• Do we use it to build self confidence, self control, self governing actions which then showcase the righteous paths for others through results and actions. (Confessions, Statements of Faith)
  

How is it different when the bible is interpreted and applied to or for a group rather than an individual?

The reference scriptures are:

 Hebrews 1:1-2,
 Going through a long line of prophets, God has been addressing our ancestors in different ways for centuries. Recently he spoke to us directly through his Son. By his Son, God created the world in the beginning, and it will all belong to the Son at the end. This Son perfectly mirrors God, and is stamped with God's nature. He holds everything together by what he says—powerful words!
Hebrews 4:12-13 
God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God's Word. We can't get away from it—no matter what.

I vouch for...

Today's lesson was from 1 Kings 1.. We reviewed themes of power, influence, advocacy, and even what some might consider manipulative, political posturing.  The theme which stood out to me was that Nathan and Bathsheba were simply standing up for what was true and right.  Solomon was Jedidiah, he was chosen.  God selected the next King just as he had David and Saul before him.  When David made his proclamation, he was simply vouching for Solomon with the people. 

I posed a lot of questions today. Among them were:
What is Power?  Affluence and Money, Influence, Ability, Confidence, Action, Production, Knowledge, Strength?
What ideals will you vouch for and why?
Who will you stand up for and why?

You don't have to agree with everything that someone else believes to advocate for them. Love them, serve them and go forth into your world with humility.

Just think what a difference you can make if you stand up for your friends, neighbors, and fellow Christians in their action and yes, even in their failures.  David was NOT perfect, but he was King.  Jesus is perfect and is King.  We choose how and who we follow.

Do you know who you are?
Do you remember whose you are? 

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.   I can vouch for Jesus.(not that he needs it)

Window open or are curtains closed?

Great class this morning as we studied 2 Samuel 12. The profiles of David and Bathsheba give us a window into their lives.

God's interactions with them should also provide us a window into our own lives.

• We aren't perfect and our actions have consequences, but those consequences don't change the fact that we are "beloved of God"
• It is okay to be a non-conformist. David was, Jesus was...
  
• The entrenched ideology of our culture is interesting, but it is not a replacement for our own personal relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
• Think of this image. God is outside the window looking in, you are inside looking out. The Bible is the window. In this role, Scripture provides a window into the nature of God and his love for us.
  
• He is always out there just waiting for us to open the shades, lift the sash and "live" with him.
  
• We need to open it wide open and live in full ecclesia/community with God.
  
• We tend to close the window, put on a reflective coating, draw the shades, and even install curtains. God is still there.
  
• We choose the blocking, not him.

Open Door... At a glance...

With the Fall 09 "activity" season upon us, HRBC will host its annual back to church night on Sunday evening Sept 13... all around the church. come on over to the courtyard for food, friends, and fellowship. Come on over and if you see a big man, sitting in a "big boy" chair, come say HI!

If you are visiting HRBC on a Sunday AM here is an "at a glance" view of the Life Community which calls itself Open Door.
Disclaimer:Admittedly, this is Jeff's view of the class, but I figure as the teacher I am best positioned to prime the pump with ideas and lay it out there. If you all have other ideas, comments welcome.

Requirements to visit/join:

• Not really much, as we talk about the Bible and the implications of scripture in our daily lives, in plain english, no nonsense kind of approach.
• Can't say that I regularly even take roll. We are there for one another, whoever is there, each week.
  
• Bible knowledge not really required, this is an OTJ training environment.

Fun Facts:

• We are interested in "churches without walls" but that isn't practical, so we always leave the door open. seriously...We talk a lot about going to people instead of asking them to come to us...still trying to solve this one.
  
• We are the "coolest" class in the church. (especially in the Winter)
• We actually talk about things that many people in churches just think about.
• We have a lot of fun outside of church, from Pool parties, to Meat Night, to Ladies Nights Out, to our annual "men provide/cook gourmet dinner and serve it to the ladies"

Who we are:

• We are mostly married 30 somethings, 40 somethings, and 50 somethings. We tend to have children of differing ages in elementary school, but not necessarily.
• We enjoy thinking about current issues, and talking about how to actively use the gospel in our every day lives/applications.
• We aren't afraid to discuss and even question entrenched ideology and theology in a safe, inclusive, environment of friends.
• We care about one another and we act accordingly, going beyond the "traditional" expectations. We strive to sacrifice for one another, to make a difference.
• We ALL want to learn more about loving one another through regular study of the Bible, and further through regular fellowship and study. (in ecclesia)

Whose we are: GOD's period.
We are believers and searchers. A few of the favorite saying of Jeff are

• "I don't know the answer, but I still believe"
• "Every day is an opportunity"

Meat night 2009

Lots of fun was had by all the guys last night.. Unfortunately, most of what was said is subject to the overriding rules:

RULE 1 "What happens at meat night, stays at meat night!"

Just a few of the Dinner Rules:
nothing sauteed
nothing "mild"
name of the dish cannot have female name in it
no girly drinks
sweet potatoes and sweet tea are allowed due to geography only(we are in the South)

Movie was Transformers 2:
absolutely nothing redeeming about this movie.. other than fun.
Lots of stuff got blown up.
One line remains in all our minds.. sorry can't fully quote it here. "I am directly beneath...."

RULE 2: Remember Guys.. if you had fun last night.. it is now our obligation to plan and present a wonderful meal for our Ladies in the Fall!

Nineveh, Jonah, Grace to all

Well, I had a great lesson plan queued up for today.. largely due to my lack of administrative prowess. That is a fancy way to say that I forgot that the facility committee and staff were presenting the new strategic facility plan to the church this am..

I missed you all so much over the past few weeks that I was back on autopilot and preparing.. So I decided to go ahead and write down these thoughts so we don't lose them. I'd love to hear your thought or comment as well.

The book of Jonah is a quick read, but worth every word. One of my most profound theological learning experiences came from a study that Rev Scott Erwin and I undertook using Eugene Peterson's "Under the unpredictable plant". For me Jonah represents so much of the reality of vocational ministry and call versus the ideology that most see. Ministry is about doing God's will where God puts you with whatever he gives you. When you couple God's call to a servant leadership model, it creates a condition where you are often forced to be an outcast in today's culture. (or you should at least be willing to be outcast) The message is not likely to merge well with today's culture or values. Of that we can be sure.

We were all set to focus on our personal mission fields, our personal and group obligations(our calls to ministry).

Where do we serve?
Who are we and how do we serve?
How do we decipher God's call to us when he does speak?
Are we remaining open to the Holy Spirit or have we locked in instead on our vision for the future?

and now for the tough ones..
What happens when God loves everyone, even the people we don't like, agree with, or even want to be around?
What happens when our friends or colleagues embark or are already on a path that we don't believe is correct? How far do we push? How much obligation do we have?

Where is your Nineveh, could it be Midlothian, and maybe even HRBC?