For my tulsa friends
I'm wondering if the idea of a church in Tulsa is able to talk on different, less traditional forms. At least organizationally.
What might a church in tulsa look like if it empowered it's people to be the church. Instead of the starting point being centralized with a grandiose agenda, or mechanism.
What might church look like if it believed in people, viewed them as generally competent to make good decisions for their lives?
What might a church look like if people of a church believed this about themselves?
What might church look like if the viability of the community was completely dependent upon people holding themselves accountable (individually and maybe corporately) for the well being of their neighbor?
What might a church look like that gave away every penny it brought in for the real needs of those neighbors?
What if church was a way of life, something you live into each moment of the day, something you are, and/or something we call the space the people of the way inhabit every room they enter?
What if this local community was defined more by the way they believed rather than what they believe?
What if the people were self selected themselves to be in this church because of how they live, rather than where they meet?
What if this way was committed to a variety of expressions and even competing agendas of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness?
Eikon in tulsa has taken a few forms and I'm wondering aloud here about it's future. MY original plan was to have multiple houses for groups to meet and be the church. I don't have time to make my plan happen. I'm not sure my plan is all that great.
What would you see as a benefit to you in a church like this?
What do you see as the connecting point to your dreams for this community?
What are the characteristics you currently live in your life and how might a connection to this kind of church be helpful or not?
What say you?
What might a church in tulsa look like if it empowered it's people to be the church. Instead of the starting point being centralized with a grandiose agenda, or mechanism.
What might church look like if it believed in people, viewed them as generally competent to make good decisions for their lives?
What might a church look like if people of a church believed this about themselves?
What might church look like if the viability of the community was completely dependent upon people holding themselves accountable (individually and maybe corporately) for the well being of their neighbor?
What might a church look like that gave away every penny it brought in for the real needs of those neighbors?
What if church was a way of life, something you live into each moment of the day, something you are, and/or something we call the space the people of the way inhabit every room they enter?
What if this local community was defined more by the way they believed rather than what they believe?
What if the people were self selected themselves to be in this church because of how they live, rather than where they meet?
What if this way was committed to a variety of expressions and even competing agendas of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness?
Eikon in tulsa has taken a few forms and I'm wondering aloud here about it's future. MY original plan was to have multiple houses for groups to meet and be the church. I don't have time to make my plan happen. I'm not sure my plan is all that great.
What would you see as a benefit to you in a church like this?
What do you see as the connecting point to your dreams for this community?
What are the characteristics you currently live in your life and how might a connection to this kind of church be helpful or not?
What say you?
posted by mark at
12:08 PM
4 Comments:
So Mark are you essentially asking can the house church concept or form be a viable or sustainable model in a place like Tulsa?
not really. I'm sure that it can. I'm wondering what a loose connection of people, some in house churches, others in traditional formats, others unaffiliated w church but in a mission context, or artist, who agree to broad understanding of church and doing life in some kind of connection with one another.
some may call it "their church" others may call it a local movement they are a part of, etc.
thoughts?
I may not really understand what you are asking or I may just tend too think to comapartmentally or too quickly draw narrow borders.
But if I am a part of a "traditional church" or a "house church" or "missional community" then why would I need another intentional group to do life with? In my mind, if I am already a part of one of those then they would provide the community from which I do life and engage in mission with.
So I guess I am not sure if you are asking about being a part of a "group" or "movement" outside or in addition to our own tribe? Or if you are asking if we are interested in starting a new and intentional group with a broader understanding of church?
You guys would have to start dying for what you believe to see the movement spread like fire. Are you bidding people come and die? Seems like the questions you are asking are getting there. Are you willing to give up everything and follow? No, not in the cult sort of way of giving all to leader, but are you ready to submit everything to the Lord and follow him with other people doing the same and see where the Spirit takes us together?
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