FXFC - 2 - I have a dream…

These are some 'Theses' (to use Luther's word) that I believe have merit and that shape the paradigm of my dream for local expressions of faith communities (aka 'church'). Over coming blogs I will exegete something of what I mean by some of the concepts they contain. Both now and as I elaborate, your comments are most welcome. G.

I have a dream...

§ Of a church that really is a faith community (FC) – focused on being a community of followers of Jesus (and thus with only a secondary focus on buildings, programs, etc, and then only those that serve the primary focii), so immersed in its world that the 24/7 worship of its members influences and in time transforms the world, bring it under the Kingdom of God.

§ Of an FC that follows the path of the ‘men of Issachar’ who “understood the times and knew what Israel ought to do” (1 Chron.12:32).

§ Of an FC that is willing to take extreme risks in following the discerned Will of God.

§ Of an FC whose members spend time each w’end intercoursing with ‘neighbours’ both near and far by whatever means is appropriate (the w’end being the time when most of our society is free of the daily constraints of the working week timetable).

§ Of an FC whose members meet weekly in sub-groups to learn about the faith and its practical application in daily life, and to support others in that sub-group in their application of discovered truths.

§ Of an FC whose members encourage and support each other through the use of SMS, email and phone links, etc.

§ Of an FC that engages in a regular open communal worship event that reflects the awe, majesty and mystery of our God.

§ Of an FC that recognises that the 24/7 Life worship of each member is nourished and energised by both Private and Communal Worship, and acts on this.

§ Of an FC that recognises that the best way to disciple is by dialoguing and mentoring younger disciples with more mature disciples.

§ Of an FC that realises that the best way to teach is though interactive dialogue and acts accordingly.

§ Of an FC that sees its members as trying to be Christ incarnate to those whose lives are touched in their normal daily activities.

§ Of an FC that understands and applies the importance of the Kairos moments in individual lives.

§ Of an FC that makes available to it members appropriate tools and resources for use in bringing people under the fringes of the FC so that they can experience in one way or other the ministry of God’s people. Such items would include a FC card with a tag message and contact details, including the web URL, as well as informational cards for the FC’s specific service ministries.

§ Of an FC which has a significant web-presence including blogs (especially by its leading members).

§ Of an FC whose leading members are encouragers, teachers and enablers.

§ Of an FC that co-ordinates events (seminars, rallies, parties, etc) that inform, challenge and celebrate matters and events of interest to the society in which they are embedded.

§ Of a FC that out-sources its administration to a professional admin centre that serves a number of faith communities with administrative excellence. This FC has no paid ‘ad-ministry’ staff, but may well have paid staff in some of its specific centres of service (eg social service centre, coffee shop, gallery, medical centre, legal centre, etc.)

There are any number of ways these principles can be put into practice, but I suggest that they require a significant sift in mind-set for most current ‘church’ members.

posted by Gordon Gray @ Thursday, February 03, 2005