Title today is taken from Bob’s dodgy christian period. It’s on the better of the 3 albums he released at this time, Slow Train Coming, but nonetheless, compared to most of his work, it is decidedly dodgy.
So why did I choose it? Well in the past few days I have had 3 separate conversations on what shape a church of the future should take. This has me thinking what the shape is now and why it’s not working.
I think the basic problem is that the model we have (not yet) inherited from our parents generation is one where the organisation is at the centre and it is that which we serve. This leads to problems. The main one is that we don’t really know what we are doing things for. Questions such as ‘what are we here for?’ and ‘what is our mission?’ are very common in churches and have been for some time now (though probably not in the higher churches). It also leads to restrictions being placed on those working within the organisation where creativity is stifled as it gets in the way of the organisers. The organisation rules and must be preserved so we can do nothing (like interacting with children in a healthy normal way) that might endanger it.
This is why it is imperative that the organisation of the church has to undertake an absolutely radical change. We need to divest ourselves of all but the barest minimum of structure. I have suggested in the past that current church structures could be preserved to provide some training and administration, I’m not even sure we need that now. We need to get rid of buildings. They are a drain on us in both time and money. I know some people feel called to mow the lawn but there are plenty of lawns they could mow (like mine) instead that would be much more of an out reach than doing the one at church. (that is an example, I have nothing against gardeners). We need, we simply must, start building ourselves and our faith/spritual communities around the activities we undertake in our geographical communities. In the parks, the pubs, the community centres, the restaurants. As long as we have a safe haven we will stay there.
So sell your church and go find Jesus, he’s out there somewhere, and start to serve someBODIES!
