Community

Community...community.......community..........comm...unity.

I used to believe I knew what this word meant.  I mean I have been a Christian almost my entire life and Christians are supposed to have a lock on community.  The Acts 2 Church was built upon the concept of sharing and "community".  Eccl. 4:9 and Gal 6:2 take of encouragement and supporting one another in case one falls.  The Bible is chalk full of references to the "community" term.  Look at Jesus and the disciples...they did everything together...they were living in great community.

But what is community?

I thought I knew.  That is until last week.  I visited my sister in Wichita and was sharing some of my frustrations with the ministries I was involved in and how I felt that I was called to take these responsibilities on by myself because no one else would...I am not sure why I expected compassion and empathy from her (if you know Rachel Cheek you understand), but the answer I got was this, "Stephen, you stink at community.  Do you ever feel superior to those that serve?".  I am in the midst of a first class wallow session and that is what she busts out.  Context: Rachel and her husband live within three blocks of four of her closest friends from college.  Every Monday, 14+ people come over to her house and she makes them gourmet food (it is called "Happy Food").  They will spend entire weekends just sitting around someone's house eating, sleeping, reading, playing games, and abiding in "community".  

It was in this context that I got my first wake up.  Fast forward one week.

I went to visit the other sister in Marian, KS who was due with her first baby.  The little stinker decided not to come while I was there but I spent a couple days with my brother who is attending Tabor College (ten minutes from Marian).  Every Monday, he and a bunch of friends lead a men only worship time on campus with music, small groups, a lesson, man hugs, and communion.  I have been before but this time was different partly due the previous weekend.  As the evening progressed, I just sat there.  My soul and body was not comprehending was going on around me.  Six different guys lead the six different parts of the service.  Silas, my brother, organized the event but did nothing during the actual service.  He was free to just sit and be ministered to by those around him.  For an hour and a half, I sat there in the basement of an old church watching this body of believers carry and support each other.  Attendees were praying with and FOR the leadership team.  There was no head guy or "pastor"...everyone was a pastor.

I sat there in spiritual confusion.  I rather painfully realized that I had no personal precedence for what I was witnessing.  Never in my life have I seen community so lived out in ministry.  I love to minister to others but that is what it is...me ministering TO others.  I have always been in charge, guiding and leading.  I was in awe.

So what is community?  What is God calling us to when He speaks of it?  What are WE meaning when we talk about?  Do we even know?  My definition of living together is scrapped.  After several confusing days, this is the best that I got:

Community is when a body of believers grow as one...body.  The head my think of ideas and encourage movement of the limbs but it is reliant upon the hands to feed it and the muscles to move it.  The feet may feel burdened by the weight of the whole body but that is when the butt shares the responsibility by sitting.  It is not an almighty pastor over a dumb congregation, it is in the words of the musketeer's "All for One and One for All".

I guess I really do not much; the last two weekends can pay atonement to that.  I am currently searching for answers, and pray that you would also be open to what God may be saying to you about how you are living and serving.  Is it solo or supported?  I have had the wrong perspective for years.  God wants us near Him...serving Him...with Him.  He is God...He does not any show-offs.  Just be.  Abide in His presence and His Community.

God Bless.

Change the World

This "rant" is not so much biblical and just a lot of Stephen "Ranting".

People who work with kids and youth but do not know how to work with kids and youth but continue to do such work because they think that they what is best for kids and youth when they actually want make the kids and youth do what the people thinks is best for them...tick me off.

We live in an era of the church where youth programs have become very distinct and often separated from the rest of the church.  Some ideas are that it is better this way so that the kids can be fed their own way and the adults can keep things their way.  Win-win right?

I have purely enjoyed my time as a youth group sponsor, seen the benefits of a great sponsor and program, and seen the hurt and frustration from a bad one (both from the perspective of a sponsor and as a youth).  Youth group is that special time of the week where kids are the #1 priority.  There are no committees or task forces or bulletins, just rocking for Jesus at their level.  It is incredible to see these kids open up when the realize that someone cares.

The wrenches in this beautiful set up comes when the church either overemphasizes the separation of the ages or undermines the separation without proper integration.

Case #1: When a church decides that kids should be seen and not heard in the church, that equals bad.  They start to assume that now that there is this special time for the youth to be ministered to, nothing about Sunday morning worship has to be for the youth.  They get their time so adults should get there time.  Adults push down the voice of the youth in church matters, theological discussions, and ministering goals because they are just those kids over there.  It is at this point that the negativity and resentment of the church towards the youth begins to seep into the isolated youth program and affects that ministry as well.  The results are an unhealthily separated church with negative and resentful youth that are not a part of the church and thus will leave it.

Case #2:  The other side is when churches choose to have no separation between their adult and youth ministries.  This idea appears when the adults of a congregation decide to turn youth time into their time.  No longer is this set aside time of age appropriate ministry squashed but no new place is made for them with the rest of the church.  I have seen several churches that do not have separate youth programs but they actively involve the kids in the service.  The church is for everyone, and everyone is fed differently.  The church can only thrive if it is willing to involve all of its members, no matter their ages.

I am passionate about youth.  Most anyone who knows me knows this.  I have been blessed with many gifts that I believe that God has called me to use for youth ministry.  They are the future of this world and Christianity.  If people continue to ignore their voice, both will die.

I in no way have meant to offend anyone through this writing, but just know that it is the church's responsibility to take care of its children.  You do not need to agree with me but please be willing to open your heart to hear the voice of those that may be different.  People and society change, if the church is not willing to adjust with the people that it serves, things are going to get really ugly really fast...but if it is willing to adjust...

if the church is willing to look beyond tradition and norms to meet the needs of the people that walk through their doors and are waiting behind the doors of their community, the can change the world.

Closed minds: world dead to morality and faith
Open minds: world on fire for Christ

We chose the course.