(I have been rather neglectful of this blog recently because of time spent writing a book. It's not that I think another book is necessarily needed on simple/house churches. Rather, we have found that when we travel overseas we often want to leave material behind. By writing our own material we can print and distribute it inexpensively since there is no cut for the publisher. The following article comes from one of the chapters of this book).
Comfy Christianity
Shane Claiborne writes: “Being a Christian is about choosing Jesus and deciding to do something incredibly daring with your life.”
In my former life as a pastor, I was a dispenser of comfortable Christianity. I took on the job of creating a “conducive environment” for worship. What this really meant was making a worship event cushy enough that people would want to come and then come back: comfortable seats, coffee, pleasing worship music, and a sermon that holds attention. Unfortunately, regularly attending a comfortable worship event has become the primary marker of what it means to be a Christian today.
In fact, we often replace the miraculous adventure of following Jesus with religious activity. Did I go to church this week? Check it off the list. Did I read my Bible? Check it. Did I pray? Check it. Done! I have completed my Christian activities and am, therefore, a “good Christian.” Religion itself becomes an easy replacement for a daring life lived in partnership with Jesus.
Ironically, Jesus drew a startling line in the sand in response to someone who wanted to follow him: "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head (Matthew 18:20).” Jesus was not a dispenser of comfortable Christianity. Quite the opposite. He taught that followers would live a lifestyle of stepping outside of comfort zones in order to join him in the adventure of extending the life of the kingdom.
Replacing “Come-Structures” with “Go-Structures”
Part of our comfy Christianity has been to focus most of our Christian activities within the four-walls where our friends and other Christians hang out. The result is that we reach out to others by inviting them to come join us where we are.
My fellow-blogger, Hamo, comments on this:
If Jesus were alive today and his mission was still to seek out and save the lost what might he do?
Would he hire a building, set up a sound system, develop a music team, drama team, and then do local letterbox drops advising people that they could come and be part of his church on Sunday?
Was it ever Jesus’ intention that non Christians should seek us and desire to attend our worship events? Or didn’t he say quite clearly that it was his calling, and now ours to seek out and save the lost; to go to their world and enculturate the gospel there. Little Bo Peep evangelism (leave ‘em alone and they’ll come home) is fast running out of steam…
Recapturing the “Going” Church
The church’s true nature is best seen by the life that Jesus modeled: he took the life of the kingdom everywhere that he went—out into the world that he was ministering to. In the process of going, he healed, loved, delivered, and shared good news.
God’s heart is missional at the core as he seeks to recover his children who are lost to him. Jesus came to “seek and to save the lost.” This is not a sidebar. God, because of his love, is a caring, reaching God.
The church is becoming unleashed as Christians are re-discover the daring adventure of “going” and taking the presence (love, life, and power) of God everywhere that they are going. Jesus called us to a lifestyle that would take us out of our comfort zone and into the adventure of miraculous living as we extend ourselves to extend his kingdom.
As Jim Rutz wrote, “The bleachers are beginning to empty as 707 million action-oriented Christians start to pour out onto the playing field and discover the joy and challenge of every-member ministry.”
But What About the Gathering?
In conferences and conversations all over the world about simple/house church, it seems that people usually want to learn first about “how to gather.” This is natural since we have thought about “church” as being mostly about events and gatherings. The problem is that though we can replace larger events and gatherings with smaller ones, our motivation may still be to hang out with our Christian friends and, again, seek to reach others by inviting them to join us.
By focusing first on the gathering we miss the point that Jesus’ focus was first on the going way of life. If gatherings develop that support a dynamic, outward, supernatural lifestyle, then the gatherings will be powerful and relevant. However, if gatherings become a replacement for the true adventure of Jesus-following (which can easily happen), then we will again regress into a comfortable Christianity with little life in it.
Stepping Out Makes Life Worth Living
Most of the truly defining moments of our lives take place because we are willing to step out and trust that God has more for us. Rarely do we find new life by holding back or retreating into our familiar, comfort zones. If this entire book accomplishes nothing else, I hope it will inspire someone to listen and follow a very adventurous God into some new horizons.
Pete Greig wrote:
Christ is not a passive Savior sitting in some cosmic comfy chair. Our God is dynamic; He is a creative force, the ultimate visionary, always on the move, and if we want to know Him and be with Him, we will have to follow Him wherever he is going next.
Comments
18 responses to “Comfy Christianity”
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, 2. http://bible.postedpost.com/2008/07/26/the-church-s-understanding-of-jesus-christ-bible-and-god-continue/
When will your book be available?
Roger,
This is a great post. I will be refferancing this post tomorrow. Great stuff, this has really got me going.
Thanks for the encouragement. I will have more info on distribution of this book next month. Since this is a not-for-profit venture, it will be available free for download and inexpensive for a print version. This is material that we want to be able to make available in underdeveloped countries when we travel, thus we are looking for the least expensive way to make it available.
Last night and a friend of mine and me listened to Deb Hirsch (7 hindrances to being missional. # 6 …money consumerism and status).
By far this is the number one hindrance to mission. The reason it cannot be challenged is because almost all of us are materialistic. We just like our comfy lifestyles.
The question we came up with was, “where do “accepting each other the way we are” and discipleship meet.”
I came across an Elizabeth O’Connor quote: “Great disciples are not born they are made.”
The question for me is how do we make disciples of Jesus in simple/organic churches?
looking forward to the book. Will the book be helpful in our North American context?
Greetings from Istanbul, Turkey. I’m a missionary here doing just what your advocated in your blog. We call it CPM. After reading through your comment about publishing, I had an idea. What do you think about giving the publishing work to a publisher outside the USA? There are many like minded local believers in the world living the simple church life in home fellowships that could do this work for you. Many are church leaders choosing to stay in the work force, not taking on paid positions depended on outside funding. I know of a publisher here in Istanbul, Northern Iraq and India (all MBB) if you want contact information.
Geat Post,
The little known book of Jude talks about those teaching Comfy Christianity- and explains how much trouble they are in. I think these folks are the ones not building on Pauls foundation.
Building on Paul’s Foundation
NLT 1 Cor 3;10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. 12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.
– The consequence for the lesser sin, building w/ wood hay & straw [building with wisdom of men, money, ego & pride] is severe – barely escaping the fires of Hell. That leaves little doubt that building on a different foundation, rebuilding on the foundation of the old Levitical priesthood; the authoritarian priesthood of men, can cost you your salvation. Cleary these folks are not building on the foundation that Paul established, the tentmaker, servant-slave, humble priesthood of Christ.
This is better explained in Pastor’s Pay
http://thebigpictureministry.htohananet.com/blog/_archives/2007/9/22/3246910.html
I am so glad i found this sight, i was getting rather exausted perusing blog after blog and site after site that use all the buzz words (organic, simple, house-church, emergent, etc.), but again and again miss the bottom line of how we are to live every minute of our lives. I really liked the point about focusing on how we gather being completely the wrong focus. I’m starting to realize that all interaction between followers of Christ is “gathering”, or fellowship, if it’s authentic and the focus is on Christ. All the questions about whether or not we should build buildings or have liturgies would be forgotten if we were just busy being what we are. Those who were dead but are now made alive in Christ….
Daniel
Hi everyone. First time posting here.
My wife and I started a housechurch/simplechurch back in the 90’s that fell apart after awhile because we really weren’t aware of some of the pitfalls. Since then I’ve tried to keep tabs on things (like reading Neil Cole’s book, etc.). There are some great ideas being thrown around these days. One point I’d like to make.
Above, it says, “In conferences and conversations all over the world about simple/house church, it seems that people usually want to learn first about “how to gather.””. I think there’s a reasonable reason for that. There’s a pull between missional energy where you’re interacting with unbelievers and attempting to be outwardly focused, and the need for community with like minded believers where you rest.
Even the Master, during Passion Week, went daily to the Temple and engaged everyone, but then returned to Bethany and stayed with Lazarus and his sisters and the disciples to rest and recharge. There’s times I’m just not that “strong” spiritually – exhausted, frustrated, whatever – and I need more of a retreat. I want G-dly relationships for my kids with other believer families for good spiritual impact. Etc., etc.
I know that the ideal is that true community and true outreach to the world is supposed to happen concurrently, all mixed in together, so that our community IS our outreach and our outreach IS our community. But there were times when there were no believers who wanted to meet with us and no unbelievers who cared to do that either. We had “family church”. It was kind of lonely. Yeah, I know, church isn’t what you “do” it’s who you are with other believers. But still, the weekend rolls around and your kids say, “Dad are we going to do anything? I mean are we getting together with anybody?”
If you’re living physically down the block from other believers and you see them over the back fence, or at the grocery store all the time, then, sure, you can more easily create intentional community, because it naturally happens thru the week. But if not, then you have to intentionally meet at least once a week. Even if you value and try to be missional throughout everyday. Even if your little group is trying to be explicitly missional that meeting does become important and what happens there becomes important.
Otherwise you’re out there trying to connect with people at coffee shops or whatever and you’re pretty much alone and it’s easy to burn out.
Having that small group that you can sort of “retreat” to and get prayer, and talk about how you’re running out of gas, etc. and then have a focused time of praise, and you’re all on the same page… That’s huge to keep on keeping on. And if that little group doesn’t/isn’t working out, it can get really frustrating.
It’s just like moving into a new house. The physical state of your new neighborhood is important (missional/outreach), and equally important is the physical state of the house you are buying (believing community).
Just my thoughts.
Hi sfs74 (strange name)
Thanks for your thoughts.
I do not think anyone would argue with what you are saying as it relates to needing to be together with other Christians for encouragement and retreat. I believe that is necessary. However in my experience and what I have been reading on the internet (about simple church) the meeting is still the centerpiece of why do church.
It was Harold Behr (used to blog about simple church) who said (in an email to me);
“I have ZERO interest in meetings anymore, TC, HC or SC because of what they inevitably become, fortresses and hothouses for Christians).
I feel the same way as Harold here. We have been part of 4 house churches in the past 7 years (we haven’t been in the last two and a half) and in every case that is exactly what happened.
I am not surprised that your house church from the 90’s fell apart. None of the 4 that we were a part of exists today either. (2 of them fell apart after we left to start something else). Mission was hoping someone would hear about our house church and phone us during the week.
Jesus is not a very good example of needing that weekly meeting. If anyone needed the retreat it was Jesus. He was always out there on the street. It is surprising that we did not hear about that a lot more. His whole life was about mission. Jesus simply did not work mission in around the edges of the meeting.
For Jesus it was mission mission mission mission mission mission mission meeting. But for most of us it is meeting meeting meeting meeting meeting meeting meeting….. I can’t even put in the word mission here……
Your whole mindset seems connected to the meeting. “But there were times when there were no believers who wanted to meet with us and no unbelievers who cared to do that either. We had “family church”. As I see it you seem to still be connecting “church” to an event that takes place once a week. I encourage you to thing out of the conventional meeting mindset.
My family (our children are 22 and 19) does not meet regularly with others. We meet once a month with a couple of families who are an hour away. We connect with a single mom who has 6 children (two of her own and 4 foster). We are like family to each other. It feels more like what church should be about. We are part of a group of people (mostly from traditional church) that is trying to raise money for people in Africa. My wife and I are always talking about reaching out to others.
Would we like to have a group of people to meet with? It depends. If those people are also missional we’d love to meet with them. But if not I feel much like Harold does about the meeting. We would rather meet fluidly with a number of families than get involved in a non missional house church.
I hope this helps you. If you are feeling alone I would gladly pray for you and connect with you and your situation. Thanks
Roger,
Looking forward to your book! I think it will be a valuable resource. I hope you will post something on LK10.com to let the Community know about it.
John
Hello! I have really enjoyed reading your blog, especially this post which really resonates with the journey that my husband and I are on. We were convicted of our false religiosity and are now seeking to seek, to imitate the ministry of Christ, to be sent out. I look forward to coming back to your blog! God Bless!
Roger,
I have just linked to this post.
Nice column..jesus in this blog.
interesting discussion. if there is not intentional outreach, with actual, current examples by the leader/leaders, then it will turn inward. If a group is not purposeful and consistent with outreach to people who are not christians, then the weight will begin to fall on a few to keep the “ball rolling” through unconsciously trying keep things interesting and together.
this is inheriently an issue, because generally those drawn to simple/house churches loathe up front, fireworks ministry styles, and when it fall on them to “feed the sheep,” it’s the death nell.
question: what if the leader/leaders shared real life stories each week, not for show but as a description of their lifestyle. I would argue that you don’t have to be ultra successful at regular outreach, you just have to be…and just being will inspire people to action. Do you have a story from this week about your personal outreach?
we have to stop convincing people through intellectual argument to impact the world…and be able to say “follow me as i follow Christ.” can we honestly say this with a straight face?
scott in vegas
New Church Report – http://www.newchurchreport.com
Expectation Blog – http://cells-twelves.blogspot.com
I agree with much that you say and am in many ways a voyager-into-the unknown paradigm which is the life of a follower of \Jesus. One thing that i am not sure about though is that sometimes we can be over-critical (not necessarily saying you are) about the approach used by ‘churches’ to provide an environment that is comfortable. A couple of thoughts emerge. 1.There is a place for ‘church’ to be a sanctuary in the midst of a chaotic and uncomfortable life experience.2. people are often attempting to provide a view of God that is welcoming and hospitable. 3. It does not (although i do struggle with this one) necessarily mean that the radical-edge of discipleship is hidden or put to one side as that depends on the content inherent within the life of the community. I am just not sure if sometimes we tag the outer with the inner christian praxis!
Fabulous article. I will be referring back to your site often! I am always looking for ways to boost my confidence, and I really took alot of this to heart! Thank you!
http://www.impactevangelism.org
Having been in the ministry for over 25 years and having pastored three churches in that time, I can truly say from an “insiders” view that church as it has come to be in the 21st century is not working. In my last just (I recently resigned to pursue other ministry) we had started the journey towards open church with an emphasis on body ministry and home meetings, while maintaining a building and Sunday morning gathering. Transition can be difficult for churches and not everyone is going to like it. Pastors, be encouraged, God is on your side.
I have really been enjoying your blogs. I wholeheartedly agree with what you are saying. We have so changed the meaning of church, ministry and other biblical concepts that we no longer think in Biblical terms.
I’ve been blogging about returning to Biblical thinking in these areas.
Keep up the good work and be blessed.
Steve Highlander