Harold Behr shares some thoughts on building relational bridges:
“Listening”
Many people are looking for an ear that will listen. The do not find it among Christians, because these Christians are talking where they should be listening. But he who can no longer listen to his brother will soon be no longer listening to God either; he will be doing nothing but prattle in the presence of God too… But Christians have forgotten that the ministry of listening has been committed to them by Him who is Himself the great listener and whose work they should share. We should listen with the ears of God that we may speak the Word of God. Life Together, D. Bonhoeffer, Harper San Francisco, pg. 98-99
“Refusing to bring Judgement”
As George Fox says “”And this know….though the way in which people are guided seems to thee diverse, yet judge not the way, lest thou judge the Lord, and knowest not that several ways hath God to bring His people out by; yet all are one in the end”
“Practices of Inclusion”, or “Welcoming the Stranger”
Recognizing we are called to the “Ministry of Reconciliation”, and this is done by calling forth “The Good, the Right and the True” (Eph 5:9) in all that are invited. Refuse the “modern” concept of secular versus “Christian”. Recognize and act upon the fact that the ground is level for all of us at the foot of the cross, note Eugene Peterson’s expression “Insiders and Outsiders rejoice together (Rom15:120Rom 3:9 (Basically all of us insiders and outsiders start out in identical situations….”
In an emergent simple church gathering a leader might say something like “I’m more convinced then ever that we don’t have a clue about Christianity. I’m not an orthodox Christian anymore, I’m not a protestant, the kinds of questions we are asking are very different from the questions asked at other times and venues. Is christianity necessary? Whose religion is it anyway? What does it mean to incarnate Christ, to live redemptively in a materialistic world? Dwight Frieson, Quest, Seattle, from the new book “Emerging Churches” Gibbs & Bolger page 117.
Comments
3 responses to “Three Components of Building Relational Bridges”
Having just stumbled on this blog, I must say that there are some insightful things being quoted here. As more of a naive, outside observer of the Emergent church, perhaps someone can clarify a question I have concerning the last quote in the entry. (“Emerging Church” Gibbs & Bolger) Do you feel that these questions are addressed uniquely in the Emergent Church? The reason I am asking this is because I feel that Christians have struggled to come to terms with these questions all throughout history and that they are not issues which have been recently raised uniquely within the Emergent church. I feel these are questions which most authentic Christians (past & present) have wrestled with throughout their lives.
I can’t help but feel that we are simply repackaging age old questions as new questions raised quite exclusively within the emergent church environment when it would be a more accurate summation to say that most Christians consider and raise these questions within their own respective church environments within or without the Emergent community of faith. What do you guys think?
I am convinced that #3 is one of the biggest barriers in the church today. Most see the world as “us” (believers)and “them”(unbelievers) When we begin to look upon all of mankind as “us” then the message of reconciliation will be heard and accepted as never before in the history of the world. But then again most people think I am a heretic these days.
Peace
Geo
These are great quotes and questions! Richard, are you serious? You truly think these are “age old questions”? Perhaps people thought them or whispered them, but I can’t imagine people having the kind of challenging dialogue that is occuring today (thanks to Roger and others interested in dialogue) say in any previous century. No, people were burned, tortured, excommunicated and called devils and heretics for talking of things the way we do here.
I believe God is tearing down the work (doctrines and denominations) of men and is raising up His Body for the last days. Christians will truly be His people, His body and He alone will lead us. I don’t believe people have had such openness and honest dialogue since the time of the early church, although there is still great resistance. But that’s just my view. Yet I’m seeing this dialogue spread person to person, family to family and nothing will stop it, because it is a desire for the truth and purity of God’s vision, and not the vision of men.