Simple Church Journal

It was so invigorating to receive the comments from my last post in which I asked for input on what y’all see as the major hindrance in the church in the West.

Because of the value of this input, I am considering writing this next book transparently, the whole process beginning to end, right here on SimpleChurch Journal.

The benefit of doing it this way is:

1. Your insights will continue to shape and bring depth to the book
2. Accountability for me to keep writing

The Decision Not to Pursue Professional Publishing

In order to pursue this direction with you guys, I will have to settle the issue of not pursuing professional publishing.  Although I have a publishing house asking about my next book (which is a far cry from having an offer) I am leaning toward publishing myself, again, for the following primary reason:

This allows me to give it away which has been a huge benefit in developing countries.  Because my last book (Simple/House Church Revolution) was self-published, it was easily accessed in these poorer countries and translated into several languages without any copyright issues.

The downside?  Probably less exposure to Western audiences since it will not have the marketing power of publishers.

This is definitely an experiment beginning to end.  Any thoughts?

Oh, the specific topic of the next book?  Okay… next post!

Comments here!

The next online Simple/House Church Course begins on February 1 and you can sign up now.  Only 9 spots remain!

Why consider this course?

• It’s fun (I think).
• It’s interactive with lots of opportunity to share and hear from others who are on a similar journey.
• It provides a lot of great material that challenges our perspectives and paradigms in order to help us shape our own non-traditional journey.
• It can even be life-changing as it helps set our course as pursuers of Jesus in the context of simple church life.

Who is this course for?  It’s ideal for those who are newly exploring simple/house churches or who are in the process of starting simple/house churches or networks of simple/house churches.

Read more of the description here and sign up now on a first come, first served basis. 

No need to journey alone!

As I begin to think through a new book idea, I want to listen to YOUR insights!

Would you take a moment and help me complete the following list which I will then turn into a poll:

“What’s the number one hindrance in the church of the West today?”

Here are possibilities I already have down:

• Religious attitudes and structures
• Legalism
• Lack of obedience
• Selfishness and overly concerned about comfort
• Materialism
• Worldly distractions
• Not enough understanding of God’s grace
• Overly-comfortable grace
• Lack of prayer

This is just a start and I need more!

Once I have your input, I will come up with the top 12 contenders and then create a poll out of it for my research!

Your help is appreciated!

“What’s the number one hindrance in the church of the West today?”

Please comment here or, if you receive this by email, you can reply!

Felicity Dale has written some excellent posts on cross-cultural missions as it relates to the simple/organic/house church movement.  I think this conversation is so important, so I just wanted to highlight these writings:

The Good and the Bad of Missions

Missions: the Bad!

Missions: the Ugly

Quote: the dirty secret of missions

When Western finance does more harm than good

Guest Post by Roger Thoman (yours truly): 5 Pitfalls of Missions

Motivation for Mission

I look forward to seeing these types of discussions among all simple/organic folk!

 Comment Here!

I know that all too many of us can relate to this pastor who recently resigned when his dream church did not materialize as expected:

For 10 whole years before I started Courageous Church I dreamed of it being one thing, started it as another, then spent the next 3 years trying to get it back to the church of my dreams.  I own this. The vision of my heart was for a committed community of people that first and foremost served God in radical ways in inner city Atlanta…  Sunday morning would simply be the time when those people came together to celebrate and honor God and invite others into our Monday-Saturday adventure.

Instead, I started a super cool Sunday worship service centered church with 700 people and spent the next 3 years begging thousands of people to help me be the hands and feet of God by fighting child trafficking and caring for widows and orphans.  I was advised by the best church planting experts in the world to go this route, but in the end it was my decision and it was the wrong one.   I sold my soul for church attendance in our first week and could never quite get it back.

Ouch!  I know that feeling oh so well.  This very honest post on the challenges of professional church building are potent.  Here is one more tidbit from this ex-pastor:

People L.O.V.E to hear about radical change.  They just don’t love making it.

And that applies to ALL people regardless of what type of church expressions they hang their hat on, eh?

Read Shaun's full post(s) here.

Comment Here!

If you are writing or blogging on the theme of Christmas/Advent and want to share your thoughts with others, feel free to post your links on our Advent Conspiracy Facebook Event page.  First, see if it fits in with the theme of the event, then feel to post your link or share your musings there directly!

The irreligious love the voice of Jesus.  And they love following His voice wherever He leads.  And as the world becomes filled with this type of follower, the most explosive things will happen.

I find that religious people (I know from experience) love the voice of routine, and church events, and predictable services, and knowing what’s coming next.  We often love Jesus but, really, we love even more our comfortable religious boxes, our titles, our roles, and our programs that others appreciate us for.

Not Virginia.  This friend of mine loves the voice of Jesus and knew that He was nudging her toward India.  One of her sons had moved there but this was way outside of the box.  She knew no one where she was going and she was not being sent by any organization or church.  She had no backing, no plan B, and no clear idea of what she would be doing there.  She simply believed that Jesus had spoken and she went.

For 11 months she wondered what she was doing in this strange land surrounded by needs that seemed overwhelming.  She served where she could, but mostly she got sick and recovered only to get sick again.  She prayed and begged God to show her more, but there was little direction and it seemed that her life was making no sense.  Finally, her trust began to crumble and she huddled on her knees on the floor of her small apartment crying out to God.  She said, “I was set to stay in prayer until I heard from Him no matter how long it would take.” 

Virginia went on, “I wasn’t on my knees but a few moments when I heard His still small voice say to me,

‘Go to the mountains.’  That’s all He said.”

The only mountains Virginia knew about were the Nilgiri Hills nearby where there was a Christian school.  She had never been there, but knew the school cared for the children of missionaries as well as Indian students.  To make a long story short, the school had been praying fervently for an Art/Bible teacher because of a recent vacancy.  And, yes, that is exactly what Virginia has a background in.  As this unfolded, she said, “I find I love teaching.  Love the kids, the challenge, the stimulation and being part of this dedicated and serving, God-centered community.”

One can only imagine the impact Virginia is now having in India (not to mention future generations) because she was living outside of religious boxes but married to listening and following the ever-creative, world-impacting Jesus.

Religion asks members to proselytize people to that religion; Jesus asks people to repent and follow Him.

I have done much of the former: inviting people to a religion.  Here is the way it worked:

1. Explain the basic precepts of the religion: Jesus died on the cross to forgive your sins and give you eternal life. 
2. The entry point into that religion: pray a prayer asking for forgiveness and inviting Jesus into your life
3. Join the club of church-goers, read your Bible, follow Jesus AND follow the way of religion as prescribed by your fellow-travelers and church-goers.

The result is that people are sometimes caught up and in love with Jesus but, even so, often become club attenders and religion-subscribers over time.

It’s interesting that Jesus did not do this.  His way was quite opposite:

1. Tell people to repent of the sin and death that was destroying their life and their communities.
2. Invite people to follow Him.

I am seriously reflecting on what this looks like.  The former approach is much easier and less threatening.  It does not even really call people to change their lives, just get the club membership ticket.  “Come to our church, hear a good message, ask for forgiveness, receive Jesus.”  Oh, yeah, change will come over time.  But, we know the church today is not much different than the world so… it really doesn’t.

The latter approach that Jesus used is quite confrontational: “These things in your life that are destructive and that you know are destructive?  Well, yeah, they really are.  And the only way that you can step out of those things is to turn from them and turn to life by following a life-giver.  The Source of all Life.   Yes, that would be Jesus.  No, you don’t receive or accept Him, you trust and follow Him.  You give your life to Him.  You exchange your ways of death for the way of Jesus.  No I don’t have a formula for you.  He will reveal Himself directly to you.  He’s a Person, God of all Creation, incarnated through His Word.  Life comes as you turn from your own ways in order to hear and follow… Him.”

By the way, church emerges quite naturally (and simply) as Jesus-followers gather and go in the way of Jesus.