Some mad ecclesiology continues to be hashed out over at Jason’s. Jump in!

[This is the first post via my new cable internet service. Apparently it works!]

I’m working on a new model for emerging churches (or maybe post-emerging churches). It’s going to start with theology, as all thinking should (yes, I know, camping mocks the homeless…).

This is where I’d like your input - links to your blog posts are great, and trackback should work too. What are some theological starting points for determining how we do church? This one’s wide open.

Amy and I are moving to a new apartment today and tomorrow. It’s in the same zip code, but slightly closer to work, and much bigger. We’ll lose the weight room, but we’ll also lose utility bills and save on rent.

There shall be no “I can’t blog for a week” notice from me. We had the cable internet service hooked up today, before we moved our stuff in. Priorities.

BTW, we’re renting the cable modem for $7/mo, but I want to buy one soon. If anyone has one they want to sell, contact me (leaving a comment will work) and we’ll talk specs and money.

I am very, very happy with the plugin that enables me to create links to Amazon products (using my Associates’ code) simply by entering the ISBN/ASIN number. No more copying URLs and editing templates. I just got a certificate from Amazon for $43 for last quarter, so I thought I’d pay more attention to my book links, as well as update them with what I’m reading. Thanks to those who bought stuff after clicking through. That helps pay for, uh, bandwidth. Yeah.

What Would Jesus Do With The Internet?
…
Let’s say that Jesus, back in his day, had an Internet to use. With limited funds, a small cult following and only 12 employees, he makes a short film called The Sermon on the Mount, and posts it on his Web site: www.theothercheek.org. A Web address using .org would seem fitting, and besides, www.theothercheek.com is a face-painting outfit.

Because of the power of an original and wonderful idea, the Sermon races around the Internet in viral waves. The link to view the film is passed person-to-person by e-mail, attached to notes saying, “Check this out!” The Thessalonians don’t have to wait for snail mail from Paul ? they get the word instantly.

As mainstream pundits and windy senators rail that too much media power rests in too few hands, the Sermon rockets out of the fringes and is viewed by a bigger audience worldwide than any media company could gather. The millions who see the Sermon also click to read more on Jesus’ blog.

Within days, the reigning power ? Romans, Bush administration, pick your conqueror ? would be forced to confront this peasant nobody who is challenging its doctrine not with money or power, but with a message that simply rings true. It all happens in days, not decades or centuries.

Read the rest of another excellent USA Today article.

Jason Clark is reflecting on the role of pastors in the emerging church, so I thought I’d add a word or two. Jason has been bashed before for being paid, though he’s also pastored a church of 100 without a church salary a tough way to be bivocational.

I can see why Jason addresses the issue the way he does considering his background and situation. He says “if getting rid of all full time pastors is the answer, and we find groups grow with new christians to any significant size we’ll be asking the question, “now how do we take care of these people?” and come to the problem the church has faced throughout history, of needing to set aside people to take care of churches that have grown.” This quote is under the heading “Inherently Wrong?” and no, I don’t think paying a pastor in such a situation would be wrong. Not paying a pastor with such a workload would be wrong.

But maybe the question is wrong. “Since our church has 100 people who need a pastor to take care of them, shouldn’t that pastor be paid?” Absolutely. But why not ask “What kind of church should we have, so that people exercise their God-given gifts effectively, and everyone takes care of each other?” In other words, structuring church so that people’s expectation is to be taken care of like sheep, rather than to sacrifice their lives for each other, is going to create problems like Jason faced in his bivocational days. And I’m certainly not saying Jason or any other individual created that problem - it’s a longstanding cultural expectation that needs to be overturned in the long haul.

Leadership and paid pastoral roles are not the same thing. I think there’s something to the fivefold ministry paradigm of Ephesians 4. Jesus

gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, [12] to do all the ministry stuff that no one else has time for since they’re busy with secular jobs prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up [13] until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Eph 4:11-13

Note that there are five roles, not two. I suggest that when these roles are operating as intended, we will rarely find it necessary or desirable to pay one person to take care of a church. A church full of mature, unified, faithful, knowledgeable Christians will not leave much undone in the work of ministry.

Spirituality in the lives of younger people is getting a lot of air time and I like it. A lot. I think it?s more common for older adults to think that young people only care about sex, money, and MTV. But frankly that?s not true among me or the majority of my peers. Now it is true that we do care sex, money, and MTV (although I prefer video games to TV in general), but those things are not the defining factors of our lives.

Did you know that about fifty percent of people my age come from broken homes? That percentage corresponds perfectly to my close circle of friends from high school (3 and 3). Here?s the breakdown: three of us (self included) have parents still together (albeit a miracle), two previously lived with a single mom and multiple stepfathers (some abusive), and one lived with his homosexual mother and her partner. I was talking with one of them about marriage and relationships and he told me that he wants to take great care in choosing wife so that his kids don?t have to grow up without a father like he did. And it?s no wonder! We?ve grown up with families that are mere shells of the mini-church community that God intended for them to be. Our parents were too busy with their careers to pay attention to us. Our parents were too self-absorbed to make the sacrifices needed to make a marriage work. And you may not believe this but we, the children, are sick of it! It?s no wonder we?re looking for something more, something deeper, something spiritual. We?ve seen what these pursuits do to families and we are refusing to follow our parents? examples. Our lives are not about wealth, selfish pleasure, or prestige. Our lives are not about us! Our lives are about connecting with people and making the journey together to something that is bigger than ourselves- something faithful and true.

[Disclaimer if either of my parents read this: we?ve had our struggles as a family but I love you both so much. Thank you for your love and continued efforts to seek God and healing in our family.]

If you still need empirical evidence, then check out this study on Spirituality in Higher Education found via this USA Today article. It?s an interesting read. I really like their definition of spirituality. They also state on page 7 of the Analysis that computer science major tend to have lower than average self-esteem. That depressing? but understandable.

The contest:

1. Write a caption for this piece of clipart that is funny, OR
2. Come up with a situation in which this clipart could be used effectively (that is funny)
3. If you win, you will probably not be notified, nor will you receive any prizes
4. Enter by leaving a comment
5. New clipart will be posted periodically

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