An Organic Ethos

As I intrepidly trek on this new journey we are calling SENTralized one particular concern I have is to not be construed as a mad, angry cynic regarding the church. Nothing could be further from my heart or mind. I am committed to the premise that the best critique of the lesser is the better. I do not consider myself enlightened, rather I feel that I am locking onto the dim glimmer that glows from “yonder hill”. And, I have joined with some great men and women who are seeking the same. Some of these folk have found themselves in settings outside the norm and others (I happily say) are pastors and leaders of churches that meet on Sunday mornings, in buildings. We are learning together, and we are missioning together! One key ethos that lies at the core of the great Christian movements of the past and that is presently thriving in places like China has to do with unleashing the power of the latent networks within the individual members themselves. I believe this is an extremely important key if we hope to witness and participate in spontaneous missional expression. Think for a moment… who do you personally know that could help someone who has a particular need right now? For example, lets say that you become aware of a single mom who is struggling. The last thing she can afford is dental insurance or care for her two children. Her little boy is 9 and her daughter is 13. Do you have a dentist? You probably do or you may have a cousin who is one. What if you went on her behalf and asked the Doctor if he would help out? How many other services or situations could be helped if we just tapped into the pool of resources that are represented by the relational networks of the people in our churches? What could happen in our communities if the organic ethos of network resources was unleashed from the institutional bindings that seek to gather people and extract them from the people and places in our communities that are so full of darkness and hopelessness. In Unfreezing Moves, Bill Easum says,

“Most theories about congregational life are flawed from the start because they are based on an institutional and mechanical worldview… Such a view is not biblical. Instead, it is fatalistic and self-serving because the goal is to fix and preserve the institution for as long a life as possible. Such a worldview allows one to focus on mere organizational survival rather than following Jesus onto the mission field for the purpose of fulfilling the great commission. However, the Old and New Testaments are based on an organic worldview. They clearly show a bias for “salvation history” rather than institutional viability…the key to unfreezing the church to be with Jesus on the mission field is to view our congregations and denominations as the roots and shoots of an ‘organic movement’ that goes far beyond organizational survival.”

If we have any hopes of truly penetrating the crevasses of our communities we must reclaim the organic ethos of relational networks that are already present in the lives of our members. Rather than bottling them up into the artificial environment of church world, whereby we effectively extract them from real life and potentially redemptive impact, leaders must get over the addiction for applause and the satisfaction that comes from crafting sermons that make far lesser impact than living a salty life in a tasteless world.

I love what my buddy Alan Hirsch says,
“The task of missional leadership is to bring the various elements in the system into meaningful interrelationship. (Church members are) increasingly being drawn away from the natural rhythms of life…increasingly being programmed out of life and therefore less engaged in active relationships with those outside of the faith community. A living systems approach seeks to structure the common life of an organization around the rhythms and structures that mirror life itself.”

As leaders, we must remove the shackles and break down the barriers that have hindered the distribution of gifts, talents, and resources that lie dormant within the people of God by creating environments of release and “provoke to love and good works”—Hebrews 10:24-25.

Comments

[Jerry]

great thoughts lance

[aaron snow]

I just got back from Utah. I spent four days living in the home of a mormon family. I was blown away by how the people of the mormon faith have so successfully and effectively engaged the followers of their faith in the community/world. From the way they place chapels in the heart of neighborhoods to how they view thier jobs as a mission field the mormons seem to be doing something right. Here is a faith that has grown tremendously in the past century. They seem to have figured out how NOT to separated their faith from their life! Imagine that! I wonder if we might could learn something from them. Please don't hear me supporting the mormon faith. I simply feel that many of us, as Christians, have separated our ministry/faith lives from our work/school/family/leisure lives! I was challenged this past week by the lifestyle i witnessed in the house i stayed. I wondered what it would look like if every Christian took their faith as seriously as a follower of the mormon faith. Lance, what you are describing in terms of missional movements and utilizing the resources all around us to meet the needs of those in the community is essential. If a missional movement is going to take place we must see "ordinary radicals" (thank you Shane Claiborne) start living out the Gospel and taking the teachings of Jesus seriously. It's happening.

[Matt Grube]

Great Blog Lance. Being a partner in this its good to be apart of something different yet not be "anti-church." Unity is the key.

Matt

[RC of strangeculture]

I found your terms relational network interesting.

I wonder if the opportunities to expand relational networks are shrinking and so if we're an accountant all we know is accountants.

Even as families get smaller and more spread out those local relationships get smaller as well.

No excuses here, I understand what you're saying...but if you want to propose an organic ethos that how do you create organic atmospheres that are not manufactured through things like "church."