It was great to spend some time listening and conversing with Hirsch and Lance Ford on Friday. It was interesting to hear questions and see others all over the spectrum on their faith journies.
A couple of comments stood out to me.
The first was a comment I think Mark Willis made- it was in the context of worship and when multiple micro groups come together and different people lead the "worship aspect" Mark said something to the effect "we probably won't enjoy all the different expressions of worship." That was so refreshing and important to hear. In the context of diversity how do we have multiple expressions of people using their gifts to honor God in the form of worship? How easy is it for us to stay in our homogenus groups with all those that look, sound, and worship God like us?
I think it was Hirsch that said it " we want to have churches of the poor not churches for the poor." How do we help facilitate not administer, run, or manage other expressions of what God is doing in certain areas? The bottom line is it so easy to make everything like we like it or what we are comfortable with or what makes us smile.
$88 Billion dollars (something like that number) have been spent on church buildings in the last 10-15 years in America and what have been the results? What a stagering thought.
Someone asked the question where does change start, how can I get "my church" to begin living missionally and making disciples? There were two great answers one was from guys sitting at our table. Their answer was you have to change, and start modeling what you want others to do. It is so easy to be the one on the sideline yelling,coaching, and instructing others what to do but without having any "skin in the game." But as I thought of this and Hirsch talked about the incarnation of Jesus, this isn't the model Jesus showed us. By God sending Jesus in human form he sent the example not of the coach, consultant, book writer but active participant. It is easy to wish for a different model but how are we modeling to others the great commission?
The second answer Hirsch gave was telling a new story. What is the new story of normality? What is normality in our churches now? Is it being a disciple who intentionally disciples others and purposefully engages those that don't know Jesus or is it something different? If it is something different how do we help tell the stories so others will begin seeing that this is what Jesus called us to.
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