Emergent Movement, Churches, Relationships

A post by Justin was very good and has very good comments. Here is my comment, which wanders a bit, and is long, so I did not want to burden his post.

***

I am really following this post and comments closely. This is one of those posts that appears to strike very close to the heart of what is Christian community.

To me, it brings back something an Elder at my church said several years ago, that he wanted our church to go from "the church with the blue doors" to "a friendly, welcoming church".

Yes, he never mentions God, but I took it like he had. My immediate thought was: How could we possibly move this body close to Christ... where the entire congregation feels as if it is a part of a church community, and the wider community of all God's creation?

I don't know how to get there, but it seems that every church that is nearer to this than we are is run by a central group of believers that get things going, a dynamic lay ministry.

The emergent movement seems to say (and I could be wrong) that those in the emergent "church" don't want to deal with those who come to church as hobby, or empty habit, and refuse to change.

(Sorry if the previous paragraph flames anyone).

I agree with doc that it is all about relationships. This is central.

I personally am better on Sunday's and Tuesday's, because on those days I have met regularly with other Christians that I have more than a casual relationship with, who bring me closer to the Creator. Being with them reminds me of who I am supposed to be.

I know of several highly-effective secular volunteer groups that approach this for me. They do not meet as like-minded Christians, but nevertheless, they make time to develop the interpersonal relationships that make the group effective. And there is always one or more gifted, "lay" leaders who are continuously encouraging and reminding the group of the standards and reasons the group exists, why the individuals belong to it.

Can't an established church be a spawning pool for small emergent groups, that meet daily, forming the close community each believer is drawn to, but also tying individuals from different groups together? Can an established church allow these groups as much freedom as possible, much as Jesus dealt with the different sinners in his ministry?

I think this gets back to the leadership in the established church. Can they support emergent groups and the formation of relationships in a useful way.

It is all about building relationships, and lately in my personal path, it is about relationships with people I don't naturally get along with. God is working and I am not tickled by what he appears to have planned for me. Hopefully I am wrong in discerning his call.