You might be wondering what happened as the result of my last blog. We had a conversation. We turned up at the attic cafe, drank some absolutely beautiful coffee, a bit of pork pie- and five people sat round and talked about the Church. What they wanted it to be, how they were frustrated, what they thought was great. It didn't really have a structure, it wasn't really much of an event, and compared to other things I've organised you might say it was pretty poorly attended. But I came away feeling strangely uplifted, encouraged. I believed that actually it made a difference.
I believe that faith makes a difference. I believe that Church is a tribe that we need as we move forward as a society. That's my aim. I'm constantly looking for my next step. I feel like I'm getting somewhere slowly. I reckon you should come with me. I'm going as far as these crooked legs take me.
I've just finished reading a book by Seth Godin, a marketing guru from the States, called 'Tribes'. It's all about the future of culture, of business, of organisations. He argues that due to various factors; including social media, the internet etc.. we are entering into an age of 'tribe'. An age of small groups of people passionately following a cause, a leader, an idea- because they want to, because they believe in it. They didn't start because anyone gave them permission or asked them to be there; but because someone invited them. Someone did something.
That's how I see the future of the Church. A movement; a group of people who exist because they want to not because they ought to. A group of people who follow, discuss, explore, challenge. There's never an end of 'Church'; people don't leave when it's finished- but when they want to. It isn't contained into 4 meetings a week,10 meetings a week- in fact, it's not really about meetings at all. It leaks into every aspect of the lives of those involved. It isn't contained into a building or a group or a room. People are honest about who they are and where they're at. It does not exclude or alienate. People are not afraid to doubt and question.
I see the Church as a constant, flowing, moving community of people who love each other- who meet each others needs and those around them. Ultimately Church is a people who choose to discover what the Jesus who existed 2000 years ago has to offer now; how what he said, who he was, what he stood for, impacts today. It shouldn't be afraid of being wrong, of being different, of being something that looks weird. It exists for its purpose and for its people and not for tradition or preconceptions. It might look different from one month to another. It is impossible to define and describe. That's what I long for, that's what I strive for. That's why I get out of bed in the morning.
I believe that faith makes a difference. I believe that Church is a tribe that we need as we move forward as a society. That's my aim. I'm constantly looking for my next step. I feel like I'm getting somewhere slowly. I reckon you should come with me. I'm going as far as these crooked legs take me.
