We're looking at getting together in a few weeks with some others to do some creative thinking and planning about actually launching Haven.
I remember some time ago making a batch of Chocolate Chip cookies. I threw together the flour, butter, and huge handful of chocolate chips, all the other ingredients, a pinch of salt -- and an extra large cup of sugar (Well, I thought it was sugar!) -- And the cookies were totally gross -- Because in my haste -- I'd put in just a pinch of sugar and a generous extra large cup full of salt. Yup! Nope! You need the right ingredients if you want a delicious cookie!
So, if you were looking for a delicious, crunchy, chocolatey, faith community (to push the metaphor beyond endurance), what ingredients would you want mixed in?
What, for you, are the ingredients for a satisfying church community?
The only liturgical instruction Jesus gave was for his followers to keep on meeting around a table, and when they munched on the bread and drank their wine, they were to recognise their shared unity as Followers of the Way. They praised and prayed, encouraged and used their gifting to bless each other around their table. I do like the idea of a shared meal and slow conversation as the basis for worshipping community.
I also like the idea of dialogue. Most of Jesus 'sermons' such as we have them, were quite short and were followed with a fair bit of question-and-answer and robust discussion, often leading on to some practical 'hands-on' stuff, like feeding or healing.
I also find it interesting that when James writes (early on in the piece) to a bunch of new Christians, who didn't yet have a New Testament to instruct them, on how they should 'do' church, one of the things he says is this:
"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." (James 1:27 NLT)
The word for "religion" here is "thrēskeia." It doesn't mean discipleship or spiritual maturity or anything like that. It means “'religious conduct or practice." It refers to formal worship services -- the external stuff, like ceremonies, offerings and liturgies.
In other words it's as if James has been asked: "So, how do we get our worship services just right? What icons, pews, pulpits, songs, run-sheets, candles, smoke-machines and pipe-organs should we throw into the mix to make for genuine God-impressing religious practice?"
And, interestingly, James subverts the meaning of the word religion!
To me that sounds like a pretty cool recipe for worship!
Well, what other ingredients would you add to the mix? Send them to me via email HERE