Photo credit: James Marvin Phelps (Creative Commons)
When existing Christians get involved in simple/organic church life they have to go through a process that our friend Wolfgang Simson calls "Death Valley."
It's as though someone on the mountain top of legacy church can see the mountain top of simple/organic church in the distance, and they assume that they can go straight from one mountain top to the other. What they don't realize is that is a valley between the two–Death Valley. In order to experience what simple church represents, people who have been Christians for any length of time have to die to some of the very good things that legacy church represents:
- Professionally led worship–in simple church you are lucky to have an out-of-tune guitar.
- Well prepared talks–there's no pastor who can spend hours preparing a stimulating sermon. Everyone takes part in an interactive discussion.
- Children and teens ministry–you can't just drop your kids off at Sunday School to have an hour free from distractions.
- Someone else to make all the decisions–in simple/organic church, everyone is involved.
Dying to these things is not quick. It's a process… a painful process.
Some people get part way through the process and find it too hard. They feel guilty on Sunday mornings when they don't have to get up for church. They miss the exuberant worship and praise.
They go back to their legacy church.
But for those who press through to simple/organic, it is worth it for
- The sense of community–people are very involved in each other's lives
- Everyone can participate–not just a few in leadership.
- The Holy Spirit is in charge of the times together (unless you are doing "Honey, I shrunk the church!"
- Freedom from religious expectations and traditions
- It's easier to involve not-yet-believers
Where are you on this journey?
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