'Next week' appears to be a relative term it seems in my life at least at this point. I have not forgotten. Although it may have appeared I had forsaken the blog topic of 'church membership', I am back. Amidst the technical challenges as well as personal time challenges, I have returned.

So I suppose in the last blog I gave some basis both from the bible as well as our current cultural context as to why membership is important. I'd like to focus the attention to a more localized setting. And use three questions that are raised in a video that I will provide a link to at the end of the blog. The first question is "Can Southside Community Church impact the culture of Riverbend?". The second question is "Should Southside Community Church impact the culture of Riverbend?". The final question is "How should Southside Community Church impact the culture of Riverbend?".

If you watch the video on 'the church in culture' by Stanley you will rapidly be able to answer the first two questions. The third question requires much more thought, prayer and dialogue. This really is where the local church membership factor comes into play. You see membership requires a conscious choice to made. We need to ask 'Am I ready to stand in the fray with a local body and pray, work, dialogue and support the body as they seek to discover, and become what God has called them to be in their community?'. This is where the term "intentional community" moves from a descriptive phrase to a 'verb'. We by choice choose to discuss, pray, give, discover, work and support the work we believe God is leading us into in this community and in the world.

http://www.humyo.com/!#/9955259/roundthebendviews/

Questions I have for us as a faith community that ties to the video are...

1. Which affinity do you believe SCC is closest to grace or truth?

2. In what way(s) should we be preservers of culture in Riverbend?

3. In what way(s) should we be active in reflecting what God is like in this community?

Please answer any or all of these. You may have some ideas stirred up listening to the audio (mp3) Every Monday Matters.

I look forward to your thoughts and comments... wesm@southsidecommunitychurch.com

Depending on who you are, that is, what influences have shaped you up to this point, you will view the idea of church membership through the lenses of those influences. Some of you might ask the question of 'Why should I become a member of a local church body?' and others you of might answer the question with a question of 'Why wouldn't you?'. Others might ask the question 'What is the point or purpose of church membership?'. The trends of values in our postmodern culture are moving away from 'loyalties' to organizations. About 10 years ago I noted at a Shriners Christmas benefit for children of disability, probably 90% of the Shriners were over 55. Many of those were well into or over the 60 age. The group which had largerly had little difficulty in attracting membership say 20 years earlier was in a serious decline in drawing younger members.

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I use this to illustrate the point some of the challenges of membership as it relates to the local church are due to cultural trends. Some people of faith see the whole idea of going through a church membership class as unspiritual and even carnal. This is due in part to the understanding that local church, the body of Christ is made up of people who have experienced re-birth by the Holy Spirit. This fact is true. Church membership though does not necessarily conflict with the work of the Holy Spirit in the local church. The life and walk of each Christian is to be in submission to the authority of God who is supreme over all. Peter when writing to persecuted churches who were struggling with their circumstances had these words of counsel to them... 13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. (1 Pe 2:13-14) The authorities they were called to submit to were not particularly friendly to their faith and calling. So respect and submission, to systems of government for the 'Lord's sake' is a way to obey and honour God. It is part of our calling and walk and witness in following Christ.

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Peter's instruction gives the positive effect such behaviour results in he says...  15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. (1 Pe 2:14-17)

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Clearly we live in a culture and age where much has been made of the inappropriate actions of a number of persons and groups this includes churches. Presently our government has provisions as to how religious charitable and not for profit groups should conduct their business. This framework is to ensure the safety and appropriate governance of such groups. Such rules have an interest in a broader sense of protecting citizens from harmful systems. If you have attended church meetings, annual, financial or even informational generally one observes rules of order at play so that members can contribute their views and hear the views of leaders before a vote is taken by the members as decisions are made. Such practices in fact are the evidence the church is seeking to respect both government required order and the instruction offered by Peter which we understand to be the instruction of Scripture.

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Not only is there a requirement to follow the rules of societal order, we find also that God has given spiritual gifts to persons in the church that should be excersised in leading the church as it seeks to glorify God... 

6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his?b? faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. (Ro 12:5-8)

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Presently as a church we are navigating new waters. There has been change in pastoral leadership and even more recently a change in the make up of our board of elders. I have been in churches where it was hard to find leaders because the churches set parameters that require people in leadership to be members of the local church. Often this requirement is seen as unecessary by people who have been long time adherents and faithful supporters of the church in many ways over the years. However, earlier I stated that both people and organizations have made the press because they have failed to govern and lead well. Good governance practises and development is one of the ways where we can honour God and respect those who are in authority over us.

As a formal recognized legal religious charitible organization we are required to follow due processess and protocols to meet governing standards. We know the that our church is not a museum for perfect saints. No church is. Rules for discipline and order are necessary. Will there be failures? Yes! Will we be able to show that we have done our best to honour God and respect authorities who govern us? I would suggest this occurs when the follower of Christ chooses to identify with a local body of Christ and actively support the body through the stewardship of their spiritual gifts, the resourses of time, talents and finances.

The link below contains documents on membership and spiritual gifts. Why not begin to review them? A number you have asked about membership classes, generally its takes two meetings to reveiw material. Following this there is an interview with board members. Then persons are received into membership. Please email me if you are interested and possible times you would be able to meet.

http://www.humyo.com/9955259/scc/

I will have more to say on membership next week but tell me what are your thoughts?

wesm@southsidecommunitychurch.com

James Ensor's painting was used by James O'Toole for the cover of his book "Leading Change". O'Toole points out that leadership dynamics have changed. His study is around leadership as it pertains to business. However, I found the content had much to say to those involved in ministry. O'Toole states there are three forms of leadership approaches as it relates to change. 1. Change Because I Told You, "I'm the Boss" 2. Change Through Manipulation, what would be known as the "Machiavellian approach"  and finally 3. Change It Is For Your Own Good best understood as a "paternalistic approach". O'Toole's use of Ensor's painting was to pose the question, 'In the great diversity of life as depicted in the painting how does Jesus change such a world to embrace the the action "to love your neighbour"?'

Jesus is the great study for change. His life speaks volumes of how one would seek to bring about radical change. James O'Toole makes this statement about change and leadership, "Moral and effective leadership listen to their followers becasue they respect them and because they honestly believe that the welfare of followers is the end of leadership (and not that followers are the means to the leader's goals)." Hmmm, now there is a slant one does not often hear.

So some of you may be saying 'well I can agree with that but what does that have to with me, I'm not a leader, I'm in no elected role'. It strikes me that as persons who follow Christ who believe the Good News, this statement is important. The implications are huge. What does it mean 'to make disciples' and to whom is the instruction given? Is it only for a select gifted few or is the mandate for every person who professes to know and follow Jesus Christ?

I would suggest the mandate involves all who have chosen to follow Christ. When we review the present crisis of the Christian church I would suggest part of our challenges stem from operating on the assumption that the world is best changed by the employment of the gifts of the 'gifted few'. Really such an approach flies in the face of how Christ set about bringing change. He chose a few. He poured his life into a few. Few of them were of the academic elite.

So how does another person begin to either to discover or rethink the value or the possiblilities of 'loving God' and 'love your neighbour?' I would suggest this happens when the common ordinary follower of Christ takes up their responsibility and loves that person as their neighbour. In such an approach the person experiences begins to experience the love of Christ. The ordinary Christian then becomes the leader who leads another into a deeper understanding and experience of what it means to be loved by God through Jesus Christ. So where is Jesus in your parade of life? Does the diverse crowd you come in contact with know His love and presence through you? When did one of them experience Christ listening to them and expressing His love and care through you? 

Let me know what you think.

wesm@southsidecommunitychurch.com

In a culture that in many ways similar to that depicted in James Ensors, painting its important to know what God has called us to do. Jesus makes the statement "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." If we would follow recent the results of recent assessments of the church in general the broader culture, we find there is a majority who believe in God,  However, the evidence is they are not approaching the community of faith as the means to receive  a greater understanding of God. Even today as I was looking to pick up a book from Chapters, the customer service person who helped me locate the book The Goodbye Generation, knew the church in general is struggling.

My experience with churches when they have plateaued, they tend to grasp at straws such as a new program or an attraction that will draw people. For others they would complain that we have moved too far from our traditon. Every church has a tradition of the 'good old days'. We try to develop the model again and stick hard to it with greater zeal. Some churches and denominations are rethinking what church should be how it ought to effect the culture that surrounds the faith community. I suppose for us as a local community we need to ask both corporate questions and person questions. How should Southside Community Church affect Riverbend? How should we affect Calgary, Alberta, Canada and the world? Maybe for some of us our concern is only for ourselves and our families. Maybe the fruit Jesus was speaking of was only our families.

If our view of the fruit of which Jesus speaks is greater than merely our own concerns. We must determine 'how great do we believe our impact ought to be?', as it pertains to bearing fruit. Once we have come to sense of what that may look like we need to ask 'am I doing my part?' What is my load, my responsibility? What is the evidence that I am sharing the load within the body? Am I using the gifts that God has given me. Do I know what my spiritual gifts are? These questions when answered will likely lead each of us to action points.

Really as a community of faith we need to ask do we need to change? Other communities are changin do we need to change?

Below are some links to illustrate how communities of faith are seeking to address their times and culture and glorify God. Take the opportunity to view them and think about what they are doing or hoping to do. Do you agree with their approach? If yes why? If not then why not?

http://www.london.anglican.org/London-Challenge-Film

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l90eiNB7nMw

Let me know what you think.      wesm@southsidecommunitychurch.com

Back in May of last year as we had the opportunity to meet Southside Community. I used the above title for my message. You might recall I even included a postcard sized painting which is known as Christ's Entry Into Brussels. This was the first painting of Christ where he is not the dominant central figure. You must look for him much like you would look for Waldo in a where's Waldo book.

If you pursue the answer of 'where is Christ?', the New Testament provides the answer that his presence is made know by the work of the Holy Spirit. Paul says to the church a Colossae 'Christ in you the hope of glory'. Jesus declared to his disciples just before his crucifixion that they would know his presence by the work of the Counselor. Yet today it is not uncommon for the Christian to wonder 'where is Jesus?', in my present circumstances, or the circumstances of a close friend, or even a world event. Last week I asked 'where do we go from here?' and stated that our first priority is to give time to God.

It seems we have made 'accepting Christ' into our live as a once and for all event and nothing more needs to be done. Yet confessing our sin and experiencing forgiveness and growing in Christ is really a lifetime journey. Giving time to God enables us to better know the presence of Christ in the midst the daily demands of our responsibilities. It helps us to have greater sensibilities of his presence and witness in our life during times of unforeseen circumstances. If one follows the early church as they followed Christ, when hardship confronted them, they corporately called upon God for the power and working of the Holy Spirit, so that they might honour God in the circumstance.

The needs of our community of faith are no different. We personally and corporately need to know and be confident in Christ's presence if we are to adequately make him known in and through our lives. So, 'Do we regularly share with one another in our groups and relationships what Christ has been doing in our walk?'. It is this mutual witness and sharing that encourages us. This activity gives us confidence of the invisible presence of the risen Christ  present and at work in us.

 Below is a link to an mp3 of AW Tozer's book 'The Pursuit of God'. The book is read by a reader and the audible reading is without copyright. There are in fact two files that make up the complete reading of the book. Some of you may wish to use the files to help you to grow in this spiritual relationship that has been made possible through Christ.

http://www.humyo.com/!#/9955259/roundthebendviews/

What are your thoughts?

wesm@southsidecommunitychurch.com

Just this afternoon I had a short conversation with a young adult who had picked up and read a bit of David Kinnaman's book "UN Christian". Clearly their interest was aroused. What struck me most was first their interest and second the absence of disagreement at least with the pages they had read. Although Kinnaman's book is a US study, the challenge for the Canadian church is not much different. A Canadian book tells a similar story of challenge for the churches of Canada. Although David Sawlers book "The Goodbye Generation" is different in content and style it reflects the fact that churches are losing young adults at significant rates.

It is important to understand our context has changed and we can no longer pretend that its 'ministry as usual'. This is not the first time the church has had to face significant circumstances that required change. Bob Dylan's words from his song 'The Times They Are A-Changin' may be appropriate to our time as we seek to respond to our challenges.

Come gather round people

Wherever you roam

And admit that the waters

Around you have grown

And accept that soon

You'll be drenched to the bone

If your time to you

Is worth saving

Then you better start swimmin

Or you'll sink like a stone

For the times they are a changin

Studies show that local churches are struggling and closing at a signficant rate. There is a need to rethink our ministries. It is important not to see our circumstances in merely human terms. I expect much of our present circumstances have their source in the church's tendency to develop strategies, programs and ministry without adequate dependance on the leading of the Holy Spirit. The church is a spiritual organism. It cannot be grown and developed on human terms. So if I were to make first recommendation for our community it would be let's get back to the basics. Personally and corporately we need to give time to God. I put the personal responsibility first because each of us have been given new life through the Spirit of God. If we do not grow personally in knowing the work of the Holy Spirit, we will likely be led by some human method. I am new to Southside. I wonder, 'how much do we prepare for and share in the small groups in which we partcipate?'. We need to take the advice James gave, 'if anyone lacks wisdom let him ask of God'.

Let me know your thoughts...

wesm@southsidecommunitychurch.com

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Pastor Wes,

   Right on!  Now to get started….