Community, Mission, and Devotion
Len Hjalmarson makes the following statements:
Community without mission is a social club.
Mission without community is a social agency or focus group.
Mission and community without devotion is western churchy technocracy (Pelagianism?)
Devotion alone is a mystic or a monastery.
Each of these statements is a subject in and of itself. Looking at them as a whole can be overwhelming. But in considering them together, something occurred to me that I'll throw out as a conversation starter.
From what I've observed and experienced, we can get one of the above in place - community, mission, or devotion. Sometimes we're able to get two of them in place. But seldom, if ever, have I seen all three of them functioning in a healthy relationship in any given group on an on-going basis.
I'm wondering if it is impossible for a group to function in community, mission, and devotion without short-changing at least one of them.
My sense is that only the Holy Spirit can accomplish this. (That which is impossible with man is possible with God.)
So what do we do to remedy this? Is it doable? Or maybe you're involved with a group where it's already happening. If so, enlighten us.
Community without mission is a social club.
Mission without community is a social agency or focus group.
Mission and community without devotion is western churchy technocracy (Pelagianism?)
Devotion alone is a mystic or a monastery.
Each of these statements is a subject in and of itself. Looking at them as a whole can be overwhelming. But in considering them together, something occurred to me that I'll throw out as a conversation starter.
From what I've observed and experienced, we can get one of the above in place - community, mission, or devotion. Sometimes we're able to get two of them in place. But seldom, if ever, have I seen all three of them functioning in a healthy relationship in any given group on an on-going basis.
I'm wondering if it is impossible for a group to function in community, mission, and devotion without short-changing at least one of them.
My sense is that only the Holy Spirit can accomplish this. (That which is impossible with man is possible with God.)
So what do we do to remedy this? Is it doable? Or maybe you're involved with a group where it's already happening. If so, enlighten us.
Perhaps a difficulty in thinking through a holistic solution to the above elements (assuming they are accurate) lies within moving from our individualistic mentality of "my perspective"---into, "I need to be a part with others that can supply what I can't". This is a different "kind" of community where our "common-unity" is not determined by our "sameness", but by His mission---which is far greater than any of us alone can accomplish.
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Ron,
You living in my world (culture) here on the Outer Banks with real commercial sea captains as friends, going to the jail, and the altheimers ward might be as hard for you as me going and trying what you and EMC dd in Africa. Don't forget to break your spine before coming.
We are swiftly mortifying these earthen vessels in circumstances we didn't design or figure on. Does that make sense?
I think you would bury me in Africa in less than a month.
My point is that I have adapted here. It's greater than I imagined but more crushing than I imagined.
Make sense?
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At the moment, with all that is on our plates and the cross we carry designed for our death to the self life, one must choose our words carefully.
Ron sent material last night that added to this. Listening to Bob Mumford this morning drove the point of Ron's and Carman's words and mentality even deeper.
I must admit I only understand the incomprehensible love of Christ in the smallest part (mustard seed) and His formation of the character of the bride getting ready for the Bridegroom.
At my age, Bride and Bridegroom have taken on a deeper meaning and in our 31 year long marriage; I must work with the character of my wife and she with mine for harmony to exist. His love and harmony.
Death of this body is approaching fast. The times we live in are more intense because communication of world events is instant.
To bring it all together brothers and sisters is way beyond any single one of us or any collection of Christians.
The woes Jesus spoke of are here. They always were. But where sin abounds, grace is right there to be utilized with a simple change of heart. (Sin can be missing the will of God for an example).
We can't be flippant about Christ anymore. He never was flippant and the biblical accounts of His people were not flippant. In other words, this is real.
My brother Charles is in the hospital an hour away from here. When he is gone, I will suffer a great loss. Tapes won't be a good enough substitute.
Others of you will be asleep in Christ for 2 decades before me if my chronology of living and dying is on time as well as yours.
Carmon, Ron, look at your days and see how many of them are taken from you by the Lord. You awoke to accomplish "this" but by days end you accomplished what the Lord planned.
Even though I don't hold the office of prophet, I can see far enough and clear enough that the Lord is stopping all Christian "acting" in our beings. That’s tough to do in a room full of saints who hate the acting yet try to act properly.
He is shoring up our foundations and making sure we know the plan to get right back on our feet with Him when we sin.
Money has only one part to play in the life of the Christian. Stay out of debt and give away the rest.
Time can be compared to money in the same way.
Carman, you ask big questions that go down to the Marianas Trench at times in fathoms. "Well said" doesn't cut it for me when someone replies. It's too deep to be said. It must be lived. I know what they mean though when well said is all you can say when overwhelmed with a proper response.
Other saints will take our work and build on it in the Kingdom. We might be some of the brethren with machetes helping to clear the way for their progress.
The culture of this world at present is in our faces but there is nothing new under the sun. Nothing except for the birth of Jesus Christ as fully God and fully man who never comitted one sin.
Love y'all,
Mik
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