Challenging words from Alan Roxburgh:
If we want to discern the emergent work of God, we’ve got to ask, Where are the most God-forsaken places today? Let me suggest to you, one of the most God-forsaken place for us, is the local congregation. Why? They don’t get it. They don’t understand any of this stuff. They are so steeped in a commercialized Gospel. They are so busy trying to make life work and trying to keep up and catch up, that they don’t get it. Here’s what I want to say to you. That is exactly the place where God’s future is going to emerge. Many of us who buy the emergence narrative want to give up on these places. That’s why with so many young leaders today, church planting is the thing. You know why church planting is really the thing? Because they don’t want to bother with that stuff. Because you can’t change it.
The Spirit of God is amongst the people of God. Which means God’s future is amongst God’s people. And I mean that literally, because here’s the next thing: The answer to the question: What is the emerging form of the church today in North America in this complex culture that we live in? – I want to say to you the answer is right there in the suburbs, inner cities and in all those dumb, stupid congregations that don’t get it.
That’s where it is. In the most God-forsaken places in our culture today. That’s where God’s future is present.
That is a radically alternative narrative because God’s future is not found in the new and the next. God’s future is not found in the great high priests of the church who say, “This is how you do it.” God’s future is found in the ordinary men and women who don’t know how to do it.
God’s future is not found in leaders who have the plan and the strategy, the top-down, “aren’t you lucky you’ve got me, I’ve got my M.Div., D.Min., I’ve got a wonderful plan for your life, let’s go.” It’s not where God’s future is found. God’s future is found in the very opposite of that.
God’s future is found in the temporality, materiality, locality, specificity, of particular people in particular places. In other words, there is no big answer out there that big people bring, even at these conferences. There is a confused people, and in the midst of those confused people, is God’s Spirit and God’s future, waiting to emerge.
Therefore, being a leader is not having an answer. Being a leader is being one who is shaped and formed in practices of cultivating environments that call forth that people and that future. And the way in which that future gets cultivated and formed, is by re-entering the memory of the story. But, the gift of our moments is that we have a chance of re-entering that story from below, and outside, and no longer from dominion and power and control.
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
Wade,
I might be wrong (sorry this has nothing to do with your post), but I seem to remember a post where you said you loved to eat at the Inn at Jarrett Farms. If I’m wrong just delete this, but today at the 1170 KFAQ web site they have a link to Jarrett farms and 50 cent on the dollar gift cards
Great post. I agree with probably 90% of it. The only part I would take issue with, is God being found in the “churches that don’t get it.” I think that some of those God forsaken churches are God forsaken for a reason. They have forsaken God for their traditions. Because they have forsaken God, I don’t think you will find God there. I think God will be found where there is an openess to him.
John,
I think that God can be found anywhere.
Ali
(…great post wade)
Ali,
I see what you are saying. But according to the author’s logic, it would make sense to choose or stay in a Church that is “so steeped in a commercialized Gospel” because “hey, God’s probably going to be there.”
I would rather choose a church that is intentional in building the kingdom of God, not building a demonination. But as you said, God does have the perogative to go anywhere he desires.
Yes, It is always nice to be in community with people who’s goal is to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth. I agree with you. I dislike denominations. They are a testimony to the disharmony of our predecessors.