Monday's Mini Message 3-30-09

Spiritual Life is a journey. It is about taking what we learned about our roots, and moving forward into new definitions as our life is shaped throughout this journey.

As a community we are going backwards so that we can move FORWARD. We have to know where we have been, so that we know where we are going. It is our turn! It is our turn to enter into this stream of redemptive HIStory. It is our turn to enter into the story and push it FORWARD.

Moses is told by God that there are some people in bondage, and I want you to go get them out. Now ever since then, for thousands of year; across the ages, across continents, across ethnic groups, across people groups, across national boundaries; God has been setting people free. Bringing them from dark into light, from bondage to freedom, from slavery into liberation. And we still live in a day and age where thousands of people are still in some form of bondage. And everyday people just like you and I set out to set them free. It is our part in redemptive HIStory. It is the same story for thousands of years, it is just our turn. It is the bible world view that every act of generosity, and kindness, and love is a part of sacred redemptive HIStory. We are wired to be a part of this HIStory. We were not made to just accumulate and consume. No. We were made to join God and tap into the stream and reclaim God’s vision for the world. That’s why we feel a certain way when we see certain people, or read certain books, or watch certain movies, or hear certain songs, because we were design to absorb the story and move it FORWARD!

So being a Christian isn’t random floatie spiritual ideas. Being a Christian is saying, God here: I’m a real person, in a real place, at a real time, could you please use me. And when you do that you are joining Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Moses, David, Mary, Jesus, Peter, Paul, Martin Luther, Martin Luther King Jr, Barack Obama, and Me. You are joining a HIStoric line of people who said God, will you please use me to serve your world.

We are exploring what it means to live out the teachings of Jesus and how to articulate them in fresh and new ways. That means we may fail, because we are going to try things may not work, but it’s ok because we aren’t the first, just new. So if church for you is a place that you want to be routine, and predictable, and stable, this is not the place for you. Because deep in our DNA is exploring and trying new things that express God in different ways, but all to move the story FORWARD. Because it is not about us. It is not about us being comfortable. It is not about us having all our needs met in a perfect little Christian bubble. It is not about us going to a little Christian corner, it is about making a difference in the world. It not about our own little feelings and our own language; it’s about God reclaiming the world and asking us to do our part.

Because we see faith as a journey change is assumed. Innovation is expected and rebirth is welcomed. Welcome to the Ancient-Future Faith!

CHURCH!