a beautiful mess

whilst sitting at a local coffeeshop, i took to writing down some thoughts i have been entertaining for about six weeks, maybe seven. this isn’t really so much about the definition of “church” or “local church” or “ecclesia” etc. as much as it is about worship: moreover, worshiping in spirit and in truth.

alas, my thoughts from the napkins transferred to the moleskine,

the church, by definition, is a people; not a person – and certainly not a structure.

sure, there is a time and a place for “the individual” and segregated prayers of “yours” and “mine.” but perhaps sunday morning (or whenever your local church decides to corporately gather) is not the place to proclaim the cause of “you” or “me.”

perhaps, when we come together we ought to be together. our songs should join our hearts and declare that which is and that which we hope will be.

[selah]

we are always moving from the language, and indeed the reality, of i am to we are because I AM.

and yes, i do need yeshua – but never more than we need him together. yes, he did die for me and you, but his purpose was to make one new humanity, blessed be his name!

[selah]

so. practically speaking – and trying to put my proverbial money where my mouth is (after all, being highly unemployed, proverbial money is almost all we have these days, haha! rimshot, please) – a couple ways this meditation is working itself out in my life is through a renewed commitment to corporate worship.

what does that mean? for starters, we are being intentional about not calling the place we wosrhip, “church” around our children: we go to a building on sunday mornings to worship with the church. this is the language i want owen and olivia to be hearing. my hope is that in years to come, we won’t have to have the “church is not a building but a people” conversation.

additionally, in a lifelong effort of trying to be present with YHWH in the midst of a gathering service, i am convinced that part of what this looks like is singing songs and praying prayers toward the community: replacing the singulars with plurals.

“a thousand times i’ve failed, still your mercy remains / and should i stumble again, i’m caught in your grace” – hillsong

we all know these lyrics – and they are SO powerful, beautiful, and true; this is not a question of truth, but of accuracy: in my car, these lyrics are accurate, but as i am standing in the midst of a thousand other souls literally joined together as the kingdom of heaven, they somehow don’t fit quite as well as they could…

“a thousand times we’ve failed, still your mercy remains / and should we stumble again, we’re caught in your grace”

automatically, this slight change, i believe, causes us to remember both the sins and redemption of our entire community! it brings to mind the immediacy of the situations around us: it reminds us that we are not alone – even in our failings, even in our rising with grace – we are a body together, not separate.

and the lyric examples go on and on. my point through all of this is that we are to be intentional (mindful, perhaps) worshipers who worship in spirit and in truth. the beautifully ironic thing is that this may look different for you, but no matter how it looks, it will affect those around you.

at any rate, take these thoughts and discern what you will and apply what you feel GOD says you should: that we all may become a clearer picture of the christ and a more tangible body of the risen king of kings of kings.

–

despite my unbelief, i believe that who i am is a son of the only living god & king, YHWH [blessed be his name]. a son of the resurrection. a son of the wind which bends all things.

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