Over the Christmas holidays I read TOTAL CHURCH by Tim Chester & Steve Timmis.
I found it an easy and enjoyable read - although there were many bits throughout that I got frustrated by, actually I don't think it's the book that frustrates me but that the book had to be written and that Christian leaders might see this as new information.
I found it an easy and enjoyable read - although there were many bits throughout that I got frustrated by, actually I don't think it's the book that frustrates me but that the book had to be written and that Christian leaders might see this as new information.
Sorry if that is harsh, but some concepts and ideas presented were so obvious that I was surprised by how many 'greats' think this is a radical, insightful, and punchy book! (Having said that maybe it is a great book for some church contexts and countering big problems of churches in the areas of the authors churches.)
This book shares aspirations and theory of The Crowded House church plants... the authors are keen to make it known that this isn't necessarily a 'how to' do church right and have all the practices in the book as an off-the-peg model, but instead a biography of the life of their church.
In the beginning chapters and introduction the reader is introduced to the two principles: Gospel Centred and Community Centred > which pretty much speak for themselves. Together these principles act as a coathanger, from which all other chapters hang.
Chapters including topics: Evangelism, Social Involvement, Church Planting, World Mission, Discipleship & training, Pastoral Care, Spirituality, Theology, Apologetics, Chn & Yng People & Success.
Especially having just completed MTS I found the Discipleship & Training chapter a good read... but throughout it thought much of what was written was common sense to one who reads the word and wants to live it out!
eg. TEACHING ALONG THE ROAD... that we cannot just bash people from the pulpit and not get down into sharing in the messiness of life with each other:
"truth cannot be taught effectively outside of close relationships... the truth of the gospel becomes compelling as we see it transforming lives in the rub of daily, messy
relationships."
This is a principle that has been modeled to us by the apostle Paul - not only does he delight to share the gospel with the Thessalonian but also his life as well! (1Thess 2:8) And it applies to discipling the Christian and witnessing to the non-Christian. People are curious to the hints and clues you might have to get through life, and if they see you Praise Jesus in the way you respond & wrestle with the trials and joys that life throws you, it speaks sooooo powerfully!
And as we share our weaknesses, struggles and joys we become vulnerable to the other person, which in my experience deepens friendships, yields great opportunities to build trust and intimacy, within which the big things of life like the gospel and godliness can be discussed sincerely and shamelessly.
As I write this I reflect on the past 2 years and the comments that I received from people who said they felt it to be privilege to know my fears and anxieties and struggles... Is it because Christian leaders are often seen by parishioners as super busy, task driven, super godly and all we do to counter this is to speak about how we aren't really perfect and that we too are sinners but not actually stop to share real examples of how we strive for godliness in dependence on God? Or do we not intentionally share our lives, not let people in, so people can't even see real examples because we keep our barriers up to maintain our dignity and pride?
Let's share our lives in intentional ways so that people can see us wanting to have Jesus Lord over all areas of our lives! Who doesn't want real and genuine friendships where you talk about the things that matter? I know I do... so I love that the chapter encourages us to share our lives with gospel intentionality. Bring it on!
Whatever friend, think how you can encourage them to take a step forward in cherishing Christ. This applies to your non-Christian friends and Christians friends AND STRANGERS alike.
Which leads me to my favourite quote from the book I am currently reading: God's Passion for His Glory - Living the vision of Jonathan Edwards, by John Piper
"A Christian spirit... disposes a person to be public-spirited.
A man of a right spirit is not of a narrow private spirit;
but is greatly concerned for the good of public community to which he belongs
and particularly of the town where he dwells -Jonathan Edwards "
A man of a right spirit is not of a narrow private spirit;
but is greatly concerned for the good of public community to which he belongs
and particularly of the town where he dwells -Jonathan Edwards "
Later in the chapter on 'Spirituality' of Total Church, I questioned the authors emphasis on community and its importance as I it almost becomes a crutch with very little attention given to the individual nature of salvation and responsibility of training the self in godliness - I can't rely on community to grow my relationship with God, but see God's mercy in giving us community to share each others burdens and spur us on - allowing one other, along with the Holy Spirit, a license to dig into our lives and challenge our hearts.
4 comments:
HI Hayley. Thanks for your thoughts and comments on Total Church. They are very helpful. I'm sorry that you found so much of the book 'obvious', but may I suggest that makes you pretty unusual in the confessional evangelical world?! As for the Spirituality chapter, I'm sorry too if we didn't make ourselves as clear as we might have done. We do not see community as a crutch, nor do we intend to minimize personal discipleship. Clearly we are redressing a balance, and so have stated things as clearly as we feel necessary. However, community is the primary context for our personal discipleship and I cannot understand what it means for me to follow Jesus outside of that context. I am an individual-in-community because that is how God made me, and so is essential to who and what I am as someone made in God's image. If providence requires me to live outside that context (eg. prison, persecution) that is an extraordinary circumstance for which the Holy Spirit will equip me. Enjoy grace Haley. Steve
Hi Hayley
Thanks for the revew of Total Church. I was very interested to hear what you thought.
I mustn't see things as obviously as you.
Whilst gospel centred and mission orientated would hopefully be obvious to a well fed Sydney anglican, what is less obvious is what it means 'in community' - the major thrust of the book.
You have rightly emphasised what it means to have a personal saving relationship with Jesus, but your understanding of the community of God's people as a crutch fails to grasp the reality that we are saved into community. It is not a crutch bur rather an integral part of salvation. To be anything other is like being the hand who says to the foot - your just a crutch, I don't need you.
Just as God is persons in community - so we as his image bearers are redeemded and restored as persons in community. Your individualistic sentiment reflects more of enlightment thinking than the apostle Paul's 'one anotherness in community'.
You are absolutely right about the teaching along the road stuff- it makes so much sense - yet I constantly meet fellow travelers who are depserate for modern models of 1 Tim 2:8 - they seem to have got lost in their studies and their programs. Genuine community forces us into each others lives - mess and all- can you be Christlike outside of community?
every blessing
shane
Hi Hayley. I found you blog by way of a goole search of "Total Church"; I just ordered it and am wondering if it could be used for a small group study.
Yep, I reckon it'd be good to chat through in a small group!
Not sure how you go about it!
First 2 chapters are the foundations, so I'd do those and then maybe pick and choose a few of the 11 other chapters that are of interest to you and your group!
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