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.
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 "
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.
