My Vision for the Church of 2010

 

1.      I want to belong to a church which judges itself by the difference it makes in the world, not by how many members it has.  They wouldn't be into the numbers game, but the difference game. They would not only care about introducing people to Christ, but also bringing the cause of Christ to bear on social institutions and systems.

2.      I want to belong to a church where God has no grandchildren, where everyone has to wrestle personally with who Christ is in his or her life.  It would be a place where everyone had to make a personal decision of whether or not to be committed to a Iife of radical discipleship.

3.      I want to belong to a church where the preacher is more afraid of God than his or her congregation.  It would be a place where the words of prophets, both past and present, would be heard from time to time.

4.      I want to belong to a church where people have fun.  It would be a place where laughter and applause could even be heard in the sanctuary - and every now and again, clowns, balloons and streamers could  find their way into worship.  It would be a place where the chosen no longer look frozen.

5.      I want to belong to a church where people take Jesus-style living seriously.  Where people go expecting the Gospel to challenge and change them and are not just spectators at Sunday services.  Where a football match or lunch at your aunt's is not a serious threat to gathering with God's people on a weekly basis.

6.      I want to belong to a church where you can talk about your sins right in front of everyone and ask for help and not be afraid of being booted out.  Where confessing your sins to one another forgiving one another and praying for one another are not something odd or out of place, or something relegated to back rooms and basements.

7.      I want to belong to a church where people can be open, honest and vulnerable. This would be a place where it would be OK to be sad or glad or mad.  Masks could be left at the door and people could feel free to be themselves.  It would be a place where you didn't have to put on a happy face and fake it, unless you were happy.

8.      I want to belong to a church where people decide to err on the side of grace.  Where acceptance, encouragement and affirmation are vital characteristics of the church.  It would be a place where people were extremely reluctant to cast the first stone.

9.      I want to belong to a church that smells good to hurting people. The church would have the same reputation that Jesus had - you know, eating and drinking with the wrong crowd Modern-day publicans and sinners - the poor the powerless, the sad, the bad, and the broken - would be most welcome, and the word would circulate around town

10. I want to belong to a church that despite any fears or failures has the confidence to really believe in God.  It would be a church that was creative, compassionate, courageous, alive to the power of love and, like Jesus willing to take risks.

What kind of church do you want to build?