Thursday, August 23, 2007

What will become of us?

Don't be too discouraged if you are tired of the institution and just want to walk away from it and walk with just Him. What will become of you if you seek Father out is one who learns to listen to Him, be content (or overjoyed might be a better way of saying it) in Him. I have not got it figured out. I have been outside the "Sunday club" for almost 3 years. There is life out here! I have not figured it all out yet, and sometimes I wonder if I am wandering too, but it feels less like a wilderness and more like an adventure in the wild now.

There is no stress or pressure to take "chance acquaintances" beyond what God tells you to take them. Gathering with certain people for a time does not mean it has to continue every week for the rest of your lives! You don't need to start a new "House Church" or something else that someday will become another institution for people to flee from!

One thing that Wayne Jacobsen mentioned which really helped me see things differently is when he pointed out (in one of his podcasts I think -- thegodjourney.com) that when God brings us together to do something, it is usually just for a for a time, a season... maybe for a TASK, not necessarily for a lifelong MINISTRY and "calling". (those words are so laced with assumptions in the modern "church". Wayne pointed out that when Paul and Barnabas returned from their first journey... they said that they had "finished the work that God had set out for them." Then Wayne pointed out.. "Who ever says that about their ministry today? They did not set out to create the Paul and Barnabas Missionary Society"... They were done with that task for the time. Later they would take up different tasks.

So, what will become of us? Maybe we will learn to be like Jesus said to Nicodemus... like the wind...

3 comments:

The Orchard Christian Church said...

A lot of us have bad experiences in "institutional church", as you put it, and the love of many is growing cold. But we are offering an alternative to what you have probably experienced- as long as you see the need for Christians to gather together weekly as the Body of Christ.

Ruth said...

that's a great point, thanks for sharing. We left the institution around 2002 and it's been amazing journey. Enjoying your blog, hope you get back on again soon , Ruth

ItsNotAPlace said...

Thanks Ruth...

Yeah, I need to get back to posting on my blog. it has been a while hasn't it? Thanks for the encourangement!