There is a new term being used in economic circles these days. The phrase is the “new normal.” Its an interesting thought, and a complex topic but from what I understand the heart of the issue is that the recession is happening and many are adjusting to what some believe is the new normal. The new normal means that America is not the center of the global economy, it means that the boom of the 90’s is over and that everyday people must learn to adjust their patterns of buying, spending and selling. Roger McNamee author of the book The New Normal recently said, “the 90’s weren’t normal, but they altered our expectations. The 90’s have just made it harder for us to adjust to the new normal.”
My thoughts today however are not about economics…….
I believe as in economics the church over the next decade must develop a new set of rules, a new way of operating…………… a new normal.
For years, we have operated as if the church lives is in the center of our culture, as if the church is operating as a voice that drives and dictates the rules and regulations of our society. We see it in politics, in believers we meet each day who believe part of their job & the job of the church is to make our society & make our neighbors & ourselves “good.” To clean them up, to help our culture realize how far they are from morality and also to sometimes pat ourselves on the back for how close we are to morality. Ultimately, these attempts to be the conscience for our society have left many believers frustrated and our world bitter, angry and frustrated with the church.
We have failed to recognize that the church no longer operates in the center of our culture but on the fringes of our culture. Just like our economic situation its time for us to adjust. Its time for us to get outside the walls of institution and to get inside the heart of our neighborhoods. To learn how to operate on the fringe and how to realize that the true strength of our churches is not our ability to replicate culture with creative teaching series, relevant programs, and laser light shows. Its not our ability to regulate morality. Its found in Jesus working through the lives of people!
The people of God set free on the mission of God to GO!
To go and make disciples, to go and love, to go and serve to go & become like Jesus to their neighbors.
So what if there is a new normal that awaits us what if there is a different way?
The Avenue is committed to a different way – to a new normal – - – - Here are some tangible pictures of what that looks like for us!
- What if Grace & hope became the message & not behavior modification
- What if church was not what we did on Sunday being a Christ follower is what we do everyday
- What if application was more important than information
- What if all of us were ministers dreaming of who God has called us to love & where he has called us to go
- What if passivity was too risky because our neighbors here & around the world are hurting
- What if being fed was not our goal – When there is a hungry world waiting for Christ’s followers to be a light
- What if we stopped consuming church & start feeding the world
- What if the broken, hurting and lost were received with open arms…and the religious were challenged to repent of their “perfection.”
- What if JESUS was exalted…NOT a denomination, pastor or a political party.
- What if we threw the desire to compete with other churches out the window…and did all that we can to help the body.
- What if we embraced the fact that Jesus originally called “unschooled, ordinary men” to change the world…and He’s STILL doing the same thing with us today.
- What if we embodied disciple making and not people gathering
- What if we became the people of God 7 days a week and not just on Sunday
- What if we rejoiced in each others joys & walked beside each other in our present sufferings
- What if young people who had given up on church & religion find Jesus
- What if Christ was exalted above all things
- What if we reached outside our walls in such a way that we become a blessing to our community & not a burden on them
- What if we really cared for the orphans & widows
- What if we had global perspective of how blessed we are & use our resources for kingdom purposes
- What if we become a family & not a congregation
- What if hope was tangible because Jesus is real
- What if we believed that prayer was not just a ritual
- What if God was made big & we are made small
- What if we were so overwhelmed by grace that we couldn’t help but worship him from the depths of our hearts
- What if Scripture, not Robert’s Rules of Order, governed the body
- What if people in the church refused to ignore injustice…and embraced that God has called the church to do more about it than simply pray…but rather to dive in and do all we can to help
- What if we championed the next generation instead of teaching them they are insignificant
- What if we learned that Christ is all sufficient! Not excellence, not attendance, not leadership or giftedness. He is everything!
What if we made this the new normal?
Read Luke 6:20-26 – Jesus is calling his world to a new normal, to a different way – We think he still is calling!
What are your what ifs? What is the new normal?
Love you all – Ben
What if we took seriously Jesus definition of a Child of God-PEACEMAKER-Matthew 5:9
What if we began to see that when Jesus calls us to love our enemies, it goes way further than being kind to people who just dislike us. He’s talking about enemies who totally detest us, who wish to see harm done to us, who wish to end our very lives.
What if we turned the other cheek, gave our coat, and went the second mile instead of responding with violence or war.
What if we responded to our enemies attack with a prophetic imagination, finding creative nonviolent responses that intentionally witness the Kingdom to them, like Martin Luther King did.
What if we looked at our enemies as Jesus did(and does) as his very creation, whom he gave up everything to love.
what if as citizens of THE KINGDOM we lived out our call to reconcile all things to GOD-we are THE voice of reconciliation.
What if we went out of our way to love our enemies by caring for their needs, comforting them in their time of loss, feeding them when they are hungry, clothing them when they are naked, giving them shelter when they none.
What if we lived out the reality that JESUS is THE LIBERATING KING.
“For if while we were enemies we were recociled to GOD by the death of his SON, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in GOD through our LORD JESUS CHRIST, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”-ROMANS 5:10-11