Contexistentialism February 26, 2010
Posted by Dan R. Dick in Christian discipleship, Church Leadership, Core Values, Mission of the Church, Vision.Tags: Church Leadership, Mission & Purpose, Vision
9 comments
For a reader, a coffee shop is a frustrating tease. Whenever I think about taking a good book to the coffee shop, I envision sitting cozy in one of the comfy chairs with a good cup of coffee, losing myself in whatever I am reading — perhaps with some good music playing in the background. Ideal. But what generally happens (as it did today) is I find myself squeezed into a noisy, bustling chaos, with cold drafts blowing in each time someone opens the door, a general din of noise, and I end up next to a table of people who are talking to each other at the top of their voices. Usually a child has spilled something, two or three people are kindly sharing their end of a cell phone conversation with everyone, and at least one person will bump my arm while I am holding an open cup of coffee. Less than ideal. The IDEA of the coffee shop is sublime while the REALITY is often ridiculous.
Parallel, the church. There is nothing more sublime than the vision of a people, gathered and joined for the common purpose of worshiping God, learning the guiding principles of a shared faith, discerning and pursuing together a shared vision, and living transformed and transforming lives in the community and world. The assembly existentially rests on what is good, and beautiful, and true — aligning all effort and energy to becoming a keen reflection of the God we worship and follow. Ideal. Ah, but the ideal is rarely the reality. This is the other sublime aspect of true church — it isn’t for perfect people, but imperfect.
