Finding My Way Again…

My brain is 200mph as usual this morning but I’ve settled on a couple of thoughts I’m really chewing on and I’d love to get your input…

• I was listening to the audiobook for Brian McLaren’s Finding Our Way Again this morning at the gym and it really got me asking this question: “Why don’t we spend most of our energy in discipleship teaching people to feed themselves?”  Really, the spiritual practices are a way of making our faith a part of the inner fabric of our everyday lives.  Part of the reason Christianity is in the shape it’s in in our country is that people make it an add-on, a sort-of social addition and minor spiritual blessing.  We just don’t want it to mess up our daily lives too much.  But in other Abrahamic faiths (Judaism and Islam), their faith is an inseparable part of their lives.  What if we put a whole lot of energy into helping new believers incorporate these ancient practices into the  everyday rhythm of life?  It should be a part of their life DNA- this is why spiritual practices are so important.  I’m not saying we shouldn’t offer supplementary teaching on other issues- I’m simply pondering the thought of putting a TON of energy into helping people build their foundation.  Seems like a no-brainer to me and maybe I’m just ignorant but I don’t think I’ve seen a lot of energy put into this in the past.  If people are making the spiritual practices a part of their daily lives, won’t they grow (with the Spirit’s help) and learn what they need to?  Seems like often the Church has had that backwards.  Give them a ton of information and some of it will stick and they will grow.  Hmm.
• Maybe part of the reason our efforts to design environments that facilitate community have largely failed is because we have A. not spent a good deal of time equipping people to own their faith journey and live it out as a part of their daily lives and B. We haven’t considered the rhythm of our local church community.  Over the years I’ve come to believe that every church community has a unique rhythm.  I think the Spirit is doing unique things in each community.  It’s up to us who are in leadership to find that sacred rhythm and work within it.  I’m developing this concept more in my thinking, but at this point, I’m wondering if we’ve tried too hard to prescribe what community is without considering the spiritual foundation of the people who are supposed to be a part of it and without designing environments that fit what God is doing in our unique church communities.  Just a thought.

I’ve probably been a bit confusing- yes, I’m thinking out loud (so to speak) and that can be dangerous!  I just sense God is speaking to my heart in some way about my efforts to make disciples and create community- I want to find His heartbeat for this and am glad to share my journey with you!  

Thoughts?