Radical Community
I found this note that I wrote on a scrap of paper, maybe twenty-five years ago.
We need a community which will be:
- A challenge, and a visible concrete alternative to the world.
- A place where Christians can develop a distinctive and biblical lifestyle, which will answer some of the hungers of the modern age. Where the radical demands of the gospel may be lived out in a simple life style, uncluttered by the things of the world, and centred on the kingdom of God.
- A place of shelter that will enable Christians to stand firm in a time of social upheaval.
- A place where Christians can learn to love each other. This love will be expressed in mutual support, economic sharing , regular prayer and common worship.
- A place where Christians can grow to maturity developing in the ministry to which God has called them. It would provide an environment which is congenial to growth.
- A model, which can demonstrate publically, of a church structure which is more appropriate to the times in which we live, and is more closely aligned to the commands of scripture.
- A base for evangelism and are community that can draw new converts in. It should forth the reality of Christi reconciling power.
1 comment:
This is a worthy list of ideals Ron. It challenges both the existing church structures AND the nuclear family structure which has become the norm in Western society. I think you will see the Holy Spirit work to alter both of these models in the coming decades, if not by choice then by necessity. House church, homeschooling are just the tip of the iceberg. The most important thing however is not so much the structure (or the goals) but the obedience to the Rhema word individually.
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