Thank you. Lots to think about in that, but as a Kiwi I'd love to hear more about what you've heard Christians saying about the importance of the church here. I'm always interested in what 'outsiders' see in my community - it's a great way to expose blind spots.
I'm someone who is concerned how much time churches often take up - so much time and energy goes into running a Sunday service, and then there's so much expectation to go to a home group and various social events, and I am concerned that there's no time/energy left to have my neighbours over for dinner or to go out with my non-Christian friends.
Is that the kind of concern you're critiquing? If so, I'd be really grateful if you could expand on the issues you see with it. Thank you :-)
Hey Heather, thanks for the question! That comment was a bit of an aside, so I may not have been as careful as a I should have been... but I do sense in some circles a certain feeling that the regular routines of the local church are relatively unimportant or dispensable, especially gathering weekly for worship. While it's true that "church is more than a Sunday morning," I've heard that expression from some folks in NZ who seem to mean by it that church need not include serious attention to regular, gathered worship.
I share some of your concerns, that local churches can be so inward focused that they absorb all of congregants' lives to such an extent that there's no room for neighborhood life and etc. In the church plants I've been a part of back in the US, we've actively tried to navigate that tricky dynamic. But here I find myself more likely to be emphasizing that churches that want to invite members into whole life discipleship will often have to be asking *more* of congregants.
All that to say, I'm for local churches discerning together how best to release congregants for participation in God's mission in every area of their lives, but I'm against the kind of casual dismissal of Sunday gatherings or other church activities, because I think discipleship is costly and some significant portion of discipleship occurs through the various ministries of the local church.
I wonder if that makes sense? I'd be happy to talk further!!
Thank you. Lots to think about in that, but as a Kiwi I'd love to hear more about what you've heard Christians saying about the importance of the church here. I'm always interested in what 'outsiders' see in my community - it's a great way to expose blind spots.
I'm someone who is concerned how much time churches often take up - so much time and energy goes into running a Sunday service, and then there's so much expectation to go to a home group and various social events, and I am concerned that there's no time/energy left to have my neighbours over for dinner or to go out with my non-Christian friends.
Is that the kind of concern you're critiquing? If so, I'd be really grateful if you could expand on the issues you see with it. Thank you :-)
Hey Heather, thanks for the question! That comment was a bit of an aside, so I may not have been as careful as a I should have been... but I do sense in some circles a certain feeling that the regular routines of the local church are relatively unimportant or dispensable, especially gathering weekly for worship. While it's true that "church is more than a Sunday morning," I've heard that expression from some folks in NZ who seem to mean by it that church need not include serious attention to regular, gathered worship.
I share some of your concerns, that local churches can be so inward focused that they absorb all of congregants' lives to such an extent that there's no room for neighborhood life and etc. In the church plants I've been a part of back in the US, we've actively tried to navigate that tricky dynamic. But here I find myself more likely to be emphasizing that churches that want to invite members into whole life discipleship will often have to be asking *more* of congregants.
All that to say, I'm for local churches discerning together how best to release congregants for participation in God's mission in every area of their lives, but I'm against the kind of casual dismissal of Sunday gatherings or other church activities, because I think discipleship is costly and some significant portion of discipleship occurs through the various ministries of the local church.
I wonder if that makes sense? I'd be happy to talk further!!
Thanks, that's helpful and does make sense. The concerning thing you describe is something I've also encountered a lot.