I have started reading the book Pagan Christianity and it is an interesting read which causes one to think and reexamine one's practices. The question that the book presses for an answer is, does it really matter how we practice our faith. What if our perspectives, rules, traditions and practices hinder our development of our faith? If so, would you be willing to do away with those traditions which serve as barriers that keep us from encountering the living God? It is much easier to start with a clean slate when starting a church rather than changing. So I think it will help all of us as we look at the church and our traditions and practices.
As you read through, I welcome your comments. I have books available at the church. Come by and pick one up or email me and we can work out a time to meet to get you the book.
Question for you. How much weight do you give tradition in the church today? In your church?
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12 comments:
Thanks for the invitation. Sounds interesting. What is the price of the book?
It is free! Come and get it.
yo, couldn't put this book down yesterday after I got it. I even skipped my 7 mile run (which is a rarity). Disturbing, yes. Challenging, yes. Freeing, yes. I took a hot minute to email some of my homeys and recommend the book to them.
I don't have the book yet, but a 7 mile run would be disturbing.
Hopefully amazon will show up this week.
yeah, after reading most of this book, practices that we do at our church that I thought were rooted in the bible were actually rooted in the cultural traditions of the day.
I dunno how that changes our day to day (yet). Still wrestling (or wrastlin as we say in the south) with it all.
And 7 miles is actually refreshing for me. To me there is nothing like a good run listening to some good preaching (or music) on an mp3 player in good weather.
600lbs squats and deads reinvigorate, refresh and focus me. Listening to good "Christian" thrash metal in a bright cheery environment while working out, there is nothing like it.
Not to mention a squat routine takes less than 45 mins to complete, while 7 miles at 7 mins each takes 50 mins or more.
Here is a question, has anyone noticed that almost all Planters are overachieving amateur athletes? Everyone I have talked with has at least one sport they excelled at or worked at with the same passion they pour into their plant.
I feel you on that. I was a sprinter and rugby player in college (and up until recently rugby player). I used to love squating (not 600 lbs) and the olympic lifts. Getting older now and gotta take care of the heart and lungs. Still lift regularly though (listening to some Trip Lee (best rapper hands down Christian or secular) or POD).
I think Leith Anderson in the book Leadership that Works had a comment on former athletes who become pastors. It's like we take that drive and competitiveness and channel it for the kingdom. Although I have met a few church planters (very successful ones too (whatever that means)) that weren't involved in high school or college athletics.
So, I got the book. Hand delivered by a battered racket ball player. I'll get started tonight and see if I'm hooked.
It's a disturbing kinda hooked. It's like finding the diary of your ex-girlfriend and reading about how she really felt about you. Very disturbing and challenging at times. Also very freeing. Probably a bad analogy. Yeah, a bad analogy, how many of us would ever find the diary of our ex-girlfriend.
I'm not sure I would want to see what my ex's diary looked like but I know what you mean.
I give tradition more weight than I should, I believe tradition is part of the culture in which we are called to engage with the Gospel.
Now church culture, should be changed slowly over time engaging people where they are with what they know about Church and allowing the transforming power of Jesus to make the difference in people's lives.
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