Jesus Shaped
I hope you have been reading Michael Spencer’s new weblog called Jesus Shaped Spirituality. Check out his latest post there. I hope he won’t mind if I just quote it en toto: Jesus Shaped Church
Jesus Shaped Church…
is simple.
skips the mortgage.
gives lots of money to good, responsible ministries that help people.
starts churches.
is centered around the Lord’s Table each time it gathers.
teaches the New Covenant from the Bible.
preaches the Kingdom of God.
sees the Kingdom.
turns over tables.
pursues the processes of disciple-making.
applies scripture to the vocations of its members.
invites and includes everyone.
takes the Great Commission as its mission statement and the book of Acts as its copy of Purpose Driven Church.
is only religious as necessary.
knows and uses the language of story and parable.
confesses the faith gladly.
celebrates baptism.
identifies with the rejected and the suffering.
has working leaders with modest lifestyle.
skips all the titles and “clergy” bs in favor of shepherds, elders and servants.
serves the community around it in any way possible.
is unafraid of the fullness of the Spirit.
prays and prays and prays.
depends upon the power of the Spirit, not the wisdom of the wise.
looks to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, as the answer to as many questions as possible.
is made up of many generations.
creates a culture around Jesus made up of many human cultures.
sings gladly, but not too much, or to entertain or impress.
sends its best people into ministry and missions.
keeps its eyes on the suffering church around the world.
shares what it has.
weeps with those who weep, rejoices with those who rejoice.
knows how to have a party.
rejects the religion of the Pharisees.
goes after the lost sheep.
nurtures and feeds the sheep as a community project.
prefers to multiply to many instead of growing into large.
takes up its cross and follows Jesus.
Folks, I don’t see much to quibble with there. Do you? Let’s just do it.
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