Several years ago, I remember hearing a friend, Dr. Dow Robinson, trace the modern church “meeting” back to Greek Theater. As a pastor of a church, that shook me.
So…after leaving the Spanish church where I pastored in
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Deconstructing the Church Part 2
I came to the conclusion a long time ago, that my pulpit expositions were rather ineffective tools for helping followers learn. I realized that the higher goal of a spiritual “teacher” should not be only to “teach” but to facilitate learning. I found that one-on-one conversations with probing questions and challenging exhortations were far more powerful for motivating people to change behavior and character and for sparking spiritual growth. Basically, the method Jesus (and Socrates) often used.
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12 comments:
Great post Joseph. I too have been hearing from God about focusing on a few relationships. It has come to me in media terms. Broadcast vs Interaction. Broadcast is the old way, the Billy Graham way. Broadcast the Gospel message (succinct and simple) to as many millions as you can. Press them for a decision and disciple them with brochures, pamphlets, books, and hope they go to a local church you suggest. Hopefully, they will find spiritual growth in that church. They don't usually.
Conversly we now have Web 2.0 media. That's what we're on right now. User generated content and interaction. Not one to many, but one to one.
I was in Finland and God spoke to me. This is what I wrote in my notes:
The Pharisees captivated a doctrinal culture through broadcast. There was no maturation. Scripture was memorized but not applied. Jesus captivated hearts with broadcast (Sermon on the Mount), but matured through relationship and interaction.
We could go on to note that Jesus avoided the large gatherings and often sent people away. He didn't see gathering a large broadcast audience as the goal, but He did address them when Father instructed. Then He would run them off by saying, "Eat my flesh or you can't have me..."
The few that stuck matured. They not only memorized the Word, but the Word became flesh in them. So we are to walk in relationship with those that are beginning to smell the Kingdom, those the "Father has given us" so to speak. We abide their personalities, their misconceptions, and we love them. We allow our submitted life to reproduce submitted life in them. We teach through speach and action. We give them the DNA of the Kingdom, not a box. They penetrate their culture because they have the principles firmly rooted in their hearts. Just thinking out loud. I tend to make these things formulaic, but the formulas are repeatedly "redefined" we can say.
Jesus chose twelve to BE WITH HIM.
That is the key in parenting, mentoring, coaching, passing on the baton, transferring a life, not just the cranial. It is a holographic experience with multiple feedback systems all interacting simultaneously versus a linear and Newtonian mantra.
Life begets life. Head speaks only to another head.
Jesus transformed those AROUND Him.
Positive or negative were the reactions but not neutral. The Presence heals those seeking and convicts those who love darkness.
Are you guys familiar with the "Knowledge Performance Matrix"? It's a fairly new (but very old) methodology for teaching/eduction/mentoring...
agreed Sam... I am gradually learning the holographic/presence approach ... in fits and starts.
No, I am not aware of that Matt...can you send me some info. or a link?
Matt...here is a note from M.H. for you:
"Hey Joseph,
I dont have Matt's address, and alot of the stuff he sends i cant open (because of the nature of it), however i really liked his post, and identifiy with it. can you forward this note on to him for me? Whereas as hard as i try, i cant seem to include blogging or posting in my daily routine, but i'll like the emails. thanks for keeping me in the loop. Micah"
Hey... I got an idea... How about the dynamic of interpersonal transformation via connection mentoring/influence labeled as "holographic imprinting?" Cool phrase! :)
yes, it is cool...but you will have to explain it to me... it goes over my head like the article by Tillich went past yours ... we each have our specialties I guess...
*Pulls out the dictionary....starts....stops....gives up* haha
I love u guys =)
What does one do when they find themselves lacking a "faith family"?
I find myself longing for what we used to have, not Church per say, but the getting together for a picnic, singing and worshiping together, and going around sharing thoughts on scripture. But I can't seem to find it....
Ruth,
I asked Gary Henley that once. He asked me about Jesus' faith family. Sometimes we find ourselves alone so that we can learn to have community with Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Father. You seem to be a "sent one". I noticed a progression in 1 John:
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
If = walk in Him
Then = fellowship is added to you
Out of the same frustration you have and a corresponding desire to go forward, not back, I have stopped striving for fellowship and asked God to add what He wants. Remarkably, He has added faith community around me (it took time) when I sought Him alone. Wierd like everything else.
That's funny, Joseph...
Here my bit on it:
Holography (from the Greek, όλος-hòlòs whole + γραφή-grafè write) is the science of producing holograms; it is an advanced form of photography that allows an image to be recorded in three dimensions. The technique of holography can also be used to optically store, retrieve, and process information.
Imprinting is the term used in psychology and ethology to describe any kind of phase-sensitive learning (learning occurring at a particular age or a particular life stage) that is rapid and apparently independent of the consequences of behavior. It was first used to describe situations in which an animal or person learns the characteristics of some stimulus, which is therefore said to be "imprinted" onto the subject.
Distilling that into "man-on-the-street" jargon:
Holographic imprinting of truth:
To be in the presence of a 3D object, in this case a human being, and picking up permanently through presence transfer of the truth that person possesses so as to "get it."
Good stuff. Living in the now with those He has given us and allowing Him to add to our numbers is a great way to live our faith. God IS, WAS, and FOREVER WILL BE present. Right now.
thanks for stopping by Brian...hope you will continue!
Ruth, good questions. Can I probe you a bit? When we did have those picknicks and community wide get-togethers that you say you are longing for...I always had a hard time getting you, Micah, Sanders, Clare, Sam Busse and others to participate. Are you sure it is not sort of an "ideal" that you think you miss, but when it was actually available you opted out of? It is not just you...I have noticed this with many singles your age.
Regarding Family of faith ... what is the role of fathers? It seems to me that fatherhood is a key component in creating a family ... and motherhood I am sure.
To have a spiritual family, is it not necessary to recognize and respond to spiritual fatherhood? (Heb. 12).
good conversation.
good thoughts mbrennan....I may have to think over them for a while before I respond...still tired from work.
Jose, the picnics u are referring to, are u talking about past tense or recently?
yes it is necessary to respond to spiritual fatherhood imho....I believe I do, its kinda hard to judge, being that sometimes the physical and spiritual fatherhood corespond and contradict, maybe I'm not. What do u think?
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