Thursday, June 29, 2006

ALL INVITED

ALL INVITED
*For about five years now, my wife Joy and I have been blessed by the Emergent movement and in particular the writings of Brian McLaren. I can best summarize this by saying it has helped us go on a journey of exploring with others in an honest manner what we most truly believe and desire to act upon, what beliefs we struggle with or reject, and what “a new kind of Christian” might look like in today’s world. I would like to invite you to participate with this online forum as well as gathering from time to time in person to walk together on this strange yet exciting path of being a Christ follower in this post-modern world.
*Last week, at Epworth Forest, my wife and I ran into three friends that we hadn’t seen for 25 years. They are developmentally disabled adults and yet three of the most beautiful people you would want to meet. While I was interacting with them off and on for a couple of days, I began to think about the theology that a person must intellectually accept Christ as their Savior to make it to heaven. And if this is the case, my three friends won’t make it. I don’t believe this! I believe in Grace! So my question is the following. If we were to move toward being “a new kind of church,” could we say openly that we do indeed believe in the saving presence of Christ and his ways and yet also believe that it is just like Christ to bring that saving presence to all of humankind through His grace, ways, and people? I believe there are many un-connected people who would be more likely to connect with this good news. What do you think?