Categories: uncategorized
Date: 27 June 2004 19:28:05
I thought this was interesting; from a blog i pop in on every now and then; http://www.smallritual.org
"the two parts to mission: live it, and communicate it. we have a handle on how to do authentic faith expressions, now we need to work out how to do authentic communication. because in a society that's indifferent to christianity, your life with god and your church may be great, but no-one will pay any attention. either they don't see it, or they don't see it for all the negative stereotypes in the way. and if you try too hard to communicate how positive it is, you will become part of the negative stereotype of christians trying to tell everyone how positive it is.
we are called to live it, and to communicate it - but how to communicate when trying to communicate reinforces the negative reaction? the negative reaction is based on years of inauthentic communication - telling us that church is great when it's crap. telling us that christianity makes life wonderful and people good. what's authentic communication towards people who really don't want any communication?
are we just too impatient? can we bear to wait for people to notice without us actually saying anything?"
i had a lot of thoughts about this. i am beyond fortunate to have found a place in two (very different) church contexts which are pretty inclusive, very happy with innovation and absolutely at home with the concept that we are all pretty much making it up all of the time (churchwise). In both I have found we have found ways to help each other have a good go a the living it part but the communicating it part is, well, it's all said above (it's only in quotes... sorry... i will work out italics and edit...).
What would it look like if we did communicate it though? How would we know?
I'll come back to this later. Aware it's currently just some great words from someone else and a few thoughts from me which I haven't time to articulate yet (also thanks to steve for permission to quote wholesale from his blog. Which I haven't got yet. That is rude, but I don't imagine he will mind greatly. I will email right now and edit this appropriately tomorrow)