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Frank Viola | Beyond Evangelical
Official Blog of Author & Speaker Frank Viola. Digging below the surface and moving beyond the shallows in today's Christianity.
Organic Church Life Described Simply
My Talk at George Fox Seminary w/ Dan Kimball, Alan Hirsch, Leonard Sweet, and MaryKate Morse
Good definition Frank, for words define events in the way they are in use. Organic is the rage in many sectors of society right now. A getting back to the root or more succinctly breathing the original life into something that has become ossified as an institution. However organic is the process and all organic garden eventually develop into over manicured ones. Unless you know how to let go. Trust in the reconstitution of substance into new life.
Problem is our concept of ekklisia is too small and if we venture to view it as Abba we’d might say it is all of mankind. The good and the bad, the wheat and the tares. Theist and atheist – or any other denomination of opposition. Those portion turned away from the narrow gate of love and compassion are simply atrophied part of the same cripple, needing to believe they can again get up and walk with God. Evangelism is much more about bringing life into atrophied organs, such as the many and varied denominations of all religions and I like how the potter and poet MC Richards: Love your enemy it is the only way to find him out.
Love expressing itself as the indwelling compassion of Christ is the organ portion of organic church and so reimagining the ekklisia as the whole of humanity needs to also allow all other organs to function as they are until this love does transform them. For as Mary Cathrine also says: There are many disciplines that strengthen one’s athleticism for love. It takes all one’s strength. And yet it takes all one’s weakness too. Sometimes it is only by having all one’s so-called strength pulverized that one is weak enough, strong enough, to yield.
What a statement. wow! I’ve said the same thing about the gospel/ways of God for years…profoundly simple….so not surprised this is the experience of organic church
we’ve never experienced church in this way yet. We’re in one of the mystifying seasons of God…haven’t a clue what will happen next or when…living one day at a time. No jobs, no church, no ‘ministry’….19 months and counting as Kumar comes 2nd for yet another job application (many apply, he’s 2nd in line!)
Lord, you are profound, yet your ways are simple. Have yet to experience the complexiity of body life organically.
Last summer I was in my office working. A thought came to my mind about Thanksgiving get togethers. I started remembering our family gatherings…the fun, the food, the laughter. I spoke to the Lord in my thoughts about it. How much I enjoyed those times. I heard him speak to my heart, “Yes, that’s how I want my family to be.” I briefly paused and thought, well of course – yes, we are the “family” of God. Of course you would. Then, I heard, “can you imagine going to Thanksgiving at your Mom’s and interacting with one another, the way you do on Sunday morning?”
I was like so wowed by what God was showing me. I thought of the mask, the walls each of us walk in with…the lack of total transparency, and sadly the lack of true fellowship and intimacy. Quite a contrast to the Thanksgiving gatherings. He was certainly showing me in a very real and relatable way, his heart desire for us.
I hope it helps someone like it did me.
God loves us. In his great mercy it seems he is waking us up to his beautiful plan and desire, that looks much different than what we are accustomed to.
Blessings beyond measure on his beautiful body!
Friends, consider the above description as an ADDENDUM to the book, “Reimagining Church.”
Here are two first hand accounts of organic church life. It will put the above paragraph into context.
http://frankviola.wordpress.com/2009/05/01/what-does-authentic-organic-church-life-look-like-part-i/
http://frankviola.wordpress.com/2009/05/04/what-does-authentic-organic-church-life-look-like-part-ii/
Agreed. Fellowship is vital. Traditional church must make some shifts in her model. She is likened to a hospital that has all resources available for healing and restoration, yet while the patient is there they contract a staff infection. They came to the hospital with faith in being healed, and they were. But while there, they contracted something that will lay dormant in their bodies for the rest of their lives, rearing its head whenever it desires. I believe traditional churches have an important role and function, as well as the organic model. However, traditional churches must shift away from hierarchy and tradition to relationship and fellowship with Christ and one another.
Hi Frank,
Putting a definition on something that is so outside of the box of our modern understanding can be difficult. Most of us grew up in the four walls of the system and so that model is etched in our minds and shapes our beliefs about what church is supposed to be.
I realize you are attempting to put this in a nut shell, and for a nut shell it’s a pretty good explanation.
Thanks,
Heather