Tuesday, November 07, 2006

So, I have an interesting question. How do we truly value the opinions of others when we are trying to accurately teach? What form does teaching take in this instance? Is it one where we offer different lenses for people to look through and then let them pick the lens? Do we just ask questions and let them answer on their own?

The reason I ask this is because it is a new way to teach community: Value a person, value their opinions, learn with them.

Carl and I are trying to pioneer this approach with the youth group in order to revere them as humans, friends, and fellow siblings in the kingdom of God.

There are a few other ideas that we need to think about when approaching community.

Mission: what does it mean to see our world not as one that we are familiar with and fit into, but as one that is strange that we must learn? What does it mean to truly find our neighbor not as "the same community" "fellow-American" "fellow in understanding and narrative", but to understand them as Wholly Other, Unique in Narrative, Stranger in Culture? How do we begin to approach the world? Hopefully earnestly trying to understand their context and to narrate the Gospel in their language and stories. (missions was way beyond the American church, and they still are doing a better job)

Parish: what does it mean to not try to get everyone, but only those in our immediate context, building relationships with neighbors, and not the entire populous? How does this effect the way church is done, both in evangelism, worship, discipleship, and mission? What needs should be met with this understanding? (It should be a community of friends)

Celebration of Community: How do we celebrate the community of our parish, what cultural ways can we celebrate the stories of those around us? In essence, how do we get involved festively?

Incarnation: How do we move beyond lectures and teaching, beyond conversation and coffee (though this can be incarnational) to real action? What does it mean to embody the gospel and live it? Why don't we have set aside incarnational times in the church week for the people to embody the gospel?

In all that I say, it comes from this: Let the Wisdom of God that shapes the earth, and forms relationships in covenant, fully actualized in Jesus Christ, breathe life into your flesh so that you to can actualize the wisdom of God.


Peace be with you

Logan Kruck

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