What's Different?

At a seminar I heard Hugh Halter say that people often want to come to their worship gatherings to see what they are doing that's different from the rest of the church world. The problem is, it isn't that different. Their worship (at Adullum) is not remarkably different from what you might experience at any Sunday morning assembly at the local community church.

I took some comfort in hearing this, because, from the standpoint of evaluating how we are living out our calling to "the different life" our Sunday gatherings are remarkably unremarkable. We do meet in a sort of circle configuration, which is kind of different. And our congregation is extremely friendly and welcoming (I'm pleased to say they are this way naturally, and not because they've been coached to be so). And my preaching is very Bible focused, and pays more attention to cultural contexts than many preacher today seem to do. But, overall, I don't think you would enter our worship time and go, "Wow, these people really are different!"

I could be wrong. But I'm thinking the difference is not in our assemblies (And it is our western notions of big church and Sunday services that always has us looking their for what a church is made of). Rather, its in what we are becoming at home and in our neighborhoods that I hope the real difference is beginning to emerge.

I mean, the whole idea of incarnational ministry is that through the body of Christ (the church), God continues to reveal himself (to be incarnated). Our lives are meant to give flesh to the Gospel. Incarnation is not most evident when God's people meet together, but rather when they are simply living and building community. It happens in homes and between friends. It happens in work cubicles and block parties. It happens whenever the people of God are willing to live like Christ in a context where Christ has not been evident.

And sometimes, it happens in a stable.

Merry Christmas.