12.28.2004
The Will of a Community
I received "Mother Kirk" back from a brother last night and re-read some of Wilson's comments in the chapter on community. It's been a couple months and I couldn't really remember how much he had said in regards to the parish that had gotten me on this kick I'm on lately. I was surprised to see the Dr. Chalmers was mentioned in one sentence! That was all I needed though I guess.
His approach seems to be much more of a congregational parish approach, not necessarily involving the surrounding heathen population, but rather dividing a church up into manageable parishes. He does a great job at addressing the modern obstacles to the parochial system, but comes up a little short on practical solutions. His main analysis is: move near the church and do things together.
So here is something I have been mulling over: our family travels 20-30 minutes to a church we like, driving past 3-4 similar churches. Should I, in principle support of a parish system that I want to see happen, choose to attend the reformed church 5 blocks away from my house in order to pursue this ideal? I have NO guarantee that anyone at that church will care at all about my ideals, and their orthopraxis is nowhere as close to my convictions as the other church.
One of the main points of the discussion on community in "Mother Kirk" is that is an ideal which must be pursued. It does not just happen. And that means people must be convinced of the necessity of community, not just the usefulness or niceness of it. They must be shown from scripture of the biblical imperative to form Christian community. Which means that elders must be teaching their flocks all of these things. And that is what leaves me in somewhat of a bind. Is this something that can happen from the bottom up, or does it have to happen from the top down (I think I already answered my own question).
I am by nature an action person, so I say "If no one else will do this, I'll do it myself". So I take my family to the reformed church on the corner and begin building community with my neighbors (supposing that they also have not driven 20 minutes to attend, urgh!). Is this wise?
I received "Mother Kirk" back from a brother last night and re-read some of Wilson's comments in the chapter on community. It's been a couple months and I couldn't really remember how much he had said in regards to the parish that had gotten me on this kick I'm on lately. I was surprised to see the Dr. Chalmers was mentioned in one sentence! That was all I needed though I guess.
His approach seems to be much more of a congregational parish approach, not necessarily involving the surrounding heathen population, but rather dividing a church up into manageable parishes. He does a great job at addressing the modern obstacles to the parochial system, but comes up a little short on practical solutions. His main analysis is: move near the church and do things together.
So here is something I have been mulling over: our family travels 20-30 minutes to a church we like, driving past 3-4 similar churches. Should I, in principle support of a parish system that I want to see happen, choose to attend the reformed church 5 blocks away from my house in order to pursue this ideal? I have NO guarantee that anyone at that church will care at all about my ideals, and their orthopraxis is nowhere as close to my convictions as the other church.
One of the main points of the discussion on community in "Mother Kirk" is that is an ideal which must be pursued. It does not just happen. And that means people must be convinced of the necessity of community, not just the usefulness or niceness of it. They must be shown from scripture of the biblical imperative to form Christian community. Which means that elders must be teaching their flocks all of these things. And that is what leaves me in somewhat of a bind. Is this something that can happen from the bottom up, or does it have to happen from the top down (I think I already answered my own question).
I am by nature an action person, so I say "If no one else will do this, I'll do it myself". So I take my family to the reformed church on the corner and begin building community with my neighbors (supposing that they also have not driven 20 minutes to attend, urgh!). Is this wise?
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cristo,
Greetings!
You suggest transferring membership to a church closer by as a solution to the 'community problem'. You didn't mention an alternative solution, though, which is to move closer to your current church.
When my wife and I (just married for two and a half months or so) first began attending our church (Providence Church) we live over an hour away. For six months (or so) we drove in on Sundays to attend worship, and occasionally came out on a friday to fellowship over the weekend. But, after six months we moved. We moved right across the street from one family from church, in fact. I continued at my same job, which meant that instead of driving an hour fifteen minutes to church (and back) once a week, I drove it every day to and from work. I still do it, three and a half years later.
Fact is, I can't imagine anything that would have been better for me, and my family, that putting ourselves right in the midst of our body.
Anyhow... 20-30 minutes isn't really very far. After living so close to fellow believers for so long (we've since moved, but now live on a street with three other families from our church) I don't think I could bear to not be a walking distance from a church family, but, in the big picture, 20 minutes isn't nearly as bad as over an hour.
Greetings!
You suggest transferring membership to a church closer by as a solution to the 'community problem'. You didn't mention an alternative solution, though, which is to move closer to your current church.
When my wife and I (just married for two and a half months or so) first began attending our church (Providence Church) we live over an hour away. For six months (or so) we drove in on Sundays to attend worship, and occasionally came out on a friday to fellowship over the weekend. But, after six months we moved. We moved right across the street from one family from church, in fact. I continued at my same job, which meant that instead of driving an hour fifteen minutes to church (and back) once a week, I drove it every day to and from work. I still do it, three and a half years later.
Fact is, I can't imagine anything that would have been better for me, and my family, that putting ourselves right in the midst of our body.
Anyhow... 20-30 minutes isn't really very far. After living so close to fellow believers for so long (we've since moved, but now live on a street with three other families from our church) I don't think I could bear to not be a walking distance from a church family, but, in the big picture, 20 minutes isn't nearly as bad as over an hour.
Richard, you are certainly right! Moving cloer to a church that you love should always be the first choice, and is the one put forth by Wilson. The church that we have been going to however, is in a very affluent community and is comprised of mostly wealthy families. Housing in this area is not a realistic option for my family. The 20 minute drive is no bother to me at all, but it is definitely not in-line with the parish system.
I am so excited to see that you are part of a CRE church. Our family is actually part of a group who had appealed to the CRE to plant a church where we live. Unfortunately, nothing has come together as of yet.
As for the Strauch hospitalty book, it is wonderful. It is a very short book, and we have been reading it in our family worship. Hospitality is something we have been working on as a family for the past 6months or so, and this book is very encouraging. I think Strauch is an excellent author and I am also using his Biblical Eldership book in a study with some men. I would recommend purchasing the hospitality book. Blessings!
I am so excited to see that you are part of a CRE church. Our family is actually part of a group who had appealed to the CRE to plant a church where we live. Unfortunately, nothing has come together as of yet.
As for the Strauch hospitalty book, it is wonderful. It is a very short book, and we have been reading it in our family worship. Hospitality is something we have been working on as a family for the past 6months or so, and this book is very encouraging. I think Strauch is an excellent author and I am also using his Biblical Eldership book in a study with some men. I would recommend purchasing the hospitality book. Blessings!
Another thing to consider as you ponder the "wise" choice here: Our greatest efforts may be but stepping stones toward our longer-term objectives which may only be reached by generations to follow. In other words, your pursuit of the parish-style sense of community may seem relatively fruitless in your lifetime, however your grandchildren may reap what you sow and enjoy the community that you sought in your lifetime.
Mike, thanks for the encouragement as I try to wqork all this stuff out in my head and in my life. The generational vision is always one of the first things I seem to forget.
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