Tangible Kingdom (Week 8 Day 1) "Organic"
August 1st, 2009 § 5 Comments
It’s hard to believe that we’re entering our eighth and final week of the TK Primer. I’m thankful we’re ending on the topic of incarnational community as a part of the “intuitive” life. What’s becoming the most refreshing part of this journey for me is realizing that the more I allow myself to relax and just be normal… the more natural it becomes. The more natural it becomes, the more intuitive it becomes… the more authentic it becomes. It’s not another program or bible study, it’s more than something you do, it’s something you become “as you are going”.
As we start this final week together, let’s not forget our author’s reminder:
We hope that if you remember anything about this process, you’ll focus on the fact that incarnational community can happen anywhere. If you perceive it as one more program you need to add to your already complicated life, you’ll never make it.” – TK Primer Pg.171
I’m pretty sure that’s meant as a word of encouragement, not some kind of threat. However, there’s some real truth in there. Our nature is to take something natural and stuff it into a box, organize it, compartmentalize it, and apply it when it seems appropriate (or worse, only when we want to). That’s not what the intuitive life is all about. And if we approach it that way… it won’t work. And the community you find simply won’t be what you’ve been looking for.
And if you’re like most, you’ve already tried everything else. Every form of small group. Every form of Bible Study. Every form of Discipleship program… and now you’re given permission to just be yourselves… struggle together… learn together… grow together… and be honest with each other. If the things we’ve always known, always seem to have the same results. Maybe there really is something more to be found… one thing’s for sure… “Something more” is exactly what we’re finding.
Brandon, as I read the first question Hugh asks, “Is your heart ready to take ownership of Christ’s call to mission” and I look back on the previous 7 weeks I give a tentative answer – I find my heart ready in moments, but not 100% of the time. I love the feeling of the moments when I am living in His Kingdom on earth, when I am part of something missional, I just struggle integrating my life into it. I still cannot figure out how to balance work, family and church and feel like I am doing what He would do.
So I must encourage myself to appreciate the journey and the progress, not grade myself for how far I fall short. As a community let us keep looking at our transformation day by day, let us see the good in the small changes that become a transformed life and let us not fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to perfection.
Incarnational Community……”if you perceive it as one more program you need to add to your already complicated life, you’ll never make it.”
This is something that I totally agree with. Incarnational Community is a way of life….not a church growth strategy. It’s a way to walk through life, open to God’s leadings, being aware of opportunities to share His love and very much exposed to the crisis and needs of those in close proximity to us.
we are at the beginning of the end of the TK-Primer…
What I’ve noticed, is that at some level most of us long for this idea of incarnational community, and I find that exciting…so for me, I have to ask myself, “am I willing to rearrange, sacrifice, re-prioritize, and value the elements in my life that will help create a conducive environment to this journeying, incarnational community?”
I light up as I read Acts, TK, and re-watch LOTR, Fight Club, Band Of Brothers, 300 etc…I am challenged to, be part of, live among, change, scrape away the ‘proverbial fat’ in my life that complicates and invite others in to this journeying community…this has been great!
For me, the biggest hindrance to incarnational community is my inability to just STOP. It’s not that the community isn’t there, ready to move through the kingdom together. It’s that I don’t stop and slow down long enough for it to mature and ripen in its own way. I feel God dealing with me on this issue, and I know I need to get it right before too long!
What good is it to have your neighbor finally feel free to come ring the doorbell by the front door if I’m not there, haven’t been there, or am just leaving?
I think you’re in the same boat as most of us Maria.
That’s a good word, “It’s that I don’t stop and slow down long enough for it to mature and ripen in it’s own way.”
Key! Thanks for sharing.