Something that church leaders know but I’ve never heard discussed is the pastoring of hybrid Christians. What I mean by this is that in our world teaching and theology are “in the cloud”. At any given moment I can listen or watch a sermon, podcast, lecture, debate, teaching, discussion, etc. by any leader that I am drawn to. I can download a book, article or go to a post online in a heart beat. I can engage in discussions about any of these by various mediums – all outside of a community of believers.

So as people assimilate more and more of these fragments or pieces of theology, it is my contention they become hybrid Christians. I would say that most, but not all, Christian people that I talk to these days are not strictly Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian…they are hybrid. They simply do not fit into one tribe. They carry bits of teaching from the flavor of the month or from a leader who really communicates in a way that speaks to them.

So what does this mean for us in pastoring people and communities?

What does it mean when we still often stand up & teach on the weekend as if we are the lone or most important voice in a persons spiritual journey?

How do we protect those entrusted to our care?

How do we enter the conversation or facilitate it?

Do we use others as the teacher in our communities and just play off of or work off of their teaching?

Is there a danger to so much being assimilated individually outside of communal presence? (I ask this question because I believe there is a certain amount of damage that happens because the Bible is often read and interpreted individually – especially those letters or documents that were written to groups/churches. We often take communal statements & make them personal or miss the emotion or the tension intended by the author in a community reading.)

What do you think?

Two ideas that have stirred me this week…

We come to receive the Eucharist not just to receive but knowing that we are to take back to our communities what Christ has given us and shown us in meeting him in the Eucharist.

and…

When one of us is poor we all suffer; when one of us is rich we are all blessed. This is the interconnected community of Christ. A community that takes on the pain of those in its midst who are hurting and shares what it has to help those who are in need.

The first moved me because this is a sentiment that I have read and often expressed in leading groups through the Eucharist…but have seldom heard elsewhere. The Eucharist (or communion, Lord’s supper, etc.) it seems to me in most evangelical churches has simply come to be about me recognizing what was done for me. I am the focus. I am the center – not Christ and this is missing the point.

The second moved me because it is an idea that I have read. It is an idea that I believe the scriptures teach, but until Monday night I had never heard another pastor express. It moved me to tears. Blessed to be a blessing…that’s what we are and we each bare the burdons of those in our communities as we likewise revel in their joy. We are attached to each other but our fear, greed or other delusions help us to build protective walls. We convince ourselves that we aren’t attached but in reality we are. Every decision affecting those around us in ways we are often unwilling to see but the effects are there. Much like Dr. King’s picture of people being bound in an interconnected inextricable garment of destiny. We are attached and need each other. We must honor our connectedness to really be the communities of peace, hope and redemption that Christ calls us to be.

This week I’m praying to live these ideas out – not just talk about them.

Peace ~

This is a diagram I drew in class last January. I was relating an observation about life and more specifically discipleship in the exurbs. Here’s the gist of it.

*Built on the 1/3′s life model (1st Third – Formation; 2nd Third – Productive Time; 3rd Third – Giving Back)

*The first third for the most part are years where people are receiving and learning to give.

*Giving often goes hyper in the 18-25 age group as people are learning, passionate, free…and don’t have many obligations.

*They have time

….. (Let’s Fast Forward)

*After 55 (roughly) people have time again. The kids are gone + they have a lifetime of experience

*This group is often more financially stable

*They are often retiring soon…again they have space.

*They can be discipled and hopefully disciple others.

….. (What I’ve Come To Grow Deeply Concerned About)

THE LUMP!

*25-55: Mortgage(s).Careers.Kids.Soccer.Dance.Acting.School.Family.Friends(sometimes).
Football.Basketball.Cheerleading.Gymnastics.Trying to get a Workout in. Multiple Jobs.ETC.

*Oh yeah, church…which in the 21st century world most often = events

*Church events (worship, small groups, fellowship, retreats, mission trips)

*Those in The Lump…don’t have or don’t make the time. There is no space to be in a community no margin for time or often for giving of resources.

*At best what is most often happening is drive-through or 1 hour church which is far from discipleship.
Usually the worship gathering is all people give the community and discipleship isn’t happening.

*To be honest I’m not sure what what’s happening…what we are replicating/making.

…

What do you think? We batted this around in class for a while.

Are my fears real? If so how do we turn it around?

If we don’t, the suburbs/exurbs are lost.