A new community without agendas

I have just finished reading the last chapter of Rob Bell's book. And the last chapter carries yet another powerful message and idea. It talks about the idea of restoration and reconciliation from God - and not just for mankind alone, but for all of creation. This was something that I've never thought about before. Reconciliation and restoration for all of creation. Many times, I've heard about the message of reconcilation from God to man, but I've never heard much of a message that puts the restoration and reconciliation in such a global context. And it makes sense. In the beginning, God created the earth, and he created man to care for it. How good of a job do we that nowadays? Not a very good job, and I can speak that for myself. Paul states that God reconciles himself to all things on heaven or earth in Christ - when it comes to "things", we often put all the emphasis on the human soul, and very little on the latter.

The word community - I'm starting to have a greater appreciation of this word. I wonder now why we don't use this word more often. It's such a beautiful word to describe a group of people that can genuinely care for each other's needs without expecting anything in return. This is what a church should replicate - to be a true community. Rob Bell talks in the last chapter that we need to consider setting aside our personal agendas - churches should consider setting aside their personal agendas of converting somebody's soul every week. Instead, we should act more like a community - we ought to demonstrate in acts and deeds of what a reconciled or restored community ought to be like - demonstrate how heaven can come down to earth - this may be the best way to demonstrate what God's reconciliation and restoration is all about at a time when there is so much doubt surrounding the church. When people see this and understand how God's reconciliation and restoration can work in a community (restoring a community to what a community is intended to be, a group of people caring for each other), then they can begin to see how God's reconciliation and restoration can work for their lives and souls (restoring a person to be what God intended the person to be). As Rob suggests, this may be the reason why the book of Acts contain many stories of people helping each other in deeds. It's not all about people trying to convince or argue against other people about coming to God - it's about showing people of what it is like when there is a group of people who is committed to God and willing to do what it takes.

This kind of thinking has sparked a new idea in me. As a church, why don't we spend more time serving the communities around us? Serving without agendas. Serving without having to worry about how we can sneak in to talk about the gospel along the way. There can be so much time spent in serving the needs of the internal church - but what about the needs of the outside community around us? If we don't actively go out and submerse ourselves in the outside community, why in the world would they become interested in us? How else would they experience what the reconciliation and restoration of God is like? Perhaps the church ought to have designated days where they just go out and serve the outside community for some sort of volunteer work. Or maybe even designate a part of the regular offerings to donate to special needs of the surrounding community. This is a great challenge, including myself. It reminds me again of how hard it is to be a Christian. It's not about believing and then waiting to go to heaven. It's about giving up yourself and serving others - everywhere, everyday, every time. That's tough. It's against normal nature. I'm lazy. And it's even tougher nowadays because you're always wondering in the back of your mind if your kindness will be abused or taken advantage of. We automatically put up a shield and often never fully open the door, but just peer outside through the hole to see who's standing outside. Then we either ignore them, or just open up a wedge of the door and tell them that we're not interested and that they should go away. There's only so much love you can give, and you often only choose to give it to the people that you want to. You typically don't mind being nice and helpful to someone that you like. But what about to a total stranger? That's hard - and that's partly because you know there's no motivation or incentive in doing so. But that's what a community should be like - a bunch of people helping and caring each other without incentives, without any agendas. Perhaps that's what a church should be striving for.

Have I become a Pharisee?

Have I so much concentrated on the study of the word, the theology, the way our culture is affected that I have neglected the people around me? Have I become what Jesus taught not us to be, someone who cares so much about the style or reading, the search for the true meanings, the traditions, but neglected what Jesus, my Rabbi has taught, to love and care for the people around me?

It certainly feels and seems that way....