The Real Restoration Begins
About 2 years ago I was somehow signed up to receive a lifetime’s supply of FREE Christian Chronicle newspapers. I haven’t seen one now for about 11 months. I guess lifetimes don’t last as long as they used to.
The Christian Chronicle is a worldwide newspaper written to encourage and unify Churches of Christ all over the English-speaking world. In my days at the ACU Periodicals Library, I found a strange joy well up inside me each and every time I noticed the latest edition had been published. I suppose it’s those deeply rooted CoC genes that run 4 generations on both sides of the family…
So you can imagine when I read an article on the organic church movement in the Churches of Christ from this article that my interests were raised. A well written article that introduces the missionaries and professors sticking their necks out for so many out there who are unreached by Christ’s Church as we currently understand it. Those interviewed all made it clear that this is not a matter of competition between “legacy” style churches (traditional congregations as we know them) and the new emerging family based churches, but rather a bold new move that God and his people are taking to reach the unreached. As I’ve heard it said, “It will take all kinds of churches to reach all kinds of people.”
I grew up about as enveloped in a Church of Christ, Restorationist tradition as you can imagine. Like most people, I was raised completely oblivious to the fact that I held some pretty sectarian views from my Sunday School training concerning restoring the order of the original church. Like many, I went through a stage of rebellion, where “restoration” was the furthest thing from my mind, and looking for that latest and greatest worship technique (including smoke machines, which are quite handy!). And finally, came to a place where I saw the deep need for restoration, though not in structure (which only leads to more leaky wineskins) but for seeing the Gospel again as GOOD NEWS to me, and to everyone. Orientation, Disorientation, Reorientation.
How long has it been since we saw Christ’s Gospel on earth as pure joy and good news to us? When was the last time we read Psalm 16:11, ” You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand,” and actually felt butterflies in our stomach? When did we last know for sure in the depths of our hearts that God wanted to live in intimate proximity to you and me??? This for me is the TRUE restoration that God is after among his people. How that happens is through pure, divine, ongoing relationship with the Lord, and with his Bride the church!
How AWESOME to be a part of that bride, which is becoming more and more healthy and reflecting more and more of her companion’s character! The definition of “organic” church means that there is no final wineskin that will wrap around this Bride, but that she will constantly be sheltered by the cocoon of transformation, and constantly be breaking free to experience new life! This is much bigger than just the “restoration” of the original order of worship, it is about restoring the entire creation to abide in God’s great delight. Organic church for me is the ongoing restoration from fallenness to fulfillment in Jesus Christ alone.
It was neat to see in this article some awareness raised among Churches of Christ not in what we are doing, but what we are trying to become. I’m tired of doing church. I want to BE the church with my family and friends 24/7. I want to be committed in a covenant relationship with brothers and sisters that enjoy authentic worship, both in song, and in loving service to each other. I want to be whisked away in evangelistic mission, not because I have to prove my love to my Lord, but because I have found my true rest in being his, and he has shown me exactly what he would have me do.
For more – read the Washington Post article that came out last Sunday.
Julie is discussing. 
Bobby Ross 5:35 pm on June 14, 2006 Permalink
Hey, I’m not sure what happened to your lifetime subscription, but e-mail me your address and I’ll make sure you get added back on. If you moved and we didn’t get your forwarding address, that could be it. If you didn’t move, I have no idea what the problem is. Thanks, Bobby Ross
rob horton 8:16 am on June 15, 2006 Permalink
Solid post! Enjoyed learning some of your story and the things that God is speaking to your heart! I think your thoughts are right on track. I think you have excellent insight into the essence of what being a member of the Body is all about.
Mark 2:24 pm on June 15, 2006 Permalink
Thanks Rob. I’m finding that even non-believers get excited when they think about this sort of stuff! So many people are averse to Christianity because they do not connect with the church as they know it. But most of what we understand “church” to be is not accurate, so for all of us, discovering God’s Bride is a new and compelling adventure!
Zane Anderson 10:55 pm on August 27, 2006 Permalink
Wonderful to see those in a major denomination considering new forms in order to reach the lost and bind themselves together in love. May all other denominations follow suit.
Godspeed!