Church renewal...

As this Advent winds to a close - and I reflect on my work this year - I am struck by two truths that are both true and simultaneously contradictory: First, doing the work of church renewal is a blessing - when it works people are invigorated and able to share compassion and connection with one another and the world in ways that once seemed impossible; it is also a curse - because when some are invigorated and empowered, others have to share... and sharing is never easy with children or adults.

Think about it: shared power - very challenging - shared commitments - very demanding and time consuming - shared decision making - very complicated in this realm of individualism gone berserk - and shared sacrifice - even harder than shared decision making. That's one of the reasons why I keep going back to the rock band as church metaphor - although it could be jazz ensemble or even choral music society - if you are only trained to be a soloist (or solo performer) you really don't know the joy and commitment required to make a big piece of music WORK! (I think of the solo folk singer colleague I once knew who at parties always wanted to sing those wonderfully morose and individualistic John Prine/Jackson Browne songs: freakin' IMPOSSIBLE because he wasn't thinking about the GROUP.)

Same is often true in congregations: people really have to learn the discipline of being disciples before the renewal takes off. Because the ONLY thing a church really has to offer the world is the grace of Christ - other groups and organizations do food, entertainment, sports and social services better than us - we just have the living spirit of Christ's grace to share. It is totally sufficient, but if it isn't there then NONE of the gimmicks or fun things we might do will make renewal work.

I started playing in a band in high school - we played everything from the Rascals, Beatles and Stones to Jeff Beck, Zeppelin and the Who - and later I played in folk and other rock/church bands that taught me the importance of cooperation and sharing for the greater good. Think of Cream or Blind Faith (back in the day) who had incredible soloists whose ego got in the way too often for them to sustain their magic.

Then think of U2 who have learned to grow and sacrifice together - and they STILL rock - and bring us all beauty and hope!


As this year comes to a close, I am certain that training and encouraging disciples - not soloists - is essential for our renewal. Makes me think of... Grand Funk!