No Perfect People Allowed: Creating a Come as You are Culture by John Burke
This is the book our whole church is reading.
Book Description:
This book challenges Christian leaders to engage in the messy art of creating the right culture to reach our postmodern, post-Christian society. Through real stories of God’s perfect work in the lives of imperfect people, you will experience the power of an authentic church community and learn how to deconstruct barriers and bring hope and healing to America’s most unchurched generation.
These are the points of impact for me:
- "Are we raising up a generation of leaders ready to lay down their lives to dive into the muck of cultural America? Or are we just playing church-developing spiritual dependents who consume the goods of whatever church shelf will "feed me" or "puff me up with more knowledge" or even "feel post-modern?"
- "The harvest is great but the workers are few."
- "All life requires the right soil for healthy growth."
- "It’s not the visible, but the invisible that needs attention. It’s not the candles, but community, not art, but attitude, not liturgy, but love that makes the difference in our broken world."
Chapter One Small Group Questions: (My answers are in parenthesis)
1)How would we define the "feel" and "experience" of our group? (safe, close knit, supportive, accepting, unchallenging, unpressured)
2)What is the perfect environment? (open, honest, supportive, trustin, growing, organized, accountable)
3) Look at 1 Corinthians 9:20-23
"To the Jews, I became like a Jew. To those under the law, I became like one under the law (although myself I am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To thise not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as not to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possbile means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."
Notes from the Life Application Bible regarding this verse:
-Paul gives several important principles for ministry: 1)find common ground with those you contact
2) avoid a know it all attitude 3) male others feel accepted 4)be sensitive to their needs and concerns, and 5)look for opportunities to tell them about Christ. These principles are just as valid for us as they were for Paul.
What do you think Paul meant by "becoming all things?" (I think it means that you focus on the similarities and not the differences. Find common ground with everyone without compromising beliefs.)
How is the culture around us similar to or different than the culture of Corinth?
From the Life Application Bible:
Corinth was a major cosmopolitan city, a seaport and major trade center-the most inportant cit in Achaia. It was also filled with idolatry and immorality. The church was largely made up of Gentiles. Paul had established this church on his second missionary journey.
(I think our current culture is very similar to Corinth. We are a large city with a diverse population of lifestyles and beliefs. There is idolatry inform of worshiping material wealth, social advancement, media influence. Immorality with overt media depicting s$x and violence, etc.
What are some ways we can be "all things" to the surrounding culture without compromising following Christ?
(Do not force others to your beliefs. Be the example, but don’t judge. That’s not my job.)
You are right, it sounds like a lot of the same principles as our church. We need to focus on being community, the body of Christ, for the world to see!