Pattern Of Missionality - Part 2: Serving Need
In Part 1 of this series, I shared my conviction that, in order to create genuinely missional "third places", we must commit to relinquishing something of our control, allowing the place to remain neutral in order that real relationships can develop. The second point of what I hope to accomplish with our missional "third space" was:
2. To assess and serve some felt needs of the community out of specific giftings/abilities.
Every person- every community- has specific and real needs. Out of our the strengths and calling of our own Christian community/ministry/etc. we must seek to find a way in which we can serve people in those needs. Sometimes the needs are significant or fundamental enough that, even if they lie outside our specific gift sets or ministry emphasis, we must seek to meet those needs too. Hunger, safety, justice and immediate health risks are some example of those exceptions.
However, God created us, individually and as communities, to reflect specific and diverse giftings. While we acknowledge the need to work beyond these, I truly believe that God wants us to do, in service of Him and other, that which makes us come alive. This is why I am working towards the bookstore, as I am a passionate (and proudly nerdy) bookworm and learning. Creating a space for the exchange of ideas and process of learning is a connecting point where I can discover commonality and relationship with others, be they neighbourhood kids or students at the near-by university.
So what is the need(s) that is filling? There are many needs this seeks to serve. For example, being the most culturally and racially diverse neighbourhood in our city, creating a place to learn about each others differing worldviews, religious beliefs, etc. is crucial to undermine the growing racism and sectarian sub-communities. Further, the link between illiteracy in young boys and the rise of inner city crime are critically linked, therefore offering reading programs, homework clubs and other learning based opportunities plays a part in the larger solution.
Another reason to be intentional to serve out of our giftings is that, should we seek to meet all the needs out of our singular churches or ministries, we will quickly burn out by taking on more than we can handle. Too often, in attempting to meet too many needs in a broad spectrum of challenges, we fall into being overly program-oriented and institutional. This will increase efficiency in meeting needs, but will destroy the necessary relationships that should be developing along the way.
It is critically important to see that neutrality (which could probably be better defined as mutuality) must be the firm foundation upon which meeting needs must be built. Without the humble acknowledgment of our commonality, we can too quickly take on a paternalistic attitude towards those we serve. It is not the good Christians lowering themselves to serve the filthy masses. That is offensive, despite the very good intentions that fuel it. We need to serve people from below (foot washing) or alongside.
This is another reason that living in proximity to those we are seeking to build relationships is so crucial. However, acknowledging this we need to recognize that, unlike most of the world, we have the freedom to choose where we live. Therefore, we need to be mindful of God's direction in that freedom, submitting it to His greater good. As a result, many Christians live in communities that, perhaps, God has not called them to. While I would never suggest that all Christian abandon their rural or suburban communities for the neighbourhoods of the urban core, I will say that there is a clear imbalance in where Christians live, work, school, relate, etc. Someone isn't being obedient.
In the end, we need to be aware of the needs around us in the communities we feel called. Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing, which is reflected in Jesus' awareness and response to the very real needs around Him. He didn't wait for them to cross His path in His home or place of worship. He didn't try to attract them with the promise of good programing. He spent His life among the everyday lives of the people- and usually those on the margins- and served the needs of those people. We can do no less.
Tell me what you think? Does meeting the felt needs of a community rank as a significant value in your life or in your faith community?
The third and final post on this series will explore the incredibly important point of modelling and "proclaiming" the Good New that we are called to share with all Creation.
Emerging Church Missional Third Place
Peace,
Norm (Comment this)
I agree that there are great needs in the suburbs and that they should NOT be abandoned by Christians. The only people who can say whether it is right to be there are those sure of their calling. You seem to be sure, so good for you. However, because it is up to those called, we cannot say for certain who is call to the urban world, only that obviously some are not responding.
As for the police calls from the burbs out number the urban, there is truth there, but it needs some qualification. First, suburban centres are becoming more densely populated, thus more calls. Neighbours in the burbs are significantly more likely to call the police. Sadly, police are more likely to respond to suburban calls in a much more rapid pace than in the inner city. Talking to officers in my community will give you the sense that the inner city is running them ragged. Again, this is not to say that the needs in the suburbs are insignificant, just that there is an imbalance that the church must correct, in my opinion.
However, as I said, I think you are clearly called to your context and appreciate your service and commitment to those communities, as well as your passion and vision to see suburban Christians own their vocation in those neighbourhoods. You need the check out the excellent book "The Suburban Christian: Finding Spiritual Vitality in the Land of Plenty" by Albert Y. Hsu. I have a used copy at the office if you are interested.
Peace,
Jamie (Comment this)
Thanks for the reference. A great addition.
Peace,
Jamie (Comment this)
If we lean too heavily on the priestly role, we become irrelevant and gnostic, immersed in prayer meetings and worship meetings ..common problem in charismatic circles. We hold these two pieces in tension; but I think the priestly role is more fundamental. I agree with the great spiritual traditions that our first call is to worship and we find ourselves and our call there. Failing this, we try to find our identity in our acts and that easily becomes tyranny .. for us and for others. The need is not the call. In a parallel way Fitch has argued that contextualization is not primary, but the recovery of a biblical ecclesiology. If we attempt the former before the latter we end up with distortion. (Comment this)
Concerning #5, maybe we could say need and call are related and distinct, rather than being either - or? Not sure a real tension exists with either/or's. (Comment this)
I agree, of course, that the need is not the call (did you get that impression from this post?), but I will go so far as to say that the need is inseparable from the call. Jesus came to seek and to save which clearly by His actions was an indivisible emphasis on the whole person. Christ's clearest teaching on that which would be used to measure our faithfulness is directly linked to need- further, He links the needy to Himself in a stunning way. This post simply seeks to re-emphasize what most Evangelicals have lost- our responsibility to seek to serve those needs.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Peace,
Jamie (Comment this)
I think you're right. Thanks for weighing in.
Peace,
Jamie (Comment this)