Church - a dangerous place?

We have just returned from the annual Christian Associates Staff conference (last Saturday). This is a highlight in our year for many reasons: friendship, shared vision, common experiences, good speakers, inspiring worship, lots of food for thought and more friendship.
This years speakers were Alan and Debra Hirsch (pictured). They lead Forge Ministry in Australia, and Alan is the author of the provocative  'The Shaping of Things to Come' (with Michael Frost) and the soon-to-appear 'The Forgotten ways' (I will be reading that one!)

In terms of teaching the highlight of the week came on Tuesday, when Alan spoke about the need for church to be 'a liminal experience.' Churches, he argued, have become a safe place. Ever since Constantine's edict of Milan in 312 AD Christianity in the west has experienced safety and protection. In such an anenvironment Christianity does not thrive, he argued. There are other factors involved, but one of the reasons that Christianity on the whole is in decline in the West is that it is safe and secure and entrenched.

Alan looks at two periods in Christian history in which the church has grown amazingly. In both periods the church was in danger. One is the period of the early church, prior to 312 AD. The other period is happening in modern-day China, where the hous church movement now has between 80 and 120 million people. What causes (caused) the church to grow so fast  under such circumstances?

Alan argues that church should be 'a liminal experience (Wikipedia).' A liminal experience is an experience where you are out on the edge, in unsafe circumstances, banding with a band of comrades or brothers in a fight. The experience of bading together is called 'Communitas' (same Wikipedia link).

I have been thinking about that a lot. I felt quite confronted by that: here I am planting this church called Crossroads Rotterdam, trying to create a safe place (for a dangerous message) -- and now it turns out that church should not be a safe place at all! Go figure...

But the more I think about it, the more I like it! I think Alan is probably right: church should be a dangerous place. One of the things I often encounter in church is a consumer-attitude (I also encounter this in me). Church has become a supplier of goods and services, some of which I need and use, and some of which I leave.

What if church could once again become a dangerous place? Perhaps that word 'dangerous' scares you, so let me explain what I do mean and what I do not mean. First of all what I do not mean. Church will still be a place where you can come with your faults and sins and your brokenness. Where it is OK to make mistakes. Where your head doesn't get chopped off by authoritarian leaders.

But how could church become a dangerous place? Here are some things I am thinking about...

• What if we practiced radical hospitality? Opened our homes to our friends, our neighbours, colleagues, people in pain, men and women out on the edge of our world?
• What if we started practicing radical authenticity? What if we became really honest about our faults and failures, our sins and our pain, anxieties and anger?
• What if we stated working together for love and justice, instead of our own comfort?
• What if we took lesser jobs so we could spend more time on Gods work in this world?
• What if we started giving more money away? Or instead of giving money, we gave ourselves away?
• What if we prayed with fire? What if we watched less TV, and prayed more and read more Sctipture?
• What if we were more ready to bless others, instead of seeking God's blessing on our own life?

Perhaps you have other things you would want to add to this list...

Comments

[Innes]

Hi Rogier

Glad the conference went well and you enjoyed it.

Love this post! Especially the "what ifs".

Innes

[Alan Hirsch]

Hey Rogier
Thanks for taking the ideas of liminality seriously. I do find it a very fertile way of looking at the situtation.

Great to meet you dangerous man!
Kindly
Alan H