Last night at our Gospel Community meeting Stephen made a helpful comment. As the community of Jesus, we want to reach out to this world in love and service. We want to be known as gentle communities who offer a place of belonging to the excluded and marginalised. However, as Jesus’ followers we’re going to walk in His footsteps – which won’t always impress the world, in fact, it may incite the animosity of outsiders.
And so we have two things happening simultaneously – the world will love us and hate us, they’ll admire us and deride us. They’ll think we’re generally good and loving but ‘slightly left of centre’. Which I am totally cool with!
I guess it has to do with being small communities of light in a dark world. Light shines out of the darkness but it’s exposure of what is happening in the darkness is not always welcome. So, we’ll be admired and criticised. And as long as that happens for the right reasons, I’m happy. I am happy being called ‘left of centre’ in the same way that Jesus was.
However, if we’re being criticised for our arrogance, self-absorbtion or lovelessness then we deserve it and need to change. Because Jesus was never that. So, let’s be left of centre – but in the same way that Jesus was: being radically loving, God-centred, pure, humble and submissive to the needs of others.
[...] we’ve been having some great discussions about what it means to be a community on mission. His most recent post, entitled ‘Being Left of Center’ mentions one of those discussions. Go check him out. This entry was posted on Thursday, March [...]
Hi Kyle, good to see your blog. Would love to hear how the Porterbrook learning is going, and what your Gospel Community are doing to connect with the people of Seapoint. My GC is planning on spending some time out there and meeting up with you guys.
About being ‘slightly left of centre’ … I generally agree and get your sentiment, but can’t help thinking it is a little too comfortable sounding.
In my experience, and what you see happening to the NT church, is that people did see them as good and loving etc, but also saw them (and Jesus) as much more than a little left of centre. They were down right annoying and an irritation – so much so that they were rejected, maligned, mistreated and even disposed of or chased out of their work places and neighbourhoods.
I think the real challenge is only really experienced when we are truly living as missional people, seeking to bless and having it thrown back at us, getting out of our safe zones and being vulnerable.
Otherwise, I don’t mind being considered slightly left of centre either. That is quite cool actually and in today’s world is quite trendy and admired
What do you think?
Hi Colin, thanks for your comments!
From what I’ve read so far, I’m loving the Porterbrook material – in terms of connecting with people in Sea Point, I have not done much as yet but hoping to spend more time there ASAP.
Your comments are very helpful. In fact, they distinctly remind me of John 15:18-16:1, the passage our GC was studying on Tuesday night and which sparked the conversation of being slightly left of centre. I think that missional living is very radical and should elicit the animus of the world. In fact, we prayed on Tuesday that God might count us worthy of being persecuted for His name sake. I struggle sometimes to get the balance right in my own mind – loving the city, seeking it’s good and yet expecting hatred in return. Have I got that right? Any thoughts?
Yes, alternative-left-of-centre is pretty trendy in our particular cultural moment, and I’d rather be known more as Biblical than as trendy…thanks for your comments! Please keep them coming.
Wait, I feel a little inspired
Not that we seek trouble, but …
We are called to participate with Christ in His mission – although He was incarnate as a Jew, He was crucified by Jews
We are called to love one another as He loved us – He gave Himself up for us
We are called to follow His example of service – He ate with and washed the feet of the one who betrayed Him
We are called to follow Him – He headed for Jerusalem
We are called to be ‘in Christ’ – He was despised an rejected by men
We are called out of the world and sent into the world – He had trouble in this world and we are not greater than our master
We are called to remember that it is true grace to be associated with Christ, and we know we are, especially when men reject the Spirit of Christ within us – as they rejected the Prophets, Christ and many of his Church … but we also remember the glory that follows
We are called to be the cure for an unwilling and stubborn world who most of the time deny they are ill and amazingly and surprisingly hate the light and goodness of Christ because their deeds are darkness and their hearts are enemies of the Holy Spirit.
But in the end, we are called to simply be the people of God – loving, seeking the good of the city, blessing, associating and struggling with the hurt … all in the power of Christ.
We are called to bear witness to the Spirit’s work in us, changing and renewing us, being rejected and hated in us, bringing joy in our hearts in the mission of God.
In fact we have been called to a front-row seat as the story of God rescuing His world unfolds.
Our momentary troubles are nothing compared to our future, but the sacrifice of our love is a pleasing aroma to God and a means of grace to the lost.
wow! Should I post this … shouldn’t I …. a bit much …. maybe … aah, here goes.
Yes, Amen! What a privilege…
Wait, I feel a little inspired
Not that we seek trouble, but …
We are called to participate with Christ in His mission – although He was incarnate as a Jew, He was crucified by Jews
We are called to follow His example of service – He ate with and washed the feet of the one who betrayed Him
But in the end, we are called to simply be the people of God – loving, seeking the good of the city, blessing, associating and struggling with the hurt … all in the power of Christ.
We are called to bear witness to the Spirit’s work in us.
In fact we have been called to a front-row seat as the story of God rescuing His world unfolds. What a priv!
Man, sorry about that huge comment … I only meant to post the last shorter one.
Really appreciate the stuff you are thinking through … keep it up and God bless as you enjoy grace.