Peacefully Disagree...

One of the things I think is incredibly important to any community, is the ability to peacefully disagree. I don't know how many of you check up on my blog, you're not missing much if you don't, but I have just been blogging lately about the controversial topics of politics. Now, I have some opinions that I don't expect you all to share. In fact, I am pretty confident that outside of Robin and Grant, most of you are going to disagree with me on quite a few political issues. Does this mean that we are unfit to start a church together? I sure hope not. But one thing it does is force us to focus on people more than ideas.

We need to be committed to each other more than we are to certain ideas. Some ideas are worth dividing over, but not too many. Here is an unacceptable way to disagree about a certain idea.

Person A: I think such and such is a good thing.
Person B: You obviously do not believe in the bible or the God who wrote it. Repent or you will be judged.
Person A: You obviously hate everything and will go to hell.

Now, that is clearly an oversimplification, but hopefully you can see the basic premise. If someone disagrees with us, that does not automatically mean that they are pagan heathens that hate God and the bible. In fact, they could love God just a much as we do. They just happen to disagree with us. So how do we disagree in a good way?

Person A: I think such and such is a good thing.
Person B: While I know that you area person trying to follow God, I would disagree with your assessment of such and such for this reason.
Person A: That is understandable, let's talk more about this in a nonthreatening, uplifting way.

I realize that is an ideal, and it is rare. But hopefully if we are all building toward that type of idea, we can work together to focus more on our commitment to one another than our politics or whatnot.

Lastly, I know some of you are saying "blah blah blah, Chris you have said this before." Yes I have. And I plan on saying it again and again. I think one of the worst things we can do is think that because we disagree that we are unfit to do this thing together. We all agree that God wants to use us in Denver, and we all agree that working together to start a new kind of church is the way. We will disagree on some specifics, but we have to make sure that we always agree on our commitment to one another. Thoughts?

I am starting my teller job on Wed. I'm not excited, but there are two jobs that I have applied for that I would love, so if you could just pray that I am the only applicant I would love that.

The Cost of Discipleship

Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes this in his book "...But now he has come, and his call goes forth. Faith can no longer mean sitting still and waiting- they must rise and follow him. The call frees them from all earthly ties, and binds them to Jesus Christ alone. They must burn their boats and plunge into absolute insecurity in order to learn the demands and gift of Christ. Had Levi stayed at his post, Jesus might have been his present help in trouble, but not the Lord of his whole life... before he can believe, the utterly impossible and ethically irresponsible situation on the waves of the sea must be displayed. The road to faith passes through obedience to the call of Jesus. Unless a definite step is demanded, the call vanishes into thin air, and if men imagine that they can follow Jesus without taking this step, they are deluding themselves..."

I was just sitting here at home being bummed. I was finally offered a job, part time teller at Wells Fargo. But it is a job. I will take it and look for something full time. But I was just sitting here being bummed out, feeling dejected. So I decided to read, something I haven't done since getting a new video game (which is awesome by the way). So I picked up "The Cost of Discipleship" by Bonhoeffer. And it really hit the spot. I was bummed, but now I feel affirmed. Robin and I burned our boats. We plunged into the insecurity of the sea. We haven't washed up to shore yet, but I feel more hopeful. God has given us enough for now, and I believe he will continue.

You may be pretty apprehensive. Its normal. It will be hard sometimes. But I promise you, it will help you to learn what it means to be a disciple. Not everyone who is a disciple is called to come to Denver, but if you are called, God will take care of you. I am hopeful. God has shown a pattern of using those who throw caution to the wind and follow his leading. I see a lot of you that are doing that already. You are moving to a state where you only know Robin and I. You are coming to a church that does not exist yet. You are staking part of your life on the dream that we can make a church that is not perfect, but one that tries to be perfectible. I am so grateful to have people like you coming to join us soon. I am excited for the kind of church we can make together. I believe it will be hard, but a long time from now, we will all look back with a certain pride and know that God used us because we burned our boats, and cast ourselves into the sea, and into the hands of God.

What can I pray for you for this week? I applied for a job at Denver Rescue Mission. It is full time, and it will probably not pay well. But I would love it.