It's been there a while. It shows signs of age, but it isn't going anywhere soon. It's hasn't changed...at least not that much. In fact, church Consultant George Bullard (www.bullardjournal.org) makes the following observation:
"At 50 years old many congregations are at the point where they may fully institutionalize their patterns and practices and declare them sacred to the life and ministry of the congregation. This is often their most significant step in moving from movement to monument or museum. Wouldn’t it be great if instead of taking this institutionalization step congregations could reset their ministry through a year of jubilee?"
Jubilee, bases on Leviticus 25, is the command given to ancient Israel to let the land lay fallow...for an entire year! No planting. No weeding. No harvest. The promise is that God will provide when his people stop. (Leviticus 25:21) But not just provide, also bless. I believe this is also the promise that God makes the church. Let the institutionalized patterns and practices lay fallow. The Lord will provide. The Lord will bless. We don't need to knock ourselves out, wear ourselves out, and burn ourselves out trying to maintain the church. That's not our job.
Furthermore, the promise is not only for provision, it is also for freedom. (Leviticus 25:41-42) This ancient promise is for our present church. Congregational Sabbath (jubilee) will set the monolithic church free if we surrender our control. If we have faith enough to step back from institutional maintenance, we will be set free to pursue real ministry. If we dare to stop proppping up programs that drain our energy, we are set free to partner with the Holy Spirit that brings life. If we untie ourselves from the church, we are set free to love the Lord and love one another. This is our job.
Over time, we have begun to equate the way we do church as ministry. We have to maintain the church, we believe, because that is all there is to our faith. And we are faithful in that endeavor. However, we have also become rigid. We have become immovable. We have become monolithic. We have become self-reliant instead of faithful. God calls us to a new life. An abundant life. The Good Shepherd calls to be part of a movement, not a monument. It all starts when we stop.
Furthermore, the promise is not only for provision, it is also for freedom. (Leviticus 25:41-42) This ancient promise is for our present church. Congregational Sabbath (jubilee) will set the monolithic church free if we surrender our control. If we have faith enough to step back from institutional maintenance, we will be set free to pursue real ministry. If we dare to stop proppping up programs that drain our energy, we are set free to partner with the Holy Spirit that brings life. If we untie ourselves from the church, we are set free to love the Lord and love one another. This is our job.
Over time, we have begun to equate the way we do church as ministry. We have to maintain the church, we believe, because that is all there is to our faith. And we are faithful in that endeavor. However, we have also become rigid. We have become immovable. We have become monolithic. We have become self-reliant instead of faithful. God calls us to a new life. An abundant life. The Good Shepherd calls to be part of a movement, not a monument. It all starts when we stop.
Congregational Sabbath. Less doing. More being.
Photo from www.sxc.hu 445573
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